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Sun Devil Football Welcomes #10 UCLA

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Sun Devil Football Welcomes #10 UCLASun Devil Football Welcomes #10 UCLA

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football returns home this weekend for the first time in nearly a month, squaring off against #10/11 UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Sun Devil Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. AZT kickoff and will be broadcast nationally on FS1 (Noah Eagle and Mark Helfrich on the call) and will be carried over the airwaves on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner).

ON THE BRUINS -  UCLA leads the all-time series, 22-15-1, but it has been a largely back-and-forth series over the last decade-and-a-half with ASU leading 8-7 since 2007. No team has won more than two games in a row in the series since UCLA took three 2000, 2001 and 2003. ASU handled at ranked UCLA team at the Rose Bowl last season, 42-23.

KICKING OFF

  • This will be ASU's fifth-game this season against a Top-25 opponent this season and fourth against a Top-15 team - the latter a feat that hasn't happened since the Devils played five Top-10 teams in 2002. The five Top-25 opponents are tied for the fourth most in program history. On three occasions, ASU has played six Top-25 teams (1986, 1995 and 2014) - a feat ASU could match if #24 Oregon State remains ranked on Nov. 19.
  • ASU has won three straight games in Sun Devil Stadium against Top-10 teams (No. 6 Oregon in 2019, No. 5 Washington in 2017 and No. 8 Notre Dame in 2014).
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 32 of 51 games since 2018 (62.7 percent), notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013-17.
  • ASU is 12th in the nation in only allowed 10 plays over 30 yards this season. ASU's one play allowed over 50 yards this season is also fourth nationally.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 28 occasions over 51 games (54.9 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
  • The Sun Devils have an interception in 10 straight games dating back to last season and 15 of the last 16 games.
  • ASU extended its streak of games with at least one takeaway to 17 straight games, the second-longest streak in the FBS (Georgia State, 20)
  • Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 40 of 51 games (78.4 percent).
  • While ASU's sack totals haven't quite been there this year, the team's defensive linemen have combined for 23 QB hits on the season, the 23rd-most of any defensive line in the FBS. The group also has 78 total hurries, 26th among all FBS defensive lines.
  • The Sun Devils have just 16 missed tackles over the last three games, tied for fewest in the Power Five/Group of Five in the last four weeks.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...

  • Be ASU's 18th win over a ranked opponent since 2012 - notable as the Sun Devils won just 15 total from 1998-2011. The 17 current wins over ranked teams are Tpp-25 in the FBS since 2012.
  • Be the fourth-straight win against a Top-10 opponent in Sun Devil Stadium (No. 6 Oregon '19, No. 5 UW '17, No. 8 Notre Dame '14).
  • Be the first time ASU has won two consecutive games this season.
  • Mark ASU's third straight win over a ranked UCLA team (#20 in 2021 and #7 in 2015) and fourth win in the last five when playing a ranked Bruin squad.

SMART DEVILS

  • ASU  recorded a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) average of 995 over a four-year period (2017-18 to 2020-21), an all-time ASU high and first in the Pac-12, the first time leading the conference.  ASU's single year overall APR score for 2020-21 is 994, which is the highest score in ASU history. Sun Devil Football earned a multiyear APR of 983, an all-time high for the program.
  • The Sun Devils saw nine players (four draftees and five undrafted free agents) sign NFL contracts after last season. All nine of those players earned their undergraduate degrees while at ASU.
  • The 2022 roster features 14 Sun Devils who are working toward graduate degrees.
  • A sample of the many Sun Devil Football majors that emphasize ASU's innovation and general availability to the masses as a university: Tevin White (Actuarial Sciences), Kolbe Stuckwisch (Aerospace Engineering), Ben Scott (Bioscience), Thomas Le Boucher (Sports Science and Performance), Javen Jacobs (Architectural Studies), Des Holmes (Film and Media Studies), George Hart (Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science), B.J. Green (Mechanical Engineering), Elijhah Badger (Real Estate/Media Analytics), Finn Collins (Film and Media Studies); Anthonie Cooper (Nutrition and Healthy Living); Willie Harts (Parks and Protected Area Management/Public Administration).

MILESTONE WATCH

  • 153 rushing yards for X Valladay to move into the Top-100 in FBS career history (need 4,194, currently at 4,041)
  • 10 tackles for Kyle Soelle to reach 250 in his career (currently at 240)
  • 3 tackles for Nesta Jade Silvers to reach 150 in his career (currently at 147)

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. The Sun Devils have been credited with just 16 missed tackles in the last three games (7 percent missed tackle rate) - both tallies the lowest in the FBS over the previous four weeks.

2. Jalin Conyers is the only tight end in the FBS this season to record a three-touchdown game. His 108 yards were the 14th-most by a TE this year.

3. Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 80.2 since the start of 2021 - the 9th-lowest mark in the FBS.

4. ASU's defensive linemen have combined for 23 quarterback hits this season, good for 23rd among defensive lines in the FBS.

5. Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 6.4 percent of its rushes - the ninth-lowest tally in the FBS.

6. Kyle Soelle is third in the FBS in averaging 11.4 tackles per game this season and his 91 total tackles are fourth in the nation.

7.  Trenton Bourguet's 1.95 second average time to throw when facing the blitz is the fastest in the country (min. 50 dropbacks).

8. ASU has an interception in 10 straight games and 15 of the last 16 games dating back to last season.

9. Center Ben Scott has played on 495 of ASU's 498 offensive plays this season - taking only the final three plays of the Sun Devil rout over NAU off.

10 . ASU's average play clock snap time on second downs at CU was 15.2 seconds during the 1st 3 quarters, averaging 9.6 yards per play. In the first seven games, that tally was 10.7 seconds and just 5.9 yards per second down.

BY THE NUMBERS
35 - Elijhah Badger's 35.7 adjusted target share percentage (targets/plays with an aimed pass) this season is tops among all Pac-12 receivers (18th in the FBS) and his 130.1 NFL QB rating when targeted is fourth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 40 targets (17th in the FBS). His 19 missed tackles forced are tied for tops among Pac-12 receivers and fourth among all FBS receivers. He has 18 explosive receptions (15+ yards) on the season, good for 14th among FBS receivers and third in the Pac-12. His 2.94 receiving yards per route run this year are 16th in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12.

16 - ASU has been credited with just 16 missed tackles in its last three games and a seven percent missed tackle rate - both the lowest in the FBS over the last four weekends. ASU had 70 missed tackles in its first five games, 28th-most in the country with a 16 percent missed tackle rate that was 35th-highest.ASU has been credited with just five missed tackles on passing plays in its last three games, tied for the 11th-lowest tally in the Power Five/Group of Five over the last four weekends. ASU had 19 in the first five games - 38th-most in the Power Five/Group of Five.

15 - ASU had an average snap time on the play clock of 15.5 seconds through the first 3 quarters against CU (before ASU slowed things down in the 4th). Only 22% of the team's plays came under 10 seconds in the contest. The 15.5 second average snap time was 22nd-fastest in the FBS through the first 3 quarters of last week's games. ASU's average snap time on the season had been 11.5 seconds with 41.1% of the team's plays coming under 10 seconds. The 11.5 second average start time was the 109th slowest in the FBS. 32 of ASU's 76 plays against CU came with 15+ seconds on the play clock (42.1%). Only 102 of 430 plays prior to the CU game came with over 15 seconds on the play clock (23.7%).

10 - The Devils have an interception in 10 straight games dating back to last season and 15 of the last 16 games. The Sun Devils have forced a turnover in 17 straight games, the second-longest active streak in the FBS  behind Georgia State (20). Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 80.2 since the start of 2021 - the 9th-lowest mark in the FBS. ASU has allowed just 23 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for the 8th-fewest in the FBS. The secondary has contested a target on 18.6 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 (147/788) - the 16th-highest percentage in the FBS. ASU's 46 passes defended this year are 11th in the FBS.

2 - Trenton Bourguet's ability to recognize the blitz is demonstrated in his 1.95 second average to throw a pass - tops in the FBS (min. 25 attempts vs. blitz). His 2.18 average throw time in general ranks thirdin the FBS (min. 50 dropbacks). He has posted a 122.8 NFL QBR on those plays, good for 16th in the FBS amongst those with 25 attempts facing a blitz. Four of his six touchdown passes this year have come against the blitz while posting a 69.0 competion percentage that is 11th in the FBS and 9.1 yards per attempt that are 22nd. He has faced 29 blitzes on his 64 pass attempts this season - 45.3 percent of his dropbacks and the second highest percentage in the FBS among those with at least 25 dropbacks vs. the blitz.
0No active player in the FBS this season has more career rushing yards than Sun Devil Football's X Valladay (4,041 and tied with Adrian Peterson and Napoleon Kaufman for 134th-most in FBS history). He became just the 143rd player in the history of FBS football to reach 4,000 career rushing yards with his second touchdown against Colorado and needs 153 to move into the Top-100 in FBS history.His 760 rushing yards are 22nd in the FBS and second in the Pac-12. His 12 total touchdowns this season are 9th in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12.

RUSH HOUR

  • Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 65 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 30th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 25 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 30 games over the last three seasons.
  • Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 6.4 percent of its rushes - good for the ninth-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.3 yards after contact per rush in that time - 18th in the FBS.
  • Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 30.9 percent of its rushes - 24th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.8 yards per rush in that time, tied for 9th in the FBS.
  • Since the start of last year, ASU has 121 explosive runs (10+ yards) - 32nd-most in the FBS.
  • Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 40 of 51 games (78.4 percent).
  • Last season, ASU finished the regular season 24th nationally with 202.3 yards per game.
  • Against Utah, ASU had its streak of REGULAR season games rushing for at least 100 yards ended at 21 games. It was the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 of 1996 and the first two of 1997 - a 23-game stretch over two seasons. The 21-game streak was tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.
  • In rushing for less than 100 yards against #6 USC, it marked the first time ASU had been held under 100 yards on the ground in consecutive games since Nov. 9 and Nov. 17,  2019 (USC and Oregon State).

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

  • ASU has forced 68 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 23rd among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 871-470 in points off takeaways since 2012.
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.4 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (147 of 232) while finding the end zone 109 times in that span (47.0 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 49.1 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (82 of 167) with 60 touchdowns (35.9 percent).
  • ASU has nine interceptions (and at least one in each game) - tied for 22nd nationally a year removed from finished eighth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.
  • ASU has an interception in 10 straight games and 15 of the last 16 dating back to last year.
  • The team has forced a takeaway in 17-straight games, the second-longest active streak in the FBS (Georgia State, 20).
  • Oddly enough, the bounces have not gone the Sun Devils' way on fumbles as ASU is the only team in the FBS without a fumble recovery despite being 33rd in the country with 11 opponent fumbles against. Only one other team (ULM) has a single fumble recovery while every other team in the FBS has at least two.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

  • ASU has had just two 50+ yard plays allowed by the defense this season, tied for 22nd-fewest in the FBS.
  • ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year and had a streak of 18 games without allowing a 50-yard play snapped against Utah this year. It was the longest active streak in the FBS and tied for the second-longest streak in the FBS overall since 2012 (Iowa State, 2018-19), behind only UCLA's 21-game streak from 2013-15.
  • Utah's Thomas Yassmin had a 72-yard catch this year, the first 50+ yard play against ASU since a 64-yard rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020. It was the first 50-yard passing play allowed since the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, ending a streak of 20 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
  • ASU has allowed just nine plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 51 games. The .18 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.12 per game on 6 plays over 51 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 28 occasions over 51 games (54.9 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
  • ASU is one of just three teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons (Cal, Utah). The 2022 team is currently tied for 12th in the FBS with just 10 allowed.
  • Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 68 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/51 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.
  • Last season, the team had the third-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just 13.

KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD

  • Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 19.6 touchdown drive percentage in the second half of games (44 of 224) - the 16th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have allowed just 145 offensive touchdowns (2.9 per game/51 games) since 2018 - among the Top-30 lowest tally among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
  • ASU has allowed just 62 second-half offensive touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 7th-fewest in the FBS.
  • Twice this season, ASU has held an opponent without a touchdown (NAU and Stanford, the first time that has happened since (2010).
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 51 games since 2018, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
  • ASU finished 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game in 2021. In 2020, ASU was first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 23.2 points per game (32nd nationally). In 2019, ASU was 35th in the country, allowing 22.4 points per game. The Sun Devils allowed just 25.5 points per game in 2018, good for 53rd nationally. These totals are notable as ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per game allowed in 2017 and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior.

NO FLY ZONE

  • ASU has 54 interceptions since 2018 - 22nd in the FBS in that time despite playing significantly fewer games than most teams in 2020.
  • The Devils have an interception in 10 straight games dating back to last season and 15 of the last 16 games.
  • ASU finished 8th in the FBS last season with 16 interceptions and has nine through this season - good for 22nd in the FBS.
  • The team has 46 total pass defenses on the year, a tally that sits tied for 11th in the FBS. The team's 5.75 passes defended per game are tied for ninth.
  • Colorado quarterback J.T. Shrout completed only 38% of his passes, which is the fourth-lowest mark by an opposing quarterback against the Sun Devils in the last decade.
  • Since the start of last season, ASU has allowed just 1,998 yards after the catch - the 30th-lowest tally in the FBS.
  • Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 80.2 since the start of 2021 - the 9th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.61 yards attempt in that time are 21st in the FBS in that time.
  • ASU has allowed just 23 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for the 8th-fewest in the FBS.
  • The team has allowed an explosive pass percentage (15+ yards) just 13.1 percent of the time since 2020 - 27th in the FBS - while its 3.5 percent interception rate is 15th in the FBS.
  • The secondary has contested a target on 18.6 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 (147/788) - the 16th-highest percentage in the FBS.
  • Three times last season, ASU has held an opponent under 100 passing yards - the most in a season since 1996. ASU also did so in the 2022 opener against NAU.
  • Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 22 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranking second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.

#TB16

  • Former walk-on quarterback Trenton Bourguet has absolutely dazzled in his two games at the helm of the Sun Devil offense, leading ASU to two wins with  617 yards and six touchdowns.
  • His 435 passing yards against Colorado were the second-most by an ASU quarterback making his first career start in program history anf the 15th-most for a single game in program history as well. It was the most passing yards of any FBS quarterback in Week 9.
  • The 435 yards were the fourth-most by a Pac-12 quarterback making his first career start since 2007.
  • Though the sample size is limited, Bourguet has transformed the offense in his reps this year in recording a successful play percentage of 50.0 percent, second in the FBS among players with at least 50 dropbacks.
  • His 73.4 completion percentage is second in the FBS (min. 50 attempts) while his 86.0 adjusted competion percentage (which accounts for drops) is tops in the country.
  • He has posted a 121.6 NFL QB rating that is seventh among players with at least 50 dropbacks and his 9.6 yards per passing attempt are sixth in the FBS.
  • Bourguet has excelled under pressure, facing 29 blitzes on his 64 pass attempts this season - 45.3 percent of his dropbacks and the second highest percentage in the FBS among those with at least 25 dropbacks vs. the blitz.
  • He has posted a 122.8 NFL QBR on those plays, good for 16th in the FBS amongst those with 25 attempts facing a blitz.
  • Four of his six touchdown passes this year have come against the blitz while posting a 69.0 competion percentage that is 11th in the FBS and 9.1 yards per attempt that are 22nd.
  • His ability to recognize the blitz is demonstrated in his 1.95 second average to throw a pass - tops in the FBS (min. 25 attempts vs. blitz). His 2.18 average throw time in general ranks thirdin the FBS (min. 50 dropbacks).

IN THE TRENCHES

  • A resilient athlete, Ben Scott started in all 13 games at right tackle for ASU and played on 794 of the Sun Devils' 808 offensive plays last season.
  • Starting in all seven games this season, he has played on 495 of ASU's 498 offensive snaps this year - all but the final three snaps of ASU's season opening rout over NAU. His 25-game start streak is easily the longest on the team.
  • Scott ranks 37th in the FBS as a pass blocker among centers (min. 250 pass blocking snaps) with a 72.4 score.
  • He has allowed just one sack on the year, tied for 32nd-fewest among FBS centers.
  • Last season, his 83.0 run blocking score was 28th among all offensive tackles in the FBS last season with at least 500 snaps played
  • Scott had a negative grade on just 10.9 percent of his run-blocking plays on the season - sixth lowest in the Pac-12

MAGICAL MERLIN

  • Merlin Robertson was named a captain in the preseason while also finding his name on the Butkus Award Watch List. and as an honorable mention linebacker by the Pac-12 Conference.
  • Robertson reached the 300 tackle mark for his career against Colorado.
  • Last season among Pac-12 linebackers with 400+ snaps, Robertson was the sixth-highest graded one.
  • According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson has been credited with just 31 missed tackles in his career on 3,049 snaps, which is the sixth-fewest of the 39 active FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons, though he has played over 400 more snaps than USF's Dwayne Boyles (30 on 2,621 snaps) and over 800 more snaps than the players ranked 1-4 (20, 24, 25, 29 missed tackles respectively).
  • His 561 snaps this season are second-most among all Pac-12 defenders behind teammate Kyle Soelle (578).
  • Robertson has 44 starts in his career and his 300 tackles are 22nd among active FBS players (27th among linebackers) while his six career interceptions are second among active FBS linebackers
  • He has played 3,049 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy's Carlton Martial at 3,090) and sixth-most of any active defensive player in the FBS.

X GON' GIVE IT TO YA

  • X Valladay is the FBS active leader in career rushing yards at 4,041 with 760 of those  coming this season.
  • He became just the 143rd player in the history of FBS football to reach 4,000 career rushing yards with his second touchdown against Colorado.
  • He became the first running back in the FBS to rush for AND catch a touchdown in back-to-back games this season, doing so against USC and UW.
  • His 760 rushing yards are 22nd in the FBS and second in the Pac-12.
  • His 12 total touchdowns this season are 9th in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12.
  • In four seasons with Wyoming, Valladay compiled 3,281 yards and 19 touchdowns on 626 carries and finished career as the second-leading rusher in program history
  • Valladay has 100 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2018 -  fourth-most among active FBS backs.
  • His 10 20+ yard rushing plays this season are tied for sixth in the FBS.
  • He has forced 135 missed tackles in his career, 10th among active FBS backs.
  • He eclipsed 1,000 yards in two seasons, including a 1,265-yard effort in 2019 which was the third-most in single-season program history
  • Valladay is up to 19 100+-yard performances in his career with 14 at Wyoming and five at Arizona State.
  • His 361 rushing yards in the first three games were the most by an ASU running back in the first three games of the season since  D.J. Foster had 510 in 2014. He was the first Sun Devil to rush for 100+ yards in the first three games of the season since Foster that year.
  • Valladay was one of just five FBS running backs to have 100+ rushing yards in each game through the first three weeks of the season. He has five in seven games this year.

SILVERA IS GOLD

  • Nesta Jade Silvera has 60 career stops on run defense - good for 9th among active FBS interior linemen.
  • He has 30 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for second among active FBS interior linemen.
  • With 12 tackles against Utah, Silvera became the first Sun Devil interior linemen to record double-digit tackles in a single game since AT LEAST 1990. It was the second-most for any Sun Devil defensive lineman since at least 1990 behind defensive end Marcus Hardison had 13 in the 2014 Sun Bowl.
  • The 12 tackles were tied for the most by any FBS interior linemen this season. His 147 career tackles are sixth among all active FBS interior linemen. His 42 tackles this year are sixth among FBS interior linemen.
  • In 2021, he was the fourth-highest graded interior lineman in the ACC among linemen with at least 200 snaps (74.1), playing 405 snaps on the year. He was the third-highest graded interior lineman in the league in run defense (77.0)
  • Silvera was credited with 24 stops last season, third among defensive interior players in the ACC last year - two shy of the league lead despite playing 80-150 fewer snaps than the two players ahead of him... 21 of those stops came on run defense - the highest tally in the league and 25th among all interior linemen in the FBS

NEVERENDING KHOURY

  • Khoury Bethley is currently the highest player in the Pac-12 and 7th-highest graded  safety in the FBS on run defense this year (85.7, min. 150 run defense snaps).
  • His 75.7 overall defensive score is fourth among Pac-12 safeties.
  • His 15 defensive stops this season are tied for fourth among Pac-12 safeties.
  • Bethley played more snaps than any safety in the nation in 2021 (1,037) and the most by any FBS safety since 2016. It was the ninth-most safety snaps in a single season over the last decade.
  • His 3,156 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety. It is the third-most snaps of any active FBS player this season, regardless of position.
  • He is currently tops among all active FBS defensive backs and seventh among active players with 349 career tackles. His 254 solo tackles are the most of any active player in the FBS - 13 more than any other player.
  • We was credited with 38 defensive stops in 2021, third-most among all FBS safeties. His 85.3 grade from PFF as a pass rusher was ninth among FBS safeties.

GREEN LIGHT GO

  • B.J. Green has been credited with 20 QB pressures on the season. However, he has done it on significantly less snaps than many of the players ahead of him. He has generated a pressure on 17.9 percent of his passing rushing snaps this season - good for second among FBS interior linemen.
  • He has been credited with a "win" on 26.8 percent of his snaps this season, the highest tally among FBS interior linemen with at least 100 pass rush snaps.
  • Additionally, he has been credited with 10 plays where he beat his defender but was denied a QB pressure by other factors - tied for 17th-most in the FBS. His 30 QB pressures+beaten defenders but no pressure are 16th among FBS interior linemen.
  • His 85.7 grade as a pass rusher is 9th-best among FBS interior linemen this season with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps.
  • Green was the team's highest graded pass rusher last season, earning a score of 75.7 on pass rush snaps. He played 117 snaps on the year, of which 104 were as a pass rusher.
  • Green created a QB pressure (19 total) on 18.3 percent of his pass rush snap on the year, which was tops among any defensive lineman in the Pac-12 last year with at least 100 pass rushing snaps, ranking ahead of NFL first round draft pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (17.6).
  • It was the 31st-highest percentage of any player in the FBS and second among all interior defensive linemen behind only Ohio State's Tyleik Williams (18.4 percent)
  • His pass rush productivity rating (a formula accounting for sacks/hits/pressures divided by play count) was 11.5 - the highest of any player in the Pac-12 with 100+ pass-rush snaps
  • This mark was good for 22nd in the nation and second of all interior linemen (again behind only Williams - 11.8)
  • Green "won" 22.1 percent of his pass rushing snaps on the year (a formula using pressures and defeated defenders, subtracting unblocked pressures and divided by pass rushing snaps), a total good for 32nd in the FBS among all players with at least 100 pass rushing stats and second among all interior lineman (Florida State's Dennis Briggs. Jr. - 24.8).

HEART AND SOELLE

  • Team captain Kyle Soelle had a career-high 16 tackles against Oklahoma State in Week two, and immediately followed it up with 18 against Eastern Michigan last weekend.
  • The 18 against EMU are tied for the sixth-most by an FBS player in a single game this season. His 16 against Oklahoma State are tied for the fourth-most by an FBS player this season against a ranked opponent.
  • Soelle reeled off six-straight games with at least 10 tackles between Oklahoma State and Stanford - the most for a Sun Devil since Christian Sam had seven-straight in 2017.
  • Soelle is third in the nation in averaging 11.4 tackles per game this season and his 91 total tackles on the year currently sit fourth in the FBS.
  • Soelle has played on 559 of ASU's 590 defensive snaps this season, the most of any defender in the Pac-12 and third-most of any Power Five linebacker (11th in the FBS)..
  • He also picked up his fourth interception of his career and second of the season against Oklahoma State. His four career interceptions rank among the Top-10 among active FBS linebackers since 2018.
  • Soelle is second  among Pac-12 linebackers in being credited with 28 defensive stops this season.

BADGER DON'T CARE

  • Elijhah Badger has emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the Pac-12, currently third in the league with a receiving grade of 83.5 on the season (min. 40 targets) and 16th in the FBS.
  • Badger has posted consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards, recording 255 total yards on 14 catches in the last two weekends.
  • Badger is responsible for 29 of ASU's 91 first downs by passing this year.
  • His 19 missed tackles forced are tied for tops among Pac-12 receivers and fourth among all FBS receivers.
  • He has 18 explosive receptions (15+ yards) on the season, good for 14th among FBS receivers and third in the Pac-12.
  • His 2.94 receiving yards per route run this year are 16th in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12.
  • His 35.7 adjusted target share percentage (targets/plays with an aimed pass) this season is tops among all Pac-12 receivers (18th in the FBS) and his 130.1 NFL QB rating when targeted is fourth among Pac-12 receivers with at least 40 targets (17th in the FBS).

PROS AND CON-YERS

  • Jalin Conyers' three touchdown receptions against Colorado were the most by a tight end in ASU single game history.
  • He became one of just two Pac-12 tight ends since 2010-11 to record three-or-more TD's in a single game. (Stanford TE Colby Parkinson 4 vs. Oregon State on Nov. 10, 2018).
  • He is the only tight end in the FBS this season to record three touchdown receptions in a game.
  • One of four Pac-12 players this season to record three-or-more receiving touchdowns in a game and just the second to do it in a conference game.
  • His 108 receiving yards marked the first time an ASU tight end eclipsed 100 receiving yards since Chris Coyle in 2012 against Illinois.
  • The 108 yards were the second-most by an FBS tight end in Week 9 and 14th-most by an FBS tight end this season - one of just 23 triple digit perfermances by a tight end on the year.

NOT STARSTRUCK

  • Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan has at least 59 receiving yards in every game this season except one. Arizona State held him to only 25 yards on four catches. McMillan is averaging 76.3 yards per game.
  • USC running back Travis Dye has over 100 rushing yards in five games. Arizona State held him to only 62 yards on 13 carries. Dye is averaging 95.0 yards per game. Dye only had 73 all-purpose yards against ASU. He averages 117 all-purpose yards per game and has 100+ in six games.
  • Arizona State held Oklahoma State wide receiver Brennan Presley to a season-low 23 yards on four catches. Presley averages 57.8 yards per game and has gone over 60 yards on five ocassions.
  • NAU wide receiver Jamal Glapsie has 418 receiving yards over his last six games, averaging 69.7 yards per game. In his first game of the season, Arizona State held him to 17 yards on three catches
  • Colorado wide receiver Daniel Arias has a catch in every game this season except last week against Arizona State.
  • USC QB Caleb Williams' (275 pass attempts) only pick this season was by Arizona State's Timarcus Davis
  • Utah QB Cam Rising (215 pass attempts) has only three picks this season, one coming at the hands of Arizona State's Timarcus Davis
  • Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders (288 pass attempts) has only five picks this season, one of which was by Arizona State's Kyle Soelle
  • Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. (339 pass attempts) has only four picks this season, one courtesy of Arizona State's Jordan Clark.

TURNING THE CORNER

  • ASU has been credited with just five missed tackles on passing plays in its last three games, tied for the 11th-lowest tally in the Power Five/Group of Five over the last four weekends. ASU had 19 in the first five games - 38th-most in the Power Five/Group of Five.
  • The team has allowed just a 68.2 NFL QBR to opponents in its last three games - 15th-lowest in the Power Five/Group of Five. The team allowed a 90.1 QBR in the first five games - right in the middle of the country.
  • Only 41.5 percent of opponent targets have been open in the last three games, 25th-lowest in the Power Five/Group of Five in the last for weekends. That's notable as 68.9 percent of opponent targets were open in the first five games - the second-worst tally among P5/G5 schools.
  • The team as a whole has been credited with just 16 missed tackles in its last three games and a seven percent missed tackle rate - both the lowest in the FBS over the last four weekends. ASU had 70 missed tackles in its first five games, 28th-most in the country with a 16 percent missed tackle rate that was 35th-highest.

CHANGE OF PACE

  • Against Colorado, ASU had a notable change in pace on offense with Shaun Aguano making the play calls. ASU had an average snap time on the play clock of 15.5 seconds through the first three quarters (before ASU slowed things down in the fourth). Only 22 percent of the team's plays came under 10 seconds in the contest. The 15.5 second average snap time was 22nd-fastest in the FBS through the first three quarters of last week's games.
  • For perspective, ASU's average snap time on the season had been 11.5 seconds with 41.1 percent of the team's plays coming under ten seconds. The 11.5 second average start time was the 109th slowest in the FBS.
  • 32 of ASU's 76 plays against CU came with 15+ seconds on the play clock (42.1 percent). Only 102 of ASU's 430 plays prior to the CU game came with over 15 seconds on the play clock (23.7 percent).
  • ASU was credited with 20 true "tempo" plays against CU according to PFF. ASU had run just 10 such plays ALL SEASON prior to the contest.
  • The most notable difference came on second downs. On the season coming into the CU matchup, 45.2 percent of ASU's second down plays dipped below 10 seconds on the play clock and 80.8 percent under 15 seconds (average 10.7 seconds). Against CU, on 22.7 percent of the second down plays came under 10 seconds in the first three quarters and only 44.5 percent came under 15 seconds (average 15.2 seconds).
  • ASU averaged 9.6 yards per second down in the first three quarters against CU - compared to just 5.9 yards per second down in its first seven games.