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#4 Indians 23 Nevada 21 : Nov. 20, 1993—HC John Bobo
The Indians were in year 2 of Division 1-A existence and first year head coach John Bobo had guided them to a 1-8-1 record overall and 0-5 in Big West conference play. The last game of the season was set for an overcast November afternoon just days before Thanksgiving. Riding into Jonesboro having won 5 out of 6 and just one win from a Las Vegas Bowl berth came the Nevada Wolf Pack. A prolific offense that had averaged 38 PPG facing and Indian squad that had only been able to muster 11 PPG. This one was all about the big plays as QB Johnny Covington threw a 54 yard touchdown bomb that was tipped before being caught and kept ASU in the game. The final play of the game for the Indians found Covington again this time throwing a 35 yard strike into the back of the end zone finding Reginald Murphy for the go ahead points and leaving Indian fans with a glimpse of hope for 1994.
#3 Red Wolves 26 Memphis 23 : Oct. 14, 2006 —HC Steve Roberts
Arkansas State has faced its neighbors to the east in Memphis 58 times in a series that has been just about dead even over those years. But it is arguable that this is one of the greatest wins in that series. ASU traveled to Memphis having won its first two conference games and looking to keep momentum for the season going. Memphis had struggled out of the gate at 1-4 and needed a win to turn the season around. The Red Wolves took a commanding 17-6 halftime lead but watched the Tigers scrap back taking control of the game on a 34 yard TD pass with 6:04 left in the fourth quarter. On a 3rd and 10 from his own 47, ASU QB Corey Leonard led the offense to the line with just :06 left in the game. Rolling to his left, Leonard let loose a ball that made its way into the hands of Patrick Higgins and as he fell to the ground with no time on the clock, the Red Wolves had executed what would become known as the “Bluff City Miracle” beating the Tigers 26-23.
#2 Red Wolves 35 (25)Troy 3 : Nov. 17, 2016 —HC Blake Anderson
The Monsters of the Midweek were poised to strike again, this time in Troy Alabama where the 7-2 Trojans, winners of 7 straight had just recently become the first ranked Sun Belt football team making #25 in the AP poll. In comes the Red Wolves who were gaining poise and confidence week by week and anxious to prove a point on national TV. Troy took a 3-0 lead with 1:00 left in the first quarter and after that, it was all scarlet and black as ASU used 5 turnovers, team speed and physicality to score 35 straight points in a rout. Three touchdowns in a little over a 5 minute span of the third quarter put the game away for good.
#1 Red Wolves 45 Middle Tennessee State 0 : Dec. 1, 2012 —HC Gus Malzahn
The season finale for 2012 would feature two teams coming in with matching 8-3 records overall and 6-1 conference records. The difference was that ASU had Ryan Aplin at QB and Gus Malzahn on the sideline. The Red Wolves had 2 weeks to prepare coming off an open date and the Blue Raiders were looking to finish out their run in the Sun Belt with a conference title. MTSU had been a consistent thorn in the side for ASU in Sun Belt play having won 7 out of 11 previous conference matchups.
But this first Saturday in December game would be different in many ways. Over 31,000 would pour into Jonesboro to see the de-facto Sun Belt Championship game making it by far the largest crowd to see a game this late in the season in school history. By halftime it was not a question of who would win but how badly would ASU blow out the Blue Raiders as the teams went to the locker room with the Red Wolves up 35-0. They would add a field goal and a touchdown in the second half to make the final 45-0. The final stats would tell a story of domination for the home team: ASU outgained MTSU 512-203, had zero turnovers, 1 penalty, and 1 punt.
When ASU rejoined Division 1-A back in 1992, this is what the fans had in mind, a full house on the final weekend playing for a conference championship, with a talented, well coached team to watch.