**Complete game notes, stats and other superlatives located in the links above
THE GAME - Sun Devil Football returns home after its first bye week of the season to welcome the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks while also being covered over the airwaves locally on ESPN Phoenix 620 AM.
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THE OPPONENT - Washington State was undefeated in non-conference action before dropping a 67-63 thriller to UCLA in Pullman before Utah rattled off 24 consecutive points in Salt Lake City for a 38-13 defeat that dropped the Cougars to 0-2 in Pac-12 play. The Cougars have won the last two games in the series, though the squads haven't played since 2016. ASU is 17-5-2 at Sun Devil Stadium against the Cougars.
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KICKING OFF
-The Sun Devils have had fairly significant success in afternoon games at Sun Devil Stadium in recent years, winning nine straight games that have kicked off before 4 p.m. Arizona time in Tempe dating back to 2012.
-That nine-game stretch has also featured some significant scoring outputs with ASU averaging 44.0 points per game during the win streak.
-The Sun Devils have scored double-digit points in 124 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS and the second-longest streak in the modern era of football behind only Louisiana Tech's run of 125 games from 2008-18.
-Arizona State is 2-0 against ranked opponents this season, with two runs tied with four other teams for the most in the country while they are one of just two of those teams that are 2-0 and the only team that has two road victories against AP-ranked opponents.
-The Sun Devils have forced a turnover in 11 consecutive games, the sixth-longest active streak in the country behind Mississippi St. (21), Syracuse (19), Maryland (17), SMU (17) and Utah (13).
-ASU is one of just 12 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play this season.
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AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
Be ASU's 10th consecutive win AT HOME when playing a game that kicks off before 4 p.m. Arizona time
End ASU's two-game losing streak to the Cougs, though the pairing hasn't seen each other in each of the past two seasons
Improve ASU to 38-12 in games played at Sun Devil Stadium since 2012 with the current tally of 37 home wins good for 22nd nationally from 2012-present. The 12 losses are tied for the 25th fewest in the FBS in that time.
Guarantee that the Sun Devils remained at least tied for the best overall record in the Pac-12 this season (Arizona and Utah are both 4-1).
Be the first time WSU lost three straight games in the regular season since 2014.
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MILESTONE COUNTDOWNS
71 receiving yards needed for Brandon Aiyuk to reach 1,000 receiving yards in his 1+ year career at ASU (currently at 929).
267 all-purpose yards needed for Eno Benjamin to reach 3,000 career all-purpose yards (currently at 2,733).
2 consecutive games with 10+ points needed for ASU to set the FBS modern record record for most consecutive games scoring in double digits (currently at 124 games, trailing only Louisiana Tech's streak of 125 games from 2008-2018).
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#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. Brandon Aiyuk is fifth in the FBS with 308 yards after the catch and has forced nine missed tackles this year - 11th in the nation.
2. On run defense this season, Evan Fields has recorded a 9.7 run-stop percentage that leads the league and is second in the FBS. His 12.8 run-stop percentage when lined up within 8 yards of the line of scrimmage is No. 1 in the FBS.
3. .@eno_benjamin5 has played 141 snaps in passing routes this season, the 4th-highest total among FBS running backs. His 151 receiving yards are 11th among FBS running backs.
4. Aashari Crosswell (@YkgAashari) has been credited with just one missed tackles this season, a total that ranks third-fewest among safeties in the Power Five.
5. Arizona State holds the FBS active streak for consecutive games scoring more than 10 points, currently doing so in 124 straight games - just two shy of setting the FBS modern era record.
6. When facing pressure this season, @JayD__5 has posted the 3rd-highest NFL QB rating of any quarterback in the FBS at 120.9.
7. The Sun Devils have forced a turnover in 11 consecutive games dating back to last season. That is the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
8. ASU has allowed just six plays over 30 yards this season, a total tied for 34th nationally. The Sun Devils are one of just 12 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play on the year.
9. Only 10 times has a team crossed into ASU's red zone - the 7th-lowest total nationally. The 7 red zone scores allowed are tied for the 6th-lowest total in the FBS.
10. The Sun Devils defense is 15th in the country with an opponent red zone conversion percentage of .700 (7-of-10).
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BY THE NUMBERS
124 - The Sun Devils have scored double-digit points in 124 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS and the second-longest streak in the modern era of football behind only Louisiana Tech (125 straight games from 2008-2018) .ASU also holds the FBS active streak for consecutive games scoring more than 7 points, currently doing so in 139 straight games. The Sun Devils last scored fewer than 7 points when they were shutout, 28-0, against eighth-ranked USC in the 2008 season. They have scored 30 or more points in 76 of those games (54.6 percent).
30 - ASU has held opponents to 30 or less points in 13 of 18 games in Danny Gonzales' defensive scheme, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. ASU is ranked 11th in the country in allowing just 14.4 points per game. ASU has allowed just six plays over 30 yards this season, a total tied for 16th nationally. The Sun Devils are one of just 12 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play on the year. ASU's run defense has been especially efficient, with just one play over 20 yards allowed this season - tied for the 6th-lowest total in the country.
11- The Sun Devils have forced a turnover in 11 consecutive games dating back to last season. ASU is 31st nationally in turnover margin this season (0.60). The Devils have turned over the ball over just four times - the 8th-lowest total in the FBS. ASU has outscored opponents 691-358 in points off takeaways since 2012. Since 2012, ASU has scored 66.8 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (115 of 172) while finding the end zone 86 times (50.0 percent). Conversely, opponents have scored just 50.4 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (61 of 120) with 46 touchdowns (38.3 percent).
9 - The Sun Devils have had fairly significant success in afternoon games at Sun Devil Stadium in recent years, winning nine straight games that have kicked off before 4 p.m. Arizona time in Tempe dating back to 2012. That nine-game stretch has also featured some significant scoring outputs with ASU averaging 44.0 points per game during the win streak. Sun Devil Football has had one of the top home field advantages in the FBS in the last six seasons, recording a 37-12 record at Sun Devil Stadium since 2012. The 37 wins are tied for 22nd nationally in that time. The 12 losses are the 25th-fewest in the FBS.
3 - ASU safeties Aashari Crosswell and Evan Fields find themselves in the Top-3 of a number of statistical categories leading into the coming weekend. Crosswell has not been credited with a missed tackle on a running play this season, one of just 10 safeties in the Power Five to do so. His one missed tackle on the season is third among Power Five safeties. On run defense this season, Fields has recorded 12 total defensive "stops" to lead all Pac-12 safeties and his 9.7 run-stop % also leads the league and is second in the FBS. When he plays within eight yards of the line of scrimmage at the snap, Fields has recorded a 12.8 run-stop % - tops in the FBS.
3 - Third downs have been an area that have shown off Jayden Daniel's clutch play ability throughout this season. Daniels has been exceptional on third downs this season, with his 388 passing yards on third downs good for 13th in the country. His 169.12 passer rating on third down is 16th nationally while throwing for 16 first downs - the 26th best total in the FBS. His ability to protect the football plays a roll in the success as he is tied for 18th nationally in fewest interceptions this season with just one thus far. Cool under pressure, Daniels has a 120.9 NFL QB rating when fcing pressure this season, good for third in the FBS.