Football on the Road at #18 Utah in SLC

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football will look to build its first winning streak of the season this weekend, heading on the road to square off with No. 18 Utah on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Scheduled for an 11 a.m. AZT kickoff (Noon in SLC), the contest will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network (JB Long, Lincoln Kennedy) and available over the airwaves locally on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE UTES -  ASU leads the all-time series against the Utes, 22-11, though Utah has taken three-straight and five of the last seven.  This will mark the seventh time in the last nine contests that ASU will be taking on a ranked Utah program. Utah has won 29 of its last 31 games at Rice-Eccles Stadium and had won 18 in a row prior to last weekend's loss to Oregon.

KICKING OFF

• ASU has now held opponents to less than 30 points in 40 of 63 games since 2018 (63.5 percent), notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17.
• Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 35 occasions over 63 games (55.5 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 allowed only 88 rushing yards to Washington State, marking the third consecutive game that ASU has held their opponent to under 100 rushing yards. It is the first time since the first game of the 2016 season that they have accomplished the feat (Northern Arizona - 56 yards, Texas Tech - 72 yards, UTSA - 93 yards). It is the first time it has happened against Pac-12 Conference opponents since a four-game stretch in the 2015 season (USC - 76, UCLA - 62, Colorado - 49, Utah - 72).
• Over the past three games, Arizona State has allowed only 157 total rushing yards - the fewest over a three-game stretch since the Sun Devils allowed only 96 against Colorado (99), Washington (-5), and Washington State (2) during the 2013 season.
• Despite being one of just four teams in the FBS to have seen at least seven different starting five offensive linemen due to unprecedented bad luck on the injury front, the Sun Devils have held opponents without a sack in three of the last four games. ASU has allowed just five total sacks in the last four games compared to 17 in the first four games. From Weeks 5-9 (ASU's last four games), the Sun Devils rank 36th in the country in lowest knockdown percentage at 4.6 percent. From Weeks 0-5 (ASU's first four games), the Sun Devils had the 31st-HIGHEST knockdown percentage at 9.0 percent.
• Among active FBS receivers since 2021, Badger's 45 missed tackles forced on receiving plays are sixth - though his have come on significantly fewer receptions than those in front of him as his .37 missed tackles forced per reception are second among active FBS receivers with at least 150 career targets.
• Despite being the-most targeted cornerback in the Pac-12 (50 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only eight league corners with 150 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact he is one of just nine FBS corners in the country to be targeted 41+ times (56 total) and not be credited with a touchdown allowed by PFF).
• ASU has held its last three opponents to third-down conversion rates of 31.3, 27.3 and 25.0 percent, respectively, despite all three of those teams ranking in the Top-50 conversion rates in the FBS this season. ASU's 28.2 third-down conversion defense percentage over its last three games is 16th best in the FBS from Week 6-9 after the team was 82nd in the nation with its 40.8 rate through the first five games.
• AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
• Give ASU its first two-game winning streak since Nov. 6 and No.v 17, 2021 (vs. USC, at Washington).
• End Utah's three-game winning streak in the current series and improve ASU to 23-11 in the all-time series
• Mark only Utah's third loss at Rice-Eccles Stadium over its last 32 games

MILESTONE WATCH

• 14 receptions for Jalin Conyers to move into fifth among all-time ASU tight ends (currently 6th at 68, Joe Petty sits fifth currently with his 81 from 1970-72).
• 206 receiving yards for Conyers to become just the seventh tight end in program history to reach the 1,000 career receiving yard tally (currently at 794).
• 68 rushing yards for Cam Skattebo to reach 2500 in his career (currently at 2432)
• 41 receiving yardsfor Elijhah Badger to reach 1500 for his career (currently at 1459)
• 21 receptions for Elijhah Badger to move into Top-10 all time at ASU (currently at 122, needs 143)

MAKING THE GRADE - PFF STANDOUTS
Game 8 (min. 30 snaps)

• 92.8 -  Jalin Conyers - Receiving - Highest receiving score of any player in the FBS for the week, regardless of position
• 92.0 - Jalin Conyers - Overall Offense - The highest graded Pac-12 player and third-highest graded player in all of the FBS for the week, Highest-graded FBS tight end for the Week
• 83.6 - Leif Fautanu - Pass Blocking - 16th among all FBS centers, 5th among Pac-12 centers, 10th among all Pac-12 players
• 82.0 - Elijhah Badger - Overall Offense - 16th among all FBS wide receivers, 2nd among Pac-12 receiver, 6th overall in Pac-12
• 77.7 - DeCarlos Brooks - Rushing - 1st among all Pac-12 players, 15 among all FBS halfbacks

Season (min. 300 snaps)

• 83.1 - Leif Fautanu - Pass Blocking - No. 11 among all centers in the FBS, No. 3 among Pac-12 centers and No. 8 among all Pac-12 players
• 81.1 - B.J. Green - Pass Rushing - 5th among all Pac-12 players, 28th among FBS edge defenders
• 77.4 - Dashaun Mallory - Run Defense - 1st among all Pac-12 interior linemen and 17th among all FBS interior linemen, 15th among all Pac-12 players

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. The Sun Devils have forced 110 missed tackles on offense this season, the 20th-highest tally in the FBS.

2. Despite being the most targeted cornerback in the Pac-12 (50 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only eight league corners with 150 coverage snaps to not be credited with a touchdown allowed by PFF this year.

3. The Sun Devil defense thus far has been successful in harrying opposing quarterbacks, giving team's just an average of 2.30 seconds to throw the ball - the 6th-fastest time in the FBS.

4. Elijhah Badger's 45 career missed tackles forced on receiving plays are sixth among active wide receivers.

5. On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils have allowed a touchdown just 28.6 percent of the time (6 of 21), 31st in the FBS but 8th among the 60 teams that have faced 15 or more such drives.

6. The Sun Devils have had just 34 missed tackles defensively against the run this season, tied for the 16th-lowest tally in the FBS.

7.  On 33 opponent red zone drives this season, ASU has allowed just 16 touchdowns - a 48.5 percent touchdown conversion rate that is tied for 24th in the FBS despite facing 101 red zone plays - the 10th-highest tally in the FBS.

8. Chris Edmonds ranks 22nd among all FBS safeties with 12 defensive "stops" on run plays this season and his four tackles for loss or no gain on those plays are 28th among those.

9. Sharp's College Football Advanced Metrics rank ASU as the 25th-most efficient defense in the FBS this season, facing the 6th-toughest defensive schedule but still ranking 39th in FBS in total defense.

10. In each of the seven games following the season opener, ASU has held its opponent at or below its season scoring average entering the game (OKST 27/27.0, FSU 29/36.5, USC 42/59.3, CAL 24/32.8, CU 27/34.2, UW 15/44.3, WSU 27/32.9).

BY THE NUMBERS
78 - Kenny Dillingham has put together a roster with 78 total newcomers this season - the second-most of any FBS school behind only Colorado (88). The team's 40 total transfers from all levels are  the second most in the FBS while the squad's 52 scholarship newcomers are third. ASU's 29 returning scholarship players are the second-fewest behind Colorado (9) and the team's 134 total starts returning were the fourth-lowest in the FBS. Jaden Rashada became just the second true freshman quarterback in program history to start the season opener, and was the only true freshman quarterback to start in a team's FBS opener.

45 - Among active FBS wide receivers since 2021, Elijhah Badger's 45 missed tackles forced on receiving plays are sixth - though his have come on significantly fewer receptions than those in front of him as his .37 missed tackles forced per reception are second among active FBS receivers with at least 150 career targets. Elijhah Badger has forced 24 missed tackles on offense this season, good for 3rd among all FBS receivers. He has added 13 more on kick returns, which is tied for seventh among all kickoff returners in the country.

24 - ASU has allowed just 24 total plays over 20 yards this season, tied for 14th in the FBS. while the teams 11 plays over 30 yards are 18th The team has allowed just one play over 50 yards on the year, tied for the 9th-lowest tally in the FBS. Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 97 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.5 per game/63 games)). That is the third-lowest tally in the FBS in that time (Sam Houston State excluded as they joined the FBS after 2018). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays each SEASON, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.

7 - Despite being one of just four teams in the FBS to have seen at least seven different starting five offensive linemen due to unprecedented bad luck on the injury front, the Sun Devils have held opponents without a sack in three of the last four games. ASU has allowed just five total sacks in the last four games compared to 17 in the first four games.  From Weeks 5-9 (ASU's last four games), the Sun Devils rank 36th in the country in lowest knockdown percentage at 4.6 percent. From Weeks 0-5 (ASU's first four games), the Sun Devils had the 31st-HIGHEST knockdown percentage at 9.0 percent.

3 - The Sun Devils allowed only 88 rushing yards to WSU, marking the third consecutive game that ASU has held their opponent to under 100 rushing yards. It is the first time since the first three games of the 2016 season that they have accomplished the feat (NAU - 56 yards, TTU - 72 yards, UTSA - 93 yards). It's the first time it has happened against Pac-12  opponents since a 4-game stretch in the 2015 season (USC - 76, UCLA - 62, CU - 49, Utah - 72). Over the past three games, Arizona State has allowed only 157 total rushing yards - the fewest over a three-game stretch since ASU allowed only 96 against Colorado (99), Washington (-5), and Washington State (2) during the 2013 season.

0 - Despite being the-most targeted cornerback in the Pac-12 (50 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only eight league corners with 150 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact he is one of just nine FBS corners in the country to be targeted 41+ times (56 total) and not be credited with a touchdown allowed by PFF). Of those 56 corners with 41+ targets in the country, Clark ranks 15th in only allowing a 28.0 first down/touchdown percentage and his 9.0 yards allowed per reception are fifth-lowest. Clark's seven defensive "stops" are tied for third among Pac-12 corners with at least 150 coverage snaps played.

INSTANT REPLAY: WASHINGTON STATE

• With the victory, Arizona State moved to 28-17-2 all-time against Washington State.
• ASU is now 8-2 over their last 10 home games against the Cougars.
• The victory snapped ASU's six-game losing streak and helped the Sun Devil avoid setting a new program record for most consecutive losses (7).
• The victory snapped ASU's 10-game losing streak against FBS opponents.
• Arizona State's offense racked up 509 total yards (274 passing and 235 rushing). It was the first time the Sun Devils have eclipsed 250 passing yards and 200 rushing yards (234) in the same game since a victory over No. 15 Utah Nov. 3, 2018 (285 passing, 251 rushing).
• Arizona State finished with 235 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The five rushing touchdowns as a team are the most since ASU ran for six in a victory over Southern Utah in the 2021 season opener. It is the most in a FBS game since the Sun Devils ran for six in a victory over Oregon State in the 2020 season finale. This was one of only 16 times since 1996 that ASU has ran for five or more touchdowns in a game.
• Arizona State had both a 60+ yard rush and a 50+ yard pass play (Cam Skattebo 66-yard rush; Jalin Conyers 50-yard catch from Trenton Bourguet). It was the first time since Dec. 18, 2020 that ASU has accomplished that feat. (Geordon Porter 63-yard catch from Jayden Daniels; Two 50 yard rushes from Rachaad White and Jayden Daniels).
• Arizona State enjoyed a tremendous amount of success on third downs, converting 8-of-11 (73%). It was the best percentage by a Sun Devil offense since going 11-for-15 (73%) in a victory over Arizona on Nov. 25, 2017. Meanwhile, the Cougars converted only 3-of-12 (25%) on their third down attempts.

GOLD RUSH

• The Sun Devils rank 30th in the FBS in averaging 0.25 missed tackles forced per running play this season.
• The team has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage just 17.7 percent of the time, 36th in the FBS.
• Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 84 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 41st among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 37 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 42 games over the last three-plus seasons.
• ASU has received a team rushing grade of 94.9 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 31st-highest tally in the FBS
• Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 18.2 percent of its rushes - good for the 32nd-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.2 yards after contact per rush in that time - 39th in the FBS.
• Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 30.7 percent of its rushes - 17th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.5 yards per rush in that time, tied for 31st in the FBS.
• Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 48 of 63 games (76.2 percent).
• The Sun Devils have produced a 1,000-yard rusher nine times in the last 12 seasons  - with one of the lone exceptions being the shortened 2020 season. For comparison, from 1976-2010, ASU had a 1000-yard rusher just eight times.

BUT ALSO NO RUSH

• The Sun Devils allowed only 88 rushing yards to Washington State, marking the third consecutive game that ASU has held their opponent to under 100 rushing yards.
• It is the first time since the first game of the 2016 season that they have accomplished the feat (Northern Arizona - 56 yards, Texas Tech - 72 yards, UTSA - 93 yards).
• It is the first time it has happened against Pac-12 Conference opponents since a four-game stretch in the 2015 season (USC - 76, UCLA - 62, Colorado - 49, Utah - 72).
• Over the past three games, Arizona State has allowed only 157 total rushing yards - the fewest over a three-game stretch since the Sun Devils allowed only 96 against Colorado (99), Washington (-5), and Washington State (2) during the 2013 season.
• A lot of this success can be attibuted to the Sun Devil secondary as well, which has received a positive rush defense grade on 16.0 percent of run plays this season from PFF, the 25th highest tally among safeties and corners in the FBS.
• Chris Edmonds ranks 22nd among all FBS safeties with 12 defensive "stops" on run plays this season and his four tackles for loss or no gain on those plays are 28th among those.
• Much of ASU's success on run plays has come by not giving up on the first effort, with the team's 34 missed tackles on run plays ranking as the 16th-lowest in the FBS.

KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU

• ASU has allowed just 13 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 63 games. The .21 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.20 per game on 13 plays over 64 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
• ASU has allowed just 8 catches for 50 or more yards in that span,  tied with Washington for tops in the FBS in that time.
• ASU has allowed just 24 total plays over 20 yards this season, tied for 14th in the FBS. while the teams 11 plays over 30 yards are 18th The team has allowed just one play over 50 yards on the year, tied for the 9th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play in 2021 and had a streak of 18 games without allowing a 50-yard play snapped against Utah last year. It was the longest active streak in the FBS at the time 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.
• Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 35 occasions over 63 games (55.5 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
• Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 97 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.5 per game/63 games)). That is the third-lowest tally in the FBS in that time (Sam Houston State excluded as they joined the FBS after 2018). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays each SEASON, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.

NO FLY ZONE

• Among Pac-12 corners with at least 150 pass coverage snaps played, Demetries Ford's 20.6 forced inompletion rate is sixth.
• Among Pac-12 corners with at least 150 pass coverage snaps, Ed Woods' 181 yards allowed are sixth-lowest. His 9.1 yards per reception allowed are also sixth-lowest in the league.
• Despite being the-most targeted cornerback in the Pac-12 (50 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only eight league corners with 150 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact he is one of just nine FBS corners in the country to be targeted 41+ times (56 total) and not be credited with a touchdown allowed by PFF).
• Of those 56 corners with 41+ targets in the country, Clark ranks 15th in only allowing a 28.0 first down/touchdown percentage and his 9.0 yards allowed per reception are fifth-lowest.
• Clark's seven defensive "stops" are tied for third among Pac-12 corners with at least 150 coverage snaps played.
• Of all Pac-12 linebackers with at least 100 snaps in coverage this season, Tre Brown remains the only one to not be credited with a first down allowed when targeted. QBs have an NFL QBR of just 63.1 when targeting Brown, fourth among Pac-12 linebackers.
• ASU is 24th nationally in allowing a first down on just 30.8 percent of the passing plays against it this season.
• ASU has allowed just 19 passing plays over 20 yards this season, tied for 19th-lowest in the FBS.
• While ASU sits in the middle of the FBS and Pac-12 in allowing 236.5 pass yards per game, it should be noted it has faced five teams ranked in the Top-15 nationally in passing yards (No. 1 Washington/399.0, No. 2 Washington State/347.5, No. 6 Colorado/330.0, No. 7 USC/328.3, No. 14 Fresno State/297.0). As such, Sharp's College Football Advanced Metrics have the Sun Devils ranked 17th in the FBS in pass defense efficiency.

SERIOUSLY, NO FLYING

• The current numbers continue a trend in the Sun Devil Football program that has transcended coaching/personnel changes over the past three+ seasons.
• Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 81.1  since the start of 2020 - the 25th-lowest mark in the FBS.
• The 6.35 opponent passing yards per attempt in that time are 22nd in the FBS.
• ASU has allowed just 5.2 yards after the catch per completion since 2020 - the 20th-lowest tally in the FBS. ASU has given up just 1.85 yards after contact per reception - the 4th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• ASU has allowed just 44 passing touchdowns since the start of 2020 - tied for the 4th-fewest in the FBS. The team has allowed a touchdown on just 3.5 percent of passes thrown against it in that time (44/1243) - the 5th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• The secondary has contested a target on 16.8 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 - good for 35th in the FBS in that time.
• Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 29 total passing plays over 40 yards - the third-fewest in the FBS in that time. 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.

GREEN LIGHT, GO

• B.J. Green III has forced a QB pressure on 15.6 percent of his pass rushing plays this season (41 of 263), 8th among all  FBS players who have played at least 200 snaps on a pass rush.
• Green has 41 quarterback pressures this season, good for 4th among all FBS players. He is also fourth in the nation with 9 quarterback hits this year.
• Amongst active FBS players with at least 300 pass rushing snaps since 2021, Green's 17.8 career pressure percentage is 10th (93/523).
• Green's 16.1 career "win" percentage on pass rushing plays is 19th among all active FBS linemen since 2021. His 21 quarterback hits in that time are 12th.
• Green was fourth among FBS interior linemen with 11 QB hits last season.
• His 37 total quarterback pressures were 10th among FBS interior linemen, however, he did so on significantly fewer snaps.
• Green's 20.0 win percentage on pass rushing plays was second in the FBS among interior linemen and 15th among all defensive linemen, period.
• Green generated a QB pressure on 22.4 percent of his pass-rushing snaps - the-third best tally of any defensive lineman in the FBS and two percentage points higher than any other lineman (min. 150 pass rush snaps and four percentage points better than any other FBS interior lineman.
• Green had a pass rush productive rating ((sacks + (.5 x hits) + (.5 x hurries)/play count) of 12.4 last season, tops among all FBS interior lineman and eighth among all defensive linemen.

BADGER DON'T CARE

• Elijhah Badger has forced 24 missed tackles on offense this season, good for 3rd among all FBS receivers. He has added 13 more on kick returns, which is tied for seventh among all kickoff returners in the country.
• Badger is second in the FBS with 60.3 kickoff return yards per game and his 26.78 average yards per return are 7th.
• When Badger returns a kick, ASU is averaging a starting field position of the 30.3 yard line - the third-best tally for a kickoff returner in the country (min. 10 returns)
• Badger is first in the Pac-12 and is 13th in the country in averaging 132.4 all-purpose yards per game.
• On the receiving end, his 378 total yards after the catch are 9th among FBS receivers and his 8.4 yards after the catch per receptions are 26th.
• Badger has been targeted on 17.2 of his offensive snaps this season, the 39th-highest tally among all FBS wide receivers.
• He has 11 catches over 20 yards this season, tied for 23rd among FBS wide receivers.
• Badger's 12 catches against Colorado were tied for the sixth-most in ASU program history and the most since N'Keal Harry had 13 in a game in 2017.
• Elijhah Badger needs just 41 receiving yards to reach 1500 for his career (currently at 1459). He is 21 receptions away from moving into Top-10 all time at ASU (currently at 122, needs 143).
• Among active FBS receivers since 2021, Badger's 45 missed tackles forced on receiving plays are sixth - though his have come on significantly fewer receptions than those in front of him as his .37 missed tackles forced per reception are second among active FBS receivers with at least 150 career targets.
• Badger emerged as one of the top receiving threats in the Pac-12 in 2022, finishing seventh in the league among wide receivers with a receiving grade of 77.3 on the season (min. 50 targets) and Top-35 in the FBS.
• He finished with 864 receiving yards (top-50 in the FBS regular season among receivers) and 5.8 receptions per game (32nd in the FBS).
• Badger was responsible for 41 of ASU's 145 first downs by passing last year (28.3 percent) - the 33rd-most first downs among FBS receivers over the regular season.
• His 25 missed tackles forced were tops among Pac-12 receivers and second among all FBS receivers during the regular season.
• He had 24 explosive receptions (15+ yards) on the season, good for 23rd among FBS receivers in the regular season and third in the Pac-12.
• His 32.0 adjusted target share percentage (targets/plays with an aimed pass) last season was second among all Pac-12 receivers.
• Badger finished with 70 receptions, the 9th most in single-season program history. It was the fifth-most in a 12-game season.

PROS AND CON-YERS

• With four receptions against Washington State, Jalin Conyers moved into sixth in program history among tight ends with 68 career catches. He needs 13 catches to move into the Top-Five in program history, a mark that is currently held by Joe Petty, who had 81 from 1970-72.
• Conyers is 206 receiving yards shy of becoming just the seventh tight end in program history to reach the 1,000 career receiving yard tally (currently at 794).
• He has posting 235 yards after the catch this season (includes yards on passes caught behind the line of scrimmage), which is good for 3rd among FBS tight ends despite missing essentially three games this year. His 9.8 yards after the catch per receptions this year are second among FBS tight ends.
• Last season, Conyers had 229 receiving yards after the catch - the 21st-highest tally of all FBS tight ends. More impressively, 228 of those came in the final six games of ASU's season - fourth-most of all FBS tight ends from Week 7 onwards.
• Conyers is averaging 2.37 yards per route run this year, fourth among FBS tight ends (min. 25 targets).
• His 106 yards after contact this season are 5th among FBS tight ends. He finished with 170 total yards after contact last season - fifth among all FBS tight ends despite only being significantly involved in the offense in the latter half of the year.
• Another trend Conyers has resumed is forcing missed tackles, and his six this season are 8th among FBS tight ends despite missing essentially three games due to injury/illness. Last season, he forced 21 missed tackles on the year - the most of any FBS tight end. 18 of those  came in ASU's final six games. No other FBS tight end had more than 14 from Week 7 through the conclusion of the bowl season.
• 346 of Conyers' 422 receiving yards came in the final five games - the highest tally among FBS tight ends in the final five weeks of the regular season. His five touchdowns were the most among FBS tight ends in that time while his 126 first downs receiving were second.
• He had 161 yards after contact in that stretch. Only one other FBS tight had more than 100 over the final five weeks (119).
• He had a 122.0 NFL QBR rating when targeted last year, the 23rd-best tally among FBS tight ends while his 80.4 completion percentage when targeted was sixth in the FBS.
• Conyers was the only tight end in the FBS last season to record three touchdown receptions in a game. The three touchdown receptions against Colorado were the most by a tight end in ASU single game history.
• Conyers and fellow tight end Messiah Swinson were the first tight end duo to each have 150+ receiving yards in a season at ASU since 2006.

WILD SKATT

• Cam Skattebo was fantastic yet again for the Sun Devils, putting together a productive effort against WSU. He ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. It was his second 100+ yard performance of the season and 12th of his career.
• His 66-yard scamper in the third quarter was the first time a Sun Devil had a 50+ yard rush since Jayden Daniels ran for 51-yards on a play Oct. 8, 2021 in a victory over Stanford. It was the longest by a running back since Rachaad White had a 93-yard run in the 70-7 victory over Arizona back on  2021. It was also the longest rush of Skattebo's career.
• He has now ran for a touchdown in each of his last five games.
• Skattebo needs just 68 rushing yards to reach 2500 in his career (currently at 2432).
• Skattebo has an overall offensive grade of 78.2 this season from PFF, 21st among all FBS halfbacks with at least 300 snaps played.
• Skattebo is 18th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs since 2021 with 2,432 career rushing yards while his 6.6 yards per carry are 9th among that group. (min. 200 carries)
• He has forced 144 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 9th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.39 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are third (min. 200 attempts) since 2021.
• He has forced 40 this season on rushing plays, 15th among FBS running backs. His 51 overall missed tackles forced on offense are 8th among all FBS running backs.
• Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 38.0 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 200 attempts) since 2021. His 31.3 percent 1D/TD percentage this season in 24th in the FBS.
• He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 9.2 percent of his career carries, tied for the fourth-lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 200 attempts) since 2021. His 12.2 percent stuff rate is 18th among FBS running backs this year.

IN THE TRENCHES

• The Sun Devils have had some success on both sides of the ball along the offensive and defensive lines.
• Dashaun Mallory is tied for 8th among FBS interior linemen with eight tackles for loss or no gain this season. His 14 total defensive "stops" are 22bd among FBS interior linemen.
• Mallory's average depth of tackle is 1.13 yards, showing that he's owning the line of scrimmage as that's the 14th-shortest depth of tackle average among FBS interior linemen (min. 150 rush defense snaps).
• Mallory was the Pac-12 highest-graded defender and sixth-highest graded FBS defensive player overall, regardless of position, following the UW loss with a grade of 90.8. He remains the league's highest graded rush defender among interior linemen this season and 17th among defensive interior linement in the FBS.
• The Sun Devil defense thus far has been succesful in harrying opposing quarterbacks, giving team's just an average of 2.30 seconds to throw the ball - the 6th-fastest time in the FBS.
• The team has forced quick pressure (less than 2.5 seconds to pressure) on 26.4 percent of its pass rush snaps - 32nd best in the FBS and the team's overall 34.6 pressure percentage is 41st.
• ASU's defensive interior linemen 15th with 43 tackles for loss or no gain.
• Despite being one of just four teams in the FBS to have seen at least seven different starting five offensive linemen due to unprecedented bad luck on the injury front, the Sun Devils have held opponents without a sack in three of the last four games. ASU has allowed just five total sacks in the last four games compared to 17 in the first four games.
• From Weeks 5-9 (ASU's last four games), the Sun Devils rank 36th in the country in lowest knockdown percentage at 4.6 percent. From Weeks 0-5 (ASU's first four games), the Sun Devils had the 31st-HIGHEST knockdown percentage at 9.0 percent.
• Leif Fautanu is currently the eighth-highest graded center in the FBS as a pass blocker with a score of 80.5. His eight QB pressures allowed are tied for the 15th-fewest among FBS centers with at least 300 pass blocking snaps.
• Following the Cal game, Bram Walden had the highest pass-blocking grade of ANY player in the FBS for Week 5 at 92.4.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

• The Sun Devils have looked to Brian Ward to lead the defense this season, with the defensive coordinator from Washington State right a ship that struggled at times for ASU last season after the program had strung together several impressive defensive years prior.
• The Sun Devils are allowing just 5.15 yards per play to opponents this season, good for 37th in the FBS.  It is a notable tally as all seven FBS teams ASU has faced rank in the Top-60 nationally in Total Offense (#5 Washington, #11 USC,  #36 Washington State, #39 Oklahoma State, #45 Cal, #54 Colorado, #59 Fresno State, ). Sharp's College Football advanced metrics has ranked ASU's defensive schedule as the 6th-toughest in the FBS this season.
• ASU ranks 39th in the FBS (fourth in the Pac-12) despite that in total defense at 340.9 yards allowed per game.
• Sharp's College Football Advanced metrics ranks ASU has the 25th-most efficient defense in the FBS this season.
• In each of the seven games following the season opener, ASU has held its opponent at or below its season scoring averaging entering the game (Oklahoma State 27/27.0, Fresno State 29/36.5, USC 42/59.3, Cal 24/32.8, Colorado 27/34.2, Washington 15/44.3, Washgton State 27/32.9)
• On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils have allowed a touchdown just 28.6 percent of the time (6 of 21), 31st in the FBS but 8th among the 60 teams that have faced 15 or more such drives.
• On 33 opponent red zone drives this season, ASU has allowed just 16 touchdowns - a 48.5 percent touchdown conversion rate that is 24th-lowest in the FBS despite facing 101 red zone plays - the 10th-highest tally in the FBS.
• Facing eight turnovers against Fresno State, ASU's defense held the Bulldogs to just 15 points off those turnovers with no touchdowns. It was the fewest points off turnovers allowed by any FBS team with 8+ turnovers in a game since at least 2012 and the only team to not allowed even a touchdown in the span.
• There have been 43 games since 2017 where an FBS team has forced six or more turnovers in a game. In only six of those did the team turning the ball over hold the opponent to under 30 points in the contest like ASU managed against the Bulldogs (29).
• Ward led one of the elite defenses in the Pac-12 this past season, as the Cougars were third in the league and 33rd in the FBS in allowing just 22.4 points per game - tied for the sixth-best total in program history and lowest since a 19.7 mark in 2003.  That tally seems improbable for a program that hadn't finished in the Top 40 in the category for nearly two decades and 90th or worse in six seasons since 2009.
• Washington State's three defensive touchdowns were 10th in the FBS and the .775 red zone conversion defense was 23rd in the country. The team was also 35th in the nation in allowing just 127.4 rushing yards per game. The defense finished in the top-three in the league in third down conversion percentage allowed (.371), first downs allowed (239), tackles for loss per game (6.2), and turnovers gained (21).
• Sharp College Football's advanced metrics tabbed Ward's defensive 24th in the FBS in forcing negative drives and 15th in opponent drive efficiency.
• Sure tackling was a staple of Ward's defense with the Cougars finishing 13th in the FBS with just 118 tackles on the year.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

• ASU has forced 77 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, good for Top-40 among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
• The Sun Devils have 22 pick sixes since the 2012 season, a tally good for seventh in the FBS.
• Taking out ASU's COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, the Sun Devils have at least one pick six in 22 consecutive seasons dating back to 2020 - the longest streak in the FBS.
• ASU has outscored opponents 898-516 in points off takeaways since 2012.
• Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.3 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (152 of 240) while finding the end zone 112 times in that span (46.7 percent).
• Conversely, opponents have scored just 49.5 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (93 of 188) with 65 touchdowns (34.6 percent).

MOUNTAIN AMERICA STADIUM, HOME OF THE ASU SUN DEVILS

• Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics have announced a multi-year naming rights partnership with Mountain America Credit Union to form one of the most dynamic naming rights deals in college athletics.
• The 15-year partnership with Sun Devil Athletics – the most important deal in athletics department history - includes ASU's football stadium, which will now be called Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils.
• The partnership happens as a fever pitch surrounds Sun Devil Football and the hiring of Sun Devil graduate Kenny Dillingham, one of eight Arizona State alumni leading programs as head coaches at the University. ASU fans have been "Activating the Valley" leading up to the start of the 2023 college football season, as over 90 percent of football season tickets have been renewed so far, and 4,000 new season tickets have been sold. And now, with the record-breaking football naming partnership and comprehensive relationship with Mountain America, numerous Olympic sports teams will be showcased, and multiple areas of the Sun Devil fan experience, from in-stadium entertainment to digital marketing, will be impacted.
• Both Mountain America and ASU are committed to giving back to the community, and this partnership will provide support to the community and student-athletes in a variety of ways: Football Field Goals: Mountain America will donate $250 to the Sun Devil Club for every field goal made to enhance ASU's student-athlete experience, Shoe Donation Program: ASU and Mountain America will develop a shoe donation program, providing brand-new shoes to community members in need, Scholarships: Each year, Mountain America will provide $20,000 to ASU student-athletes, with $10,000 going to women's sports and $10,000 to men's sports, Financial Education Programs: Mountain America will offer special student-athlete financial education programs, including personal coaching sessions, Internship Program: Mountain America will also provide an internship program for student-athletes to help students develop the skills and experience needed for future endeavors.

SMART DEVILS

• ASU will compete with 22 young men this season that have already earned their undergraduate degrees: Emmit Bohle, BA Liberal Studies, 2023, Trenton Bourguet, BS Communication, 2022, Ben Bray, BAE Secondary Education (Mathematics), 2023, Jordan Clark, BS Communication, 2022 , Jalin Conyers, BA Liberal Studies, 2023 , Anthonie Cooper, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, 2022, Christopher Edmonds, BA Liberal Studies, 2022, Michael Matus, MBA Business Administration, 2023, Gio Sanders, BS Psychology, 2022, Messiah Swinson, BA Liberal Studies, 2023, Macen Williams, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, 2023, Cade Briggs, BA University Studies, 2023 (Texas Tech), Trae Brown, BA Criminal Justice and Criminology, 2022 (Washington State), Joshua Carlson, BA Business Administration, 2022 (New Mexico State), Ben Coleman, BA Media Studiees, 2022 (California), Sione Finau, BS Consumer Science Concentration, 2023 (Purdue), Demetries Ford, BS Criminal Justice, 2023 (Austin Peay), Dario Longhetto, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, 2023 (California), Dashaun Mallory, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, 2023 (Michigan State), Joey Ramos, BS Business Management, 2022 (Iowa State), Melquan Stovall, BS Business Administration/Organization and Innovation Management, 2022 (Colorado State), Slater Zellers, BA Legal Studies, 2023(California).