THE GAME - Sun Devil Football heads on the road for the first time this season, trekking West to take on San Diego State on Saturday, September 15 at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, Calif.
The game, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff, will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn, Aaron Taylor and John Schriffen 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.
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
- Improve ASU to 11-1-1 all-time against San Diego State and keep the Devils undefeated in games played in San Diego (currently 6-0-1).
- Give ASU a perfect 3-0 non-conference regular season for the third time in five years (2014 and 2016 as well). ASU achieved that feat just three times from 2002-2013 (12 seasons).
MILESTONE COUNTDOWNS
- 394 passing yards needed for Manny Wilkins to move into 7th in school history (6,610, currently at 6,216)
- 1 touchdown needed (passing OR rushing) for Wilkins to reach 50 career touchdowns accounted for.
- 1 rushing touchdown needed for Wilkins to move into 3rd in school history among QBs (13, currently at 12).
- 4 completions needed for Wilkins to move into 7th in program history (477, currently at 473).
- 56 receiving yards needed for Kyle Williams to reach 1,000 career receiving yards .
- 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 10th in ASU history (17, currently at 16).
- 4 receptions needed for Harry to move into 7th in program history (156, currently at 152)
- 5 receptions needed for Harry to move into 6th in program history (157, currently at 152)
- 3 field goals needed for Brandon Ruiz to reach 25 in his career.
Brandon Ruiz is your @Pac12 Special Teams Player of the Week ??
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 10, 2018
?? https://t.co/SGkcX4V7GT#ForksUp #HometownHero pic.twitter.com/w5pd9Na8Nx
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. The Sun Devils have allowed just 3 first half points this season, tied for the third-lowest total in the country among teams who have played at least two FBS opponents (Alabama and Missouri each at 0 first half points).
2. ASU has 61 plays this season in which the opponent has gained zero or negative yardage (36 incomplete passes, 20 tackles for loss, 5 plays of no gain) on 143 total opponent plays (42.7 percent).
3. .@mjsleepdalton36 is tied for the national lead with 8 punts inside the 20 through two games. Of his 10 punts, only one has been returned - also tied for first nationally.
4. ASU has scored on 62 consecutive red zone trips (16 1/2 games dating back to Washington, 2016) in which it did not take a knee to end a game.
5. No ASU running back has coughed up the ball in 578 consecutive carries (21 straight games without a fumble).
6. Jalen Bates is tied for the national lead among defensive ends with 6 QB pressures this season for a 20.5 pass rush productivity score that is good for second nationally.
7. ASU has allowed just 20 points through the first two games of the season - the fifth lowest total in the Pac-12 era, which began in 1978 and the fourth-best number since 1988.
8. .@NkealHarry15 has a touchdown reception in each of his last 4 games and at least one in 6 of last 7 games. He has 8 touchdown receptions in those 7 games after her had just 8 in the first 20 games of his career.
9. N'Keal Harry has a reception in all 27 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 123 consecutive games scoring more than 7 points.
GOLD ZONE
- The Sun Devils are a perfect 6-for-6 in the red zone this season, continuing a trend that has been commonplace in the last two seasons.
- ASU finished fifth nationally in converting on 96.23 percent of its red zone appearances last season (51-of-53). HOWEVER, the Devils took a knee in the red zone in the final seconds of the team's victories over fifth-ranked Washington and in the Territorial Cup contest against Arizona.
- The Sun Devils scored on 43-of-47 trips to the red zone in 2016 (91.5 percent), a total that ranked 10th in the nation.
- The last time ASU didn't score in the red zone (not including game-ending victory formations) was in the second quarter at Washington in 2016 (interception in the red zone). Since then, ASU has scored on 62 consecutive red zone trips (16 1/2 games) in which it did not take a knee to end a game.
- ASU is the only team in the country to be ranked in the Top 10 in red zone scoring in each of the past two seasons.
DON'T CROSS THAT LINE
- ASU recorded nine sacks against UTSA, the most since the Sun Devils sacked the UCLA Bruins the same amount of times on Nov. 23, 2013. ASU recorded 15 tackles for a loss, the most since the Sun Devils recorded that same amount against Washington State on Oct. 30, 2010.
- ASU entered the season ranked fourth in the country in averaging 2.83 sacks per game in the past six seasons. Additionally, ASU was sixth in the nation with an average of 7.32 TFL per game since 2013.
- In 2018, ASU has 61 plays in which the opponent has gained zero or negative yardage (36 incomplete passes, 20 tackles for loss, 5 plays of no gain) on 143 total plays (42.7 percent).
DON'T CROSS THAT ONE, EITHER
- ASU has allowed just 20 points through the first two games of the season - the fifth lowest total in the Pac-12 era, which began in 1978 (12 - 1985; 13 - 1982; 17 - 1986, 2000, 2007, 2009; 19 - 1987; 20 - 2012, 2018) and the fourth-best number since 1988.
- ASU is 16th nationally in scoring defense (10.0 points per game) and 14th in total points allowed among teams with at least two games (20).
- The Sun Devils have allowed just 3 first half points this season, tied for the third-lowest total in the country among teams who have played at least two FBS opponents (Alabama and Missouri each at 0 first half points).
HOLD ON TO THAT BALL
- No ASU running back has put the ball on the ground in 578 consecutive carries, dating back to the 2016 season - a streak of 21 consecutive games. That includes 43 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.
HE'S THE MANNY
- Manny Wilkins is currently eight in program history with 6,216 career passing yards and he needs just 394 to move into a tie for seventh.
- His 503 career completions are tied for sixth in program history.
- His 12 career rushing touchdowns are fourth among quarterbacks in ASU history behind Mark Malone (21), Danny White (14) and Taylor Kelly (13). He had seven touchdowns on the ground last season, becoming one of just 10 quarterbacks in the FBS last season to pass for at least 20 touchdowns with at least 7 rushing touchdowns as well.
- Wilkins broke the school record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception last season at 192 between the end of the 2016 season and the first half of last year, breaking Rudy Carpenter's previous school record of 149 from the end of 2005 to 2006.
- Wilkins needs one touchdown (rushing or passing) to account for 50 in his career.
- The Sun Devil offense has scored a successful play (as graded by Pro Football Focus) on 44.0 percent of Wilkins' passing attempts this season - the 17th-best total among all quarterbacks in the FBS.
- Wilkins has a 147.1 NFL passer rating when facing blitzing plays this season - the seventh best total nationally.
DIRTY HARRY
- N'Keal Harry has a reception in all 27 games of his career at Arizona State, tied for the eighth-longest active streak among all current FBS players.
- His 152 career receptions are good for ninth in Sun Devil school history and he is just four away from moving into a tie for seventh (and 5 away from a tie for sixth).
- Harry is already within 119 yards of cracking ASU's all-time Top-10 in career receiving yards.
- At 5.63 receptions for game in his career, Harry is currently the NCAA's active career leader in the category. His 75.2 career receiving yards per game are second among all active players.
- With 16 career receiving touchdowns, Harry is within one of moving into a tie for 10th in ASU school history in that category as well and two would move him into ninth.
- He was named to PFF"s Offensive Team of the Week, finishing with a 90.7 grade and accounted for 114 yards after the catch on his 140 total receiving yards.
- Harry has a touchdown reception in each of his last 4 games dating back to last season and at least one in 6 of last 7 games. He has 8 touchdown receptions in those 7 games after he had just 8 in the first 20 games of his career.
- Harry has a 149.3 NFL QB rating when targeted this season, good for 11th nationally.
NO RUSH
- The Devils have allowed just 65 rushing yards through two games this season, allowing just 32.5 rushing yards per game - a total that currently leads the nation.
- ASU is allowing an FBS low 1.07 yards per opponent rush this season.
- ASU allowed just 2 rushing yards against UTSA - the seventh-lowest total it has allowed against any opponent since the 1996 season.
GOLD RUSH
- ASU has 27 rushing TDs last year as it reached 25 rushing touchdowns for the fourth time in the last six seasons. Those four times are notable as the Devils had just three previous seasons with at least 25 rushing touchdowns from 1980-2011 (1985, 1986 and 1996).
- The Sun Devils have rushed for over 2,000 yards five times in the last six seasons seasons at ASU after doing so just one single time from 2000-2011 and only eight times total over 30 years from 1981-2011.
- According to Pro Football Focus, the Sun Devils had the 27th-highest graded rushing attack last season after having the 41st worst-graded attack in 2016.
- During Week One, the Sun Devils averaged 8.1 yards per attempt on the ground - good for 15th nationally. The offensive line played a big role in that, as ASU led the FBS this week in yards gained before contact at 3.9 yards per carry.
KEEPING MOMENTUM
- Arizona State and Louisiana Tech are tied for the active FBS record of 123 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 (57.0 percent).
- The Sun Devils have won as least seven games in four of the last six seasons, marking the first time ASU has done so in a six-year gap since doing it four straight times from 2004-07.
- Prior to that, the last time ASU accomplished the feat was 1978-82, winning at least seven games four times in that five-year spread.
THE CHASE IS ON
- Chase Lucas has made his presence felt all over the field and has been especially efficient in run defense, where he has made 5 tackles and two stops for a 6.3 run stop percentage that is currently second among Pac-12 cornerbacks.
- Lucas was named a freshman first-team all-American last season by the FWAA and second-team by USA Today.
- Lucas earned Pac-12 Second Team honors at defensive back and was the only freshman to be named to either the Pac-12 First or Second teams last season and became the first freshman to earn First or Second team honors on offense or defense since Oregon running back Royce Freeman earned Second Team offense honors in 2014 .
- He was the first Pac-12 freshman defensive back to make the First or Second teams since Brandon Browner did so for Oregon State back in 2003.
- Despite being targeted more than any of the 23 Pac-12 corners that played at least 60 percent of snaps in the regular season (once every 4.6 passing plays), Lucas allowed the fifth-lowest completion percentage of any corner in the conference – regardless of year.
MAKE 'EM PAY
- ASU has outscored opponents 601-328 in points off takeaways since 2012.
- Since 2012, ASU has scored 68.2 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (101 of 148) while finding the end zone 77 times in that span (52.0 percent).
- Conversely, opponents have scored just 51.8 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (55 of 106) with 43 touchdowns (40.6 percent).
ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMINS
- Eno Benjamin has forced 13 missed tackles this season (7 rushing, 6 receiving) on 37 total touches for a 113.9 elusive rating according to Pro Football Focus, 28th-best nationally.
- Benjamin has forced a missed tackle 34.2 percent of the time - good for 11th among all Power Five running backs.
- 40 percent of Benjamin's rushing attempts this season have resulted in a first down or touchdown - a total good for the 9th-highest percentage among all Power Five running backs.
A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR
- ASU has 17 interception returns for touchdowns in the last seven seasons tied for second in the nationl behind only Alabama (18) in that time.
- The Sun Devils have 92 interceptions in the last six seasons, ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
- ASU has added four fumble return touchdowns as well for 21 defensive touchdowns since the 2012 season, good for fourth in the country in that time span behind Ohio State (25), Alabama (24) and Boise State (24).
ON THE DEFENSE
- Jalen Bates is tied for the national lead among defensive ends with 6 QB pressures this season for a 20.5 pass rush productivity score that is good for second nationally. Teammate Doug Subtyl is tied for second among ends with five QB pressures this season and sixth in the national with a 12.9 PRP, according to PFF.
- Kobe Williams has allowed just five yards after the catch this season - tied for fourth among Pac-12 corners.
- Williams is allowing just 0.50 yards per play in which he in the primary man in coverage, also tied for fourth among Pac-12 corners. In general, Williams has allowed just 31 total yards when targetted - the sixth-lowest total in the Pac-12.
- Dasmond Tautalatasi and Demonte King have combined to allow just three receptions on a combined 143 plays in coverage from the safety position this season.
- Merlin Robertson recorded seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 TFL, and one forced fumble in the second half alone against #15 MSU en route to being named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
- Robertson has been one of the top edge defenders in the country in coverage, grading out at 70.6 this season by Pro Football Focus - the 10th best score for an outside defender in the country.
- ASU is one of just 17 teams this season to not give up a play of over 40 yards, an area the Devils have struggled in in recent seasons (allowing 20, 16, 30, 21 in the previous four seasons and finishing 103rd, 79th, 128th, 110th, respectively.
RUIZ'S PIECES
- Ruiz connected on all three of his field goal attempts (49, 24, 28), including the game-winning kick from 28 yards as time expired in ASU's 16-13 upset of then-No. 15 Michigan State to earn Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week Honors for the third time in his career.
- Ruiz is 13th nationally with a 83.33 percent touchback percentage this season (10 of 12).
- The true freshman finished 12th nationally and led all FBS freshmen in touchback percentage (69.3 percent) and 10th nationally with 52 total touchbacks.
- Ruiz was second among all freshmen kickers in the country with 19 field goals last season - good for a tie for 18th among all kickers in the country.
DON'T SLEEP ON HIM
- Michael Sleep-Dalton is currently one of four players tied for first in the nation this season with 8 punts downed inside the 20 yard line.
- He has had just one of his 10 punts against him returned, also a total tied for the national lead.
- He is currently 11th nationally in averaging 45.4 yards per punt and eighth nationally with his 43.9 net yards per punt as well.