Arizona State handled Kansas State on Saturday for a signature win early in the Kenny Dillingham tenure. The Sun Devils jumped out to a 24-0 lead on the previously-ranked Wildcats and went on to win 24-14. In a battle between a pair of 7-2 teams, the Sun Devils emerged with a crucial win and set up an even bigger matchup in Tempe next Saturday — a game with implications for the Big 12 Championship and, by extension, the College Football Playoff.

However you slice it, the game between Arizona State and Kansas State in Manhattan was one of the more impactful ones on the schedule in Week 12. As such, it was on the docket for the panel on ESPN’s College GameDay when they ran through their picks Saturday morning.

But when it came time to pick the game, ESPN’s Desmond Howard admitted he was unsure why they were giving it any attention.

“I saw that on the run-down and I was like, ‘Why are we picking this game?’ I thought it was a mistake,” Howard said. “Kansas State, I guess.”

After the game, the Sun Devils’ social media team circled back to Howard’s earlier comment.

“Do your homework next time,” the Sun Devils said in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/TheSunDevils/status/1857991871336780180

The Big 12 also got in on the roast.

Arizona State has become one of the stories of the season in college football. Absolutely ravaged by injuries in Year 1 under Dillingham, the Sun Devils limped to a 3-9 record that included just 2 wins in Pac-12 play last season. They entered the 2024 year picked to finish dead last in the Big 12.

In Week 13, the Sun Devils will host BYU. Should they win, it’ll set up a win-and-in game against Arizona in the season finale. The Sun Devils are tied with Iowa State for third in the Big 12 entering Week 13. BYU and Colorado both have just a single loss in league play.

And if Arizona State makes it to the Big 12 Championship Game, the Sun Devils will be a win away from an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. At ESPN Bet, Arizona State is currently priced at +375 to win the Big 12. Colorado is the favorite; BYU has the next shortest odds.

It feels safe to assume the ASU-BYU game — which will be carried on ESPN — will land on the run-down for GameDay next Saturday. Howard should probably spend a bit more time on the Sun Devils before then.