THE GAME - Sun Devil Football opens Pac-12 action on the road this weekend with a Top-25 matchup against No. 10/12 Washington in Seattle on Saturday, September 22. The game, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff, will be broadcast live on the ESPN with Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams on the call. The game will be broadcast over the airwaves on ESPN 620 AM with the Voice of the Sun Devils, Tim Healey, joined by Jeff Van Raaphorst and Jordan Simone.
PAC-12 OPENERS- ASU is 16-22-2 all-time in the first Pac-12 game of the season and 16-23-1 in the first Pac-12 road game of the season. ASU doesn't open on the road quite as often, playing the first league game of the season on the road just 18 times since 1978 compared to opening conference action at home 22 times. ASU has only opened Pac-12 play on the road twice since 2007 (2013 and 2014).
VS. WASHINGTON - ASU was won 11 of its last 12 games against Washington (since 2002), a streak rivaled only by Oregon's 12-4 record over the Huskies in that time. Washington has been ranked three times in the past five contests between the two teams with ASU going 2-1 in those games (wins in 2013 and 2017 and a loss in 2016). That 2016 loss in Seattle has been the lone setback for ASU in the series since 2002.
ASU has been largely successful in recent years with its ability to limit potent Washington QB Jake Browning, who will finish in the UW record books at the top of just about every major category respective at his position.
However, in 42 career games for Browning, the senior has just 13 games where he had an NFL QB rating under 82.0 Three of those games have come in his career matchups against ASU (61.9 in 2015, 81.4 in 2016 and 68.6 in 2017). He has thrown 5 interceptions in games against ASU out of his paltry 28 career interceptions and has been sacked nine times (out of 79 career sacks over 42 games, 3.0 per game against ASU compared to just 1.8 per game against other opponents).
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
- Give the Sun Devils three straight wins in Pac-12 openers for the first time in conference history (since 1978).
- Hand ASU its 12th win in the last 13 games against UW (since 2002). Only Oregon (12) has won more games ver UW than ASU's current 11 in that time.
- Move ASU to 17-22-2 all-time in Pac-12 openers and 17-23-1 in Pac-12 road openers.
- Improve ASU to 6-11-1 when the first conference game of the season occurs on the road.
MILESTONE COUNTDOWNS
- 53 passing yards needed for Manny Wilkins to move into 7th in school history (6,610, currently at 6,557)
- 160 passing yards needed for Wilkins to move into 6th in school history (6,727 currently at 6,557)
- 355 passing yards needed for Wilkins to move into 5th in school history (6,912 currently at 6,557)
- 1 rushing touchdown needed for Wilkins to move into 2nd in school history among QBs (14, currently at 13).
- 5 passing touchdowns needed for Wilkins to move into 9th in program history (44, currently at 39).
- 119 receiving yards for N'Keal Harry to move into ASU's all-time top 10 (2,149, currently at 2,030)
- 1 receiving touchdown needed for Harry to move into 9th in ASU history (18, currently at 17).
- 3 receptions needed for Harry to move into 5th in program history (164, currently at 161)
- 7 receptions needed for Harry to move into 4th in program history (168, currently at 161)
- 126 receiving yards needed for Harry to move into 9th in program history (2,242, currently at 2,116)
- 171 receiving yards needed for Harry to move into 8th in program history (2,287, currently at 2,116)
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. ASU's Kobe Williams has been targeted just six times on the season - the third-lowest total in the country. He's allowed just 31 total yards when targeted - good for 14th nationally.
2. ASU has 81 plays this season in which the opponent has gained zero or negative yardage (48 incomplete passes, 27 tackles for loss, 6 plays of no gain) on 225 total opponent plays (36.0 percent).
3. .@mjsleepdalton36 is tied for the national lead with 10 punts inside the 20 through three games. He is seventh nationally in net punting at 44.2 yards per punt.
4. Eno Benjamin is currently 5th among the nation's running backs with 14 catches and his 19 total targets are 4th nationally. He has an offensive success score of 36.8% as a receiver, according to PFF, good for 8th among RBs with at least 7 targets.
5. No ASU running back has coughed up the ball in 593 consecutive carries (22 straight games without a fumble).
6. .@eno_benjamin5 leads the Pac-12 with 18 missed tackles forced this season - a total that is also tied for third nationally. He's forced a missed tackle 31.6 percent of the time, good for 8th among the nation's running backs.
7. Shannon Forman is 12th nationally among 3-4 defensive ends in PFF's run-stop %, logging 6 tackles in rush defense that have all constituted as a stop - and a 10.0 stop % that leads the nation among players that have played over 50% of their snaps on running plays.
8. .@NkealHarry15 has a touchdown reception in each of his last 5 games and at least one in 7 of last 8 games. He has 9 touchdown receptions in those 8 games after he had just 8 in the first 20 games of his career.
9. N'Keal Harry has a reception in all 28 games of his career at Arizona State, the eighth-longest active streak of games for any returning player in the NCAA.
10. Arizona State and Louisiana Tech are tied for the active FBS record of 124 consecutive games scoring more than 7 points.
BY THE NUMBERS
593 - No ASU running back has put the ball on the ground in 593 consecutive carries, dating back to the 2016 season - a streak of 22 consecutive games. That includes 58 running back carries this season.The Sun Devils turned the ball over just 15 times last season (four on tipped ball interceptions), a total good for 27th nationally. ASU finished 82nd in the country in 2016 with 21 turnovers. ASU has just one turnover this season - tied for second nationally - and is one of just 15 teams not to lose a fumble on the year.
124 - Arizona State and Louisiana Tech are tied for the active FBS record of 124 consecutive games scoring more than 7 points. The Sun Devils last scored a touchdown or less when they were shutout, 28-0, against eighth-ranked USC in the 2008 season. They have scored 30 or more points in 70 of those games (56.5 percent). Conversely, ASU is 12th in the country among teams that have played at least three games with just 5 touchdowns allowed this season.
28 - N'Keal Harry has a catch in each of his 28 games as a Sun Devil - tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. Harry has a TD reception in each of his last 5 games dating back to last season and at least one in 7 of last 8 games. He has 9 TD receptions in those 8 games after he had just 8 in the first 20 games of his career. He is tied with Stanford's JJ Arcega-Whiteside and UMass' Andy Isabella for the most in the country in that span. Harry has a 137.4 NFL QB rating when targeted this season, 27th nationally and third among receivers that have logged at least 50 percent of their team's targets.
18 - Eno Benjamin has forced 18 missed tackles this season (11 rushing, 7 receiving) - leading the Pac-12 running backs and tied for third nationally. He has posted a for a 94.1 elusive rating according to Pro Football Focus, fourth in the league. Benjamin has forced a missed tackle 31.6% of the time - eighth nationally. 30.2% of Benjamin's rushing attempts this season have resulted in a first down or touchdown - a total good for the 25th-highest percentage nationally. Benjamin is fifth among the nation's running backs with 14 catches this season and his 19 total targets are fourth nationally.
7 - Manny Wilkins as made 7 "big-time throws" this season, according to PFF (the organization's highest graded pass, usually on deep throws or into tight windows), good for 12th nationally. He has made just one single "turnover-worthy" throw - the 6th-lowest total in the nation. Wilkins has a 145.6 NFL passer rating when facing blitzing plays this season - the second-best total in the country and over 50 points higher than the national average of 90.7. Wilkins has been pressured on 31.5% of his dropbacks this season (20th nationally) but has just a 12.2 sack % that sits as the 18th-lowest total in the nation.
5 - Kobe Williams has allowed just five yards after the catch this season - leading Pac-12 corners and good for the seventh-lowest total nationally. He has been targeted just six times on the season - the third-lowest total in the country. Williams is allowing just 0.37 yards per play in which he in the primary man in coverage, good for third among Pac-12 corners. In general, Williams has allowed just 31 total yards when targeted - the third-lowest total in the Pac-12 and good for 14th nationally. Williams has only been targeting once every 13.8 passing plays this season - the fourth lowest total nationally.