
Apeejay Stya University Clinches Football Glory at GD Goenka Annual Sports Festival
The crowd's roar, the echo of the final whistle, and the glint of the championship trophy were more than just a win. It was a moment of pride, a symbol of commitment, and a testimony to the growing sports culture at ASU. The team's victory has lifted the spirits on campus and strengthened the belief that excellence in sports plays a crucial role in holistic student development.
'We're proud of the boys! Yes, the value of winning a trophy is immense—but making winning a habit is equally important,' said a university spokesperson. 'With this win, we're already preparing for our next tournament, which will be hosted on our home turf very soon. Let's win some more!' More Than Just a Game
The football team's success is not just a win on the scoreboard—it reflects the university's emphasis on nurturing well-rounded individuals. At ASU , sports are seen as a vital part of student life. Events like the GD Goenka Sports Festival offer a powerful platform for students to push boundaries, cultivate leadership skills, and learn the value of perseverance, teamwork, and handling pressure.
Participating in high-intensity sports tournaments fosters physical and mental discipline. Students learn to strategize, respond to real-time challenges, and balance academics with passion—an actual rehearsal for life beyond the classroom. And when they win, as ASU did, it's a celebration not just of talent but of effort, resilience, and unity. Building Champions, On and Off the Field
Apeejay Stya University , recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC), has consistently demonstrated that education is more than lectures and labs. Established under the Haryana Private Universities Act by the Apeejay Stya Education Foundation, the university blends cutting-edge research and technology with the liberal arts, offering students both 'education for livelihood' and 'education for life.'
The university's sprawling campus on Sohna-Palwal Road is known not just for its academic brilliance but also for its sports infrastructure and emphasis on co-curricular growth. This focus fuels achievements like the recent football championship.
With its strong industry-academia linkages and global learning environment, ASU is committed to empowering students in all spheres, including sports. Victories like these fuel young minds toward greater confidence and better life skills. The Road Ahead
With a trophy in hand and eyes on the future, the ASU Football Team is already preparing for its next challenge—this time, on home turf. The momentum is high, and the goal is clear: keep the winning streak alive. For ASU , sports are not just a break from academics but a bridge to building better individuals. As the university cheers its champions, it also celebrates the power of sports to shape character, foster unity, and inspire excellence.
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Kansas State Head Coach: Chris Klieman (7th year) 2024 Record: 9-4 (5-4 B12) Bowl/Playoff Appearance: Lost 44-41 to Rutgers in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Offense Ranking: 29 Returning Starters: 5 Defense Ranking: 23 Returning Starters: 5 Kansas State enters the 2025 season on the heels of a strong 9–4 campaign that matched its predicted win total exactly, suggesting the Wildcats performed to expectation. Offensively, Chris Klieman's squad was explosive and efficient, ranking 13th in yards per play (6.57), 4th in yards per carry (6.5), and 5th in IsoPPP, all while boasting the No. 2 mark nationally in yards before contact per rush (3.35). The defense finished 23rd in SP+, anchored by a Top 5 success rate (4th) and a stingy front that ranked 15th in stuff rate and 17th in opportunity rate allowed. 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With Joey McGuire returning following a third straight bowl appearance, the program shows progress, but improving defensive efficiency and avoiding negative turnover regression will be crucial to taking the next step in the new-look Big 12. Fortunately for Tech fans, nobody in the Big 12 hit the transfer portal harder than the well-funded Red Raiders. Texas Tech rode RB Tahj Brooks hard as their true bell cow rusher, plying him with 586 carries over the last two years. USC transfer Quinten Joyner is expected to take over the lead rusher duties, but it could be more of a timeshare with talented RB2 Ja'Koby Williams still in the RB room. It will be interesting to see how the carries are divided up in Lubbock. Behren Morton is fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery and is the perfect conduit for new OC Mack Leftwich's offense, leading to a 40 points per game eruption. The defense finally comes together following the influx of new premium talent and cuts their points allowed last season by two touchdowns to 20 PPG. They manage to take two out of three road games against Utah, Arizona State, and Kansas State which would assure the Red Raiders of a Playoff spot. The DK line of 8.5 Wins (Over -140) is a big number for a Texas Tech program that hasn't won 9 games in a regular season since 2009. The schedule is manageable outside of the brutal three game road stretch at Utah, at Arizona State, and at Kansas State, as they dodge Baylor and have seven home games vs. just five road tilts. Expectations are extremely high in Lubbock after the NIL spending spree that was unleashed this offseason. However, paying -140 for TT to win 9 games is a pricey proposition at this stage of the offseason. I would rather take a shot at Texas Tech to win the B12 at 6-to-1 or Make the Playoff at +450. Baylor Head Coach: Dave Aranda (6th Year) 2024 Record: 8-5 (6-3 B12) Bowl/Playoff Appearance: Lost 44-31 to LSU in Texas Bowl Offense SP+ Rank (2024): 25th Returning Starters (Offense): 9 Defense SP+ Rank (2024): 61st Returning Starters (Defense): 5 Baylor rebounded from a 3–9 season in 2023 to finish 8–5 in 2024, behind a Top 25 offense (25th SP+) that ranked 23rd nationally in yards per play (6.33) and 12th in passing success rate (47.6%). The offense operated with tempo (14th in seconds/play) and generated explosive plays (10th in 20+ yard play rate) but still struggled with penalties (103rd) and red zone efficiency (50th in TD%). Defensively, the Bears were inconsistent, ranking 61st in SP+ while finishing 75th or worse in yards/play allowed, EPA/play, and points/drive, despite an improved front that ranked 20th in rushing success rate allowed. Their +6 turnover margin and strong 6-0 stretch to close the regular season helped mask a defense that ranked 97th in yards per drive and 120th in marginal explosiveness allowed. QB Sawyer Robertson took over for last year's starting QB DeQuan Finn and promptly helped Baylor rattle off six consecutive wins to end the 2024 regular season. He may be the best of a strong group of Big 12 signal callers. Baylor's transfer infusion on the interior defensive line solidifies their run defense and they are able to upset Auburn and on the road at SMU in their first two games of the season. Even if things don't go their way in the non-conference, Baylor gets their toughest B12 foes ASU, Kansas State and Utah at home and can forge their own path to the B12 Championship Game if they hold serve in McLane Stadium. Baylor's brutal non-conference schedule vs. Auburn and at SMU helps to suppress their 7.5 Win (Under -115) line. Despite those tough contests, Baylor could very well be favored in all their B12 tilts thanks to a 5-game home slate featuring their toughest conference opponents. I lean Over 7.5 Wins for Baylor. Iowa State Head Coach: Matt Campbell (10th Year) 2024 Record: 11-3 (6-3 B12) Bowl/Playoff Appearance: Beat Miami 42-41 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl Offense Ranking: 44th Returning Starters: 7 Defense Ranking: 32nd Returning Starters: 6 Despite finishing the 2024 season with a glossy 11–3 record, Iowa State significantly overachieved its underlying metrics, posting just 7.9 second-order wins and ranking only 35th in SP+. The Cyclones thrived on turnover luck (+9 margin, 19th nationally) and fourth-down efficiency (80%, 2nd), masking an offense that ranked 92nd in success rate and struggled mightily on standard downs (111th in SD success rate). QB Rocco Becht generated big plays to his star wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, with ISU ranking 22nd in marginal explosiveness. However, the overall pass game efficiency waned at times, as is evidenced by their 74th-ranked passing success rate. While the defense held firm in red zone scoring and created havoc in the secondary (12th in DB havoc rate), the front seven struggled with run fits and sack generation, as Iowa State finished bottom-25 nationally in rushing success rate allowed and sack rate on standard downs. Heading into 2025, Matt Campbell's team will need improved down-to-down consistency and fewer dependence on high-leverage conversions to replicate last year's 11-win total in an expanded and deep Big 12. Chase Sowell transfers over from Eastern Carolina and is expected to take over the X-WR role vacated by Jayden Higgins. How Sowell and fellow transfer Xavier Hutchinson replace Higgins and Jaylin Noel will determine how far the Cyclones can go this season. The passing game gels and Carson Hansen rushes for 100 yards and ISU gets off to a hot start and knocks off Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland Week 0. They will need to beat in-state rival Iowa in Week 3 and have the luxury of hosting Arizona State while dodging Texas Tech and Baylor in conference play, allowing Iowa State to run the Big 12 table and make a second-consecutive Big 12 Championship Game appearance. This line sits at a relatively balanced 7.5 Wins (-135 Under). With Iowa State having continuity everywhere except for the additions at defensive line and wide receiver, and having a rather favorable in-conference schedule, I lean the Over 7.5 Wins (+115) at the current prices. These are the favorites to claim the Big 12 title at season's end and guarantee themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, the conference is wide open, and its history promises the unexpected at points throughout the season. Read More: Froton Focuses on the contenders in the ACC Trysta Krick and Vaughn Dalzell look at the betting market for Arizona State in 2025, sharing why the loss of two key starters and a tough schedule could lead to the Sun Devils finishing with under 8.5 wins this year. Vaughn Dalzell and Trysta Krick evaluate the Utah Utes ahead of the 2025 college football season, explaining why veteran coach Kyle Whittingham has the roster to be a contender after a disappointing 2024.