EL PASO, TX – A short-handed Sun Devil Football gave an incredible effort, but ultimately fell short to Duke, 42-39, at the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Led by quarterback Jeff Sims and running back Jason Brown, the Arizona State offense exploded for 39 pionts and 619 yards of offense. The defense earned several clutch fourth down stops and frustrated Duke quarterback Darian Mensah. However, the ACC Champion Blue Devils were able to make one more play than the Sun Devils to secure the Sun Bowl victory.
Arizona State (8-5, 6-3 Big 12) forced a three-and out to open the game, and then went on a 9-play, 83-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead less than five minutes in on a 2-yard keeper by quarterback Jeff Sims. The drive was highlighted by a 51-yard bomb to Jalen Moss, who entered the game with just 11 receptions on the season, on 3rd-and-13 to move the Sun Devils to the Duke 23-yard line.
Duke (9-5, 6-2 ACC) answered the ASU score at 8:53 of the first quarter on a third down 69-yard toss from quarterback Darian Mensah to wide receiver Que’Sean Brown. The Blue Devils got a fourth-down stop moments later, before going up 14-7 at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter.
However, ASU bounced back on a Sims-to-Moss 44-yard dart over the middle to knot it at 14.
With 6:06 remaining in the first half, Duke marched 60 yards on 12 plays to make it 21-14 on a Mensah to Jeremiah Hasley 14-yard scoring play. ASU answered quickly with a 6-play, 75-yard drive in 2 minutes, 17 seconds that finished with Sims going 38 yards on the ground for the score.
After ASU’s ensuing onside kick attempt went out of bounds, Duke re-took a 7-point lead by going 44 yards in five plays to make it 28-21. ASU cut its deficit on a Jesus Gomez 54-yard field goal to make it 28-24 at recess, marking the highest-scoring halftime score in the 92 years of the Sun Bowl.
LONGEST FIELD GOALS IN ASU HISTORY
59--Zane Gonzalez (Oct. 15, 2016 at Colorado)
55--Luis Zendejas (Nov. 6, 1982 vs. Oregon State)
54--Jesus Gomez (Dec. 31, 2025 vs. Duke/Sun Bowl)
54--Luis Zendejas (Jan. 1, 1983 vs. Oklahoma/Fiesta Bowl)
54--Zane Gonzalez (Sept. 16, 2016 at UTSA)
54--Zane Gonzalez (Sept. 16, 2016 at UTSA)
Despite the first-half offensive outburst, the two teams combined for only 29 second-half points (ASU - 15, Duke - 14), but none were more important than Que’Sean Brown’s 17-yard touchdown score with 2:10 remaining in regulation. The play snapped an 15-point scoring run by the Sun Devils and pushed the Blue Devils ahead 42-39.
Arizona State’s first opportunity to re-take the lead was spoiled four plays into the drive when Duke linebacker Luke Mergott stepped in front of a Sims’ pass attempt that was intended for Derek Eusebio.
The Sun Devils did, however, have one last attempt to get the football back, but Mensah connected with Sahmir Hagans for an 8-yard reception on a fourth-down pass attempt with under 90 seconds remaining in the contest.