THE GAME - Sun Devil Football closes out the regular season this weekend with its rivalry contest against the Arizona Wildcats in the annual Territorial Cup on Saturday, Nov. 30. The contest is scheduled for an 8 p.m. AZT kickoff and will be nationally televised on ESPN. Fans hoping to tune in over the airwaves can listen on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
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TERRITORIAL CUP - This will be the 93rd Duel in the Desert, with Arizona leading the all-time series 49-42-1. The vast majority of those Wildcat wins came prior to 1950, however. Since 1949, ASU holds a 40-29-1 record in the series. The winner of the game will receive (or retain) the Territorial Cup Trophy, and the game is recognized by the NCAA as the nation's oldest rivalry trophy game.
Last season, the Sun Devils mounted the largest fourth-quarter comeback in program history, rallying from 19 points down to shock the Wildcats, 41-40 - the second-straight victory in the series for ASU. Neither team has truly dominated the series since the Wildcats went 8-0-1 against ASU over the course of the 1980s. Since then, there have only been two occurrences where one team has posted a three-game winning streak - once for each team (ASU 2005-07, UA 1993-95).
The Sun Devils will be looking for their seventh victory in the past 10 contests against Arizona. The home team had won five straight meetings prior to ASU's dramatic victory last season, though the road teams won four in a row from 2009-12. The winning team has scored at least 41 points in the last 7 contests between the two teams. Nine of the previous 15 games have been decided by a touchdown or less.
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SENIOR DAY
The Sun Devils will honor 16 seniors prior to the game on Saturday.This year's senior class has qualified for a bowl game in each of the last three seasons and have helped account for 25 wins in their tenure at Arizona State. The group has helped record an 18-7 record in games played at Sun Devil Stadium in the past four years. Combined, the senior class has recorded 239 starts between them with seven of those recording at least 20 starts in their tenures and 13 of which were starters or significant contributors on special teams during the 2019 season.
Eight of the 16 players have been Sun Devils have been on campus for at least four years in their careers and eight had already earned their undergraduate degrees prior to the start of the 2019 season.
This years Senior Class is comprised of Brandon Aiyuk, Cohl Cabral, Darien Cornay, Cade Cote*, Roy Hemsley, Tommy Hudson*, Khaylan Kearse-Thomas*, George Lea*, Alex Losoya*, Steve Miller*, Ryan Newsome*, Jonathan Sanchez, Tyler Whiley*, Roe Wilkins, Kyle Wiliams and Kobe Williams.
*-Indicates student-athlete competed this season with a degree from Arizona State University
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KICKING OFF
- Kyle Williams has at least one pass reception in 39 consecutive games, tied for fourth in ASU history with Chris McGaha.
- Brandon Aiyuk and Frank Darby are the only receiving duo in the Pac-12 to each record at least 8 receiving touchdowns this season and one of just seven FBS duos to do so (LSU, Arkansas State, Minnesota, SMU, Alabama, Hawai'i).
- Oregon marked the 10th time in 11 games that ASU has held an opponent under 155 total rushing yards (217 vs. UCLA). The Devils had just five such games last season. It is the most since have 10 such games during the 2009 season.
- Jayden Daniels hasn't thrown an interception on 110 consecutive pass attempts, tied with Clemson's Trevor Lawrence for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. That last interception, however, came on a half-ending Hail Mary attempt against Utah. With that removed, Daniels would have a streak of 178 consecutive passes without an interception over his last six games and change.
- Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert had just three interceptions thrown all year before the Sun Devils picked him off on back-to-back pass attempts in the fourth quarter. Of his 13 total interceptions in the last two years (24 games), four have come against ASU.
- ASU's 535 total yards of offense are the most the Ducks have allowed since TCU recorded 545 yards in the 2016 Alamo Bowl.
- Oregon entered the game second nationally in turnover margin (+1.30). They were tied for 12th nationally with 20 turnovers forced compared to only seven lost. ASU forced two turnovers without giving the ball up and outscored the Ducks 11-0 (all in the fourth quarter) in points off turnovers.
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AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
- Give ASU seven wins over Arizona in the last 10 matchups
- Gives ASU seven wins in a season for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
- Be the first three-game winning streak in the series since ASU won three straight from 2005-07. It would be just the third such win-streak in the series since 1993 (UA won 3 straight from '93-95).
- Improve ASU to 15-9 in the series since the 1996 season.
MILESTONE COUNTDOWNS
- 381 passing yards for Jayden Daniels to move into 10th in ASU single-season history (currently at 13th at 2,644 words behind Manny Wilkins' 3,025 in 2018).
- 2 100+ yard rushing game for Eno Benjamin to tie Wilford White for most games rushing over 100 yards in a career (currently tied for fourth with 14 with Art Malone).
- 13 rushing yards for Eno Benjamin to move into 7th in ASU career rushing yards (currently at 2,699 yards behind Darryl Clack's 2,711 total from 1982-85).
- 206 rushing yards for Eno Benjamin to move into 6th in ASU career rushing yards (currently at 2,699 yards behind Leon Burton's 2,994 from 1955-58).
- 2 games with catch needed for Kyle Williams to move into a tie for third in ASU history in consecutive games with a reception (currently tied for fourth with 39 behind Derek Hagan's 41 straight games.).
- 1 catch needed for Kyle Williams to climb into seventh-place on ASU's All-Time career catches list (currently tied for eighth with 156).
- 268 all-purpose yards needed for Brandon Aiyuk to set the ASU single-season school record for all-purpose yards (currently at 1,797 behind Wilford White's 2,065 from back in the 1950 season).
- 41 receiving yards for Brandon Aiyuk to move into ASU's single-season Top-5 (currently at 1,125 behind Jaelen Strong's 1,165 in 2014).
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#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)
1. .@yaboiijuicee leads the nation's corners in allowing just 0.49 yards per coverage snap and his 30 total targets on the year are 7th-fewest in the FBS.
2. Brandon Aiyuk and Frank Darby are the only receiving duo in the Pac-12 to each record at least 8 receiving touchdowns this season and one of just seven FBS duos to do so (LSU, Arkansas State, Minnesota, SMU, Alabama, Hawai'i).
3. .@eno_benjamin5 has played 313 snaps in passing routes this season, the second-highest total among FBS running backs, as are his 52 targets.
4. Aashari Crosswell (@YkgAashari) has been credited with just one missed tackle this season, a total that leads the nation's 300+ graded safeties.
5. .@jayd__5 has not thrown an interceptions in 110 consecutive pass attempts, the 8th longest active streak in the country. He needs 37 more to set the ASU school record in the category.
6. Over his past four games, Frank Darby has made 16 catches for 387 yards (24.2 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns - including a pair of multi-touchdown games.
7. Senior wide receiver @kylewilliamsVI has caught at least one pass in 39 consecutive games, dating back to his freshman season - a total good tied for fourth in ASU history and the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.
8. Chase Lucas and Kobe Williams have each been credited just just one touchdown against them in coverage this season, tied for 26th among the nation's corners and first in the Pac-12.
9. Brandon Aiyuk has racked up 1,797 all-purpose yards this season on just 88 total plays (20.4 yards per touch, which is third nationally).
10. Despite missing a game, Jayden Daniels has accounted for 774 passing yards in the fourth quarter of games, good for 7th nationally while his 33 passing first downs are 10th
BY THE NUMBERS
88 - Brandon Aiyuk has racked up 1,797 all-purpose yards this season on just 88 total plays (20.4 yards per touch, which is third nationally). At 163.36 yards per game, Aiyuk is the only wide receiver in the Top-20 nationally in the category. At 1,797 all-purpose yards this season, Aiyuk is fourth in ASU history and within 268 yards of Wilford White's long-standing school record of 2,065 set back in 1950. Aiyuk is the only player in the country to record at least 200 yards on both punt (226) and kick (446) returns.Aiyuk is currently 3rd nationally and first in the Pac-12 in all-purpose yards at 163.36 per game.
52 - Eno Benjamin has played 313 snaps in passing routes this season, the second-highest total among FBS running backs as are his 52 targets. He has been targeted on 21.6 percent of ASU aimed passes (balls not thrown away, spiked or batted) - the 6th-highest percentage of running backs nationally. His 333 receiving yards this season are third among all FBS running backs. Benjamin has forced 60 missed tackles this season - a total tied for 11th nationally among running backs. He is 27th nationally with 634 yards after contact this season (69.3 percent of his 915 rushing yards).
21 - Frank Darby's 21.32 yards per reception this season is fourth in the country and leads all Pac-12 receivers. He has seven touchdowns over the last four games. Prior to the UCLA game, he had five total receiving touchdowns in his previous 30 career games to the current four-game stretch. Over his past four games, he has made 16 catches for 387 yards (24.2 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns. 24 of Darby's 58 career catches (41%) have gone for 20 or more yards. Darby is the 23rd-highest graded offensive player in the league (76.4) - sixth among the league's wide receivers.
11 - Jayden Daniels has completed 11 passes of 25+ yards in the fourth quarter of games (tied for 1st nationally) and his 19 pass completions over 15 yards in the frame is tied for 7th. Despite missing a game, Daniels has accounted for 774 passing yards in the fourth quarter of games, good for 7th nationally while his 33 passing first downs are 10th. He has recorded 9 fourth quarter passing touchdowns (fourth nationally) to one interception. His 183.84 QB efficiency rating in the fourth quarter is 15th in the country. Daniels has 719 passing yards on third downs good for 14th in the country (despite missing a game).
.5 - Kobe Williams has allowed just 140 yards in coverage thus far, the 11th-lowest total among the nation's corners.. His 0.49 yards allowed per coverage snap is tied for first in the country. Williams has only been thrown at just 30 times this season - the 7th-lowest total among corners that have played at least 50 percent of the coverage snaps this season. He has been targeted just once every 9.5 snaps in coverage this season, 5th-lowest among the nation's corners. He has allowed just 16 receptions this season, which is the fewest in the Pac-12 and 15th-fewest nationally.
0 - Jayden Daniels hasn't thrown an interception in 110 consecutive pass attempts, tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. The last interception, however, came on a half-ending Hail Mary attempt against Utah. With that removed, Daniels would have a streak of 178 consecutive passes without an interception over his last six games and change. The third-longest streak in ASU history without an interception was Mike Pagel (136) in 1980 and the school record is Rudy Carpenter's streak of 146 straight in 2005 (Manny Wilkins went 145 straight in 2017. Daniels is easily on pace to set the ASU school record for fewest interceptions with over 300 attempts (currently Wilkins' 6 in 393 in 2018)