The “next man up” mentality has been a common theme among Arizona State players and coaches since the beginning of head coach Kenny Dillingham’s tenure.

Between all the hits ASU has taken since 2023, whether it’s quarterbacks going down or players being ejected for targeting, several players have stepped into roles they may not have expected initially.

However, a player for ASU has yet to deliver the type of “next man up” performance that redshirt senior quarterback Jeff Sims did for the Sun Devils in their 24-19 win over Iowa State Saturday afternoon.

Not only did Sims finish the game with 228 rushing yards, the most by an ASU quarterback in a game since Mike Malone had 139 yards in 1978, and two touchdowns, but he also threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a total of 405 all-purpose yards.

“That’s Jeff,” Dillingham said. “Jeff is a really good football player. It’s the first time in his entire career he’s been in the same system for two years, and he had a week (to) practice. He’s a good football player. He threw the ball well. He controlled the perimeter. He made all the plays… good things happen to good people.”

Sims also threw an interception right before halftime, which allowed ISU to kick a field goal with seconds left on the clock that missed, but Dillingham took responsibility for it.

A large number of Sims carries were direct quarterback runs, something he said ASU worked on this week.

“We’ve been practicing it all week, and I feel like just the confidence grew,” Sims said. “You know, me being here second year in the system, and I felt like that was just a big piece of what we needed to do.”

With a bye week ahead, Dillingham said ASU will be off until next Sunday.

“Never done that,” Dillingham said. “Never been around somewhere that does it. It’s been an emotional season, emotionally, physically, mentally, these guys need to get away, and they need to come back ready for a three-game stretch where we can accomplish anything we want to accomplish. So I want these guys to get away.”

Box Score

NOTE: View any scoring highlight by clicking on the corresponding bullet point.

First Quarter

• Sophomore K Kyle Konrardy (ISU) 30-yard field goal is good. (0-3, 5:45)
• Senior K Jesus Gomez (ASU) 35-yard field goal is good. (3-3, 0:54)

Second Quarter

• Junior QB Rocco Becht (ISU) rushed for a 7-yard touchdown. Sophomore K Kyle Konrardy (ISU) extra point is good. (3-10, 12:45)
• Redshirt senior QB Jeff Sims (ASU) rushed for an 8-yard touchdown. Senior K Jesus Gomez (ASU) extra point is good. (10-10, 10:43)
• Redshirt senior QB Jeff Sims (ASU) pass complete to senior TE Chamon Metayer (ASU) for an 18-yard touchdown. Senior K Jesus Gomez (ASU) extra point is good. (17-10, 4:55)
• Junior QB Rocco Becht (ISU) pass complete to junior TE Bear Brahmer (ISU) for a 17-yard touchdown. Sophomore K Kyle Konrardy (ISU) extra point is no good. (17-16, 1:01)

Third Quarter

• Senior QB Jeff Sims rushed for an 88-yard touchdown. Senior K Jesus Gomez (ASU) extra point is good. (24-16, 7:47)
• Sophomore K Kyle Konrardy (ISU) 35-yard field goal is good. (24-19, 0:01)

Fourth Quarter

• N/A