THE GAME - Sun Devil Football is back on the road looking for its third road victory over a ranked opponent as it takes on the #13/#14 Utah Utes on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. AZT (4 p.m SLC) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network and can be heard over the airwaves locally at Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
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THE OPPONENT - ASU is 22-8 in the all-time series against the Utes, though posting just a 6-4 record in games played in Salt Lake City. The contest will have implications in the Pac-12 South battle, with the winner guaranteed to remain in at least a tie for the top record in the division at weekend's end.
It will be a tilt between two of the top scoring defenses in the Pac-12 with ASU third (16th nationally) at 17.7 points per game allowed and Utah leading the league and eighth nationally at 13.2 points per game allowed. It's also a battle of the top two rushing defenses in the league with Utah second nationally at 52.8 rushing yards per game allowed and ASU 12th nationally ay 91.7 rushing yards per game given up.
The matchup is one of just three games in the FBS this weekend featuring two ranked opponents, and the second to appear in the Pac-12 (#12 Oregon at #25 Washington). #16 Michigan takes on #7 Penn State in Happy Valley this weekend in the lone other matchup.
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KICKING OFF
-The Sun Devils have scored double-digit points in 125 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS and tied for the longest streak in the modern era of FBS football with Louisiana Tech's run of 125 games from 2008-18.
-Arizona State is 2-0 against ranked opponents this season, with the two wins tied with five other teams for the most in the country. They they are one of just three of those teams that are 2-0 (Temple, LSU) and the only team that has two road victories against AP-ranked opponents.
-ASU is one of just 10 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play this season.
-Eno Benjamin has scored at least one touchdown in eight consecutive games.
-Kyle Williams has at least one pass receptions in 34 consecutive games, the sixth-longest streak in ASU history.
-The Sun Devils have been at their best in ending halves, posting a +27 point differential in the second quarter and +21 in the fourth quarter. The +48 combined difference is exceptional, but ASU will look to bolster their effort to start halves after sitting at a -2 point differential in the first (-14) and third (+12) quarters combined this season.
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AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
Be ASU's third ROAD victory over a ranked team this season, marking the only time that has happened in program history.
Move ASU to 3-0 against ranked opponents this year. It's current total of two wins is tied with five other teams for most nationally
Improve ASU to 6-1 for the first time since 2014 and just the eighth time in the Pac-12 era (since 1978).
Give ASU a 5-3 record under Herm Edwards against ranked opponents.
Be the first time ASU started a season 3-0 on the road since the 1996 Rose Bowl season (4-0). It would mark only the fifth time in the Pac-12 era that the feat has occurred ('82, '86, '91, '96).
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MILESTONE COUNTDOWNS
1 100+ yard rushing game for Eno Benjamin to tie Demario Richard (13 from 2014-17) for fifth in ASU school history.
96 all-purpose yards needed for Eno Benjamin to reach 3,000 career all-purpose yards (currently at 2,904).
43 rushing yards for Eno Benjamin to pass D.J. Foster for 13th in ASU career history (currently at 2,313 yards behind Foster's 2,355 total from 2012-15).
162 rushing yards for Eno Benjamin to pass Ben Malone for 13th in ASU career history (currently at 2,313 yards behind Malone's 2,474 total from 1971-73).
2 games with a catch needed for Kyle Williams to move into fifth in ASU history in consecutive games with a receptions (currently at 34, needs 36).
1 game with 10+ points needed for ASU to set the FBS modern record record for most consecutive games scoring in double digits (currently at 125 games, tied with Louisiana Tech's streak of 125 games from 2008-2018).
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#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. Brandon Aiyuk is second in the FBS with 424 yards after the catch and has forced 11 missed tackles this year - good for fourth in the nation.
2. On run defense, Evan Fields has recorded a 9.8 run-stop percentage that leads the league and is second in the FBS. His 16 defensive stops this season are seventh among Power Five safeties.
3. In Pac-12 games, @eno_benjamin5 has earned 224 yards after contact, the most in the Pac-12 and tied for 15th among FBS running backs since Week 4. His 106.7 yards per game in Pac-12 games only are currently tops in the league.
4. Aashari Crosswell (@YkgAashari) has been credited with just one missed tackle this season, a total that ranks is tied for first among Power Five safeties.
5. Arizona State holds the FBS active streak for consecutive games scoring more than 10 points, currently doing so in 125 straight games - a total that also matches the FBS modern era with Louisiana Tech (2008-2018).
6. .@JayD__5 has accounted for 474 total yards of offense and four touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games (401 passing, 73 rushing). His 401 passing yards in the fourth quarter are 7th nationally while his 19 passing first downs are 8th.
7. Senior wide receiver @kylewilliamsVI has caught at least one pass in 34 consecutive games, dating back to his freshman season - a total good for sixth in ASU history and the fourth longest active streak in the FBS.
8. ASU has allowed just seven plays over 30 yards this season, a total tied for 16th nationally. The Sun Devils are one of just 10 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play on the year.
9. ASU is looking to win its third ROAD game against a ranked opponent in a single season, a feat it has never accomplished in program history.
10. The Sun Devils are looking to maintain their national lead with a third win over a ranked team and become the only team in the nation to do that with all three wins coming on the road.
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BY THE NUMBERS
125 - The Sun Devils have scored double-digit points in 125 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS and matching the longest streak in the modern era with 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 140 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 77 of those games (55.0 percent).
48 - The Sun Devils have been at their best in ending halves, posting a +27 point differential in the second quarter and +21 in the fourth quarter. ASU's +48 combined scoring differential in the second and fourth quarters is exceptional, but ASU will look to bolster their effort to start halves after sitting at a -2 point differential in the first (-14) and third (+12) quarters combined this season.The Sun Devils are 20th nationally in allowing just 9.6 points per first half this season against FBS opponents and just 3.6 points per second quarter (11th nationally). ASU hasn't allowed a first quarter score in 8 of 17 games in the Edwards era and is 7-1 in those games.
30 - ASU has held opponents to 30 or less points in 13 of 19 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 16th in the country in allowing just 17.7 points per game. ASU has allowed just seven plays over 30 yards this season, a total tied for 16th nationally. The Sun Devils are one of just 10 teams nationally to not give up a 50-yard play on the year. ASU's run defense has been especially efficient, leading the FBS with only 10 plays allowed over 10 yards this season.
9 - Eno Benjamin leads the Pac-12 with seven rushing touchdowns this season (13th nationally). His nine total touchdowns are also 9th nationally and lead the league. He is third in the league (35th nationally) with 119.0 all-purpose yards per game. Benjamin has scored at least one touchdown in eight consecutive games, dating back to last season. Benjamin has continued to do his part to make people miss this year, forcing 36 missed tackles this season - a total tied for 11th nationally among running backs. In Pac-12 games, Benjamin has earned 224 yards after contact, the most in the Pac-12 and tied for 15th among FBS running backs since Week 4.
8 - ASU has played eight total games decided by four points or less in the Herm Edwards era, the most in the FBS since the start of last year. ASU's six wins in games of four points or less (6-2) is tied with Nevada for the best in college football the past two seasons. The Sun Devils have now played 13 games under Herm Edwards decided by a touchdown or less, going 7-6 in those contests. Those 13 games are tied for the most in the country with Texas since the start of last season.ASU's seven wins in those games are second in the FBS in that time behind Texas.
1 - Aashari Crosswell has not been credited with a missed tackle on a running play this season, marking him one of just 10 safeties in the Power Five to lay such a claim. His one missed tackle on the season, period, is tied with six others for fewest among Power Five safeties. Crosswell has allowed just 17 yards after the catch this season, the third-lowest total among Pac-12 safeties and 31st nationally - and his 64 total passing yards allowed are also third-lowest in the conference.Crosswell's five forced incompletions this season are most among Pac-12 safeties and third among Power Five safeties.