Football Finishes Road Slate at UCLA

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football will close out its road schedule for the 2023 season this weekend as it heads to Los Angeles to take on UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 11. Scheduled for an 7 p.m. AZT kickoff (6 p.m. in L.A.), the contest will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network (JB Long, Lincoln Kennedy) and available over the airwaves locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE BRUINS -  UCLA leads the all-time series, 23-15-1, but it has been a largely back-and-forth series over the last decade-and-a-half with thins squared at 8-8 since 2007. No team has won more than two games in a row in the series since UCLA took three-straight in 2000, 2001 and 2003. A Top-10 UCLA  took down the Devils at home last season, 50-36.

KICKING OFF

• ASU has now held opponents to less than 30 points in 40 of 64 games since 2018 (62.5 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.
• On 40 opponent red zone drives this season, ASU has allowed just 20 touchdowns - a 50 percent touchdown conversion rate that is 27th-lowest in the FBS despite facing 115 red zone plays - the 6th-highest tally in the FBS.
• Among active FBS receivers since 2021, Badger's 45 missed tackles forced on receiving plays are 10th - 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 (55 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only seven league corners with 200 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact, of 98 total FBS corners to be targeted 41+ times, he is one of just 15  to not be credited with a touchdown.
• B.J. Green III has forced a QB pressure on 16.2  percent of his pass rushing plays this season (47 of 290), 10th among all  FBS players who have played at least 200 snaps on a pass rush. Green has 47 quarterback pressures this season, good for 3rd among all FBS players. He is also fourth in the nation with 10 quarterback hits this year.

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).
• 37 rushing yards for Cam Skattebo to reach 2500 in his career (currently at 2463)
• 40 receiving yardsfor Elijhah Badger to reach 1500 for his career (currently at 1460)
• 20 receptions for Elijhah Badger to move into Top-10 all time at ASU (currently at 123, needs 143)

MAKING THE GRADE - PFF STANDOUTS
Game 9 (min. 25 snaps)

89.1 - Aaron Frost - Pass Blocking - 7th-Highest receiving score of any player in the FBS for the week, regardless of position, 2nd among FBS guards and 1st among Pac-12 guards

86.2 - Leif Fautanu - Pass Blocking - 50th among all FBS players, regardless position, 2nd among all FBS centers

80.2 - Shamari Simmons - Coverage - No. 43 among all FBS players regardless of position an No. 4 among all Pac-12 players, No. 14 among all FBS safeties and No. 2 among Pac-12 safeties

Season (min. 350 snaps)

83.4 - Leif Fautanu - Pass Blocking - No.44 among all FBS players - regardless of position, No. 11 among all centers in the FBS, No. 2 among Pac-12 centers and No. 8 among all Pac-12 players

76.7 - Cam Skattebo - Overall Offense - No. 26 among all FBS halfbacks and No. 3 among Pac-12 halfbacks, No. 22 among all Pac-12 players, regardless of position

83.1 - B.J. Green - Pass Rushing - No. 40 among all FBS players - regardless of position - and 32nd among all FBS edge defenders. No, 4 among all Pac-12 players and edge defenders

79.8 - B.J. Green - Overall Defense - No. 22 among all FBS edge defenders and No. 4 among Pac-12 edges, No. 9 among all Pac-12 players - regardless of position

#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 (55 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only seven league corners with 200 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season

3. The Sun Devil defense thus far has been succesful in harrying opposing quarterbacks, giving team's just an average of 2.35 seconds to throw the ball - the 22nd-fastest time in the FBS.

4. Elijhah Badger's 45 career missed tackles forced on receiving plays are 10th among active wide receivers.

5. B.J. Green has 47 quarterback pressures this season, good for 3rd among all FBS players. He is also fourth in the nation with 10 quarterback hits this year.

6. ASU's interior linemen this season have 36 combined "stops" on run plays, tied for 31st in the nation. The groups 16 combined tackles for loss or no gain are 18th and the average depth of tackle of just 1.40 yards, the 18th-lowest tally in the FBS.

7.  On 40 opponent red zone drives this season, ASU has allowed just 20 touchdowns - a 48.5 percent touchdown conversion rate that is tied for 27th in the FBS despite facing 115 red zone plays - the 6th-highest tally in the FBS.

8. Chris Edmonds ranks 14th among all FBS safeties with 14 defensive "stops" on run plays this season and his four tackles for loss or no gain on those plays are 34th among those.

9. When Elijhah Badger returns a kick, ASU is averaging a starting field position of the 32.3 yard line - the best tally for a kickoff returner in the country (min. 10 returns).

10. Among active FBS AND FCS halfbacks with 300+ career carries since 2021, Cam Skattebo is first in 1D/TD rush percentage (37.4) and lowest stuff rate (9.5 percent).

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 open

64 - Elijhah Badger is first in the FBS with 64.2 kickoff return yards per game and his 28.90 average yards per return are 4th.  When Badger returns a kick, ASU is averaging a starting field position of the 32.3 yard line - the 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 128.6 all-purpose yards per game. Badger has forced 24 missed tackles on offense this season, good for 3rd among all FBS receivers. He has added 14 more on kick returns, which is tied for sixth among all kickoff returners in the country.

47 - B.J. Green has 47 quarterback pressures this season, good for 3rd among all FBS players. He is also fourth in the nation with 10 quarterback hits this year. He ranks 20th among all FBS players as a pass rusher this season with an 82.1 grade on pass rush plays from PFF. Green has forced a QB pressure on 16.2  percent of his pass rushing plays this season (47 of 290), 10th among all  FBS players who have played at least 200 snaps on a pass rush. Amongst active FBS players with at least 400 pass rushing snaps since 2021, Green's 18.0 career pressure percentage is 6th (99/550).

36 - ASU's defensive interior linemen as a whole this season have 36 combined "stops" on run plays this year, tied for 31st in the nation. The group has 16 combined tackles for loss or no gain, which is good for 18th. Those interior linemen have an average depth of tackle of just 1.40 yards, the 18th-lowest tally in the FBS. Dashaun Mallory is tied for 11th among FBS interior linemen with nine tackles for loss or no gain this season. His 18 total defensive "stops" are 12th among FBS interior linemen. Mallory's average depth of tackle is 0.95 yards, showing that he's owning the line of scrimmage as that's the 14th-shortest depth of tackle average among FBS interior linemen.

1- Cam Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 37.4 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 300 attempts) since 2021. His 29.9 percent 1D/TD percentage this season in 34th in the FBS. He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 9.5 percent of his career carries, good for the lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts) He has forced 146 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 10th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.38 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are second (min. 300 attempts) since 2021.

0 - Despite being the-most targeted cornerback in the Pac-12 (55 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only seven league corners with 200 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact, of 98 total FBS corners to be targeted 41+ times, he is one of just 15  to not be credited with a touchdown. Clark is eighth among Pac-12 corners with 200+ coverage snaps in allowing a first down on just 30.9 percent of his targets.  Clark's seven defensive "stops" are tied for third among Pac-12 corners with at least 150 coverage snaps played.

GOLD RUSH

• The Sun Devils rank 35th in the FBS in averaging 0.24 missed tackles forced per running play this season.
• The team has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage just 17.5 percent of the time, 29th 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 43rd among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 38 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 43 games over the last three-plus seasons.
• ASU has received a team rushing grade of 95.3 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 28th-highest tally in the FBS.
• Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 18.0 percent of its rushes - good for the 29th-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.2 yards after contact per rush in that time - 24th in the FBS.
• Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 29.2 percent of its rushes - 28th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.5 yards per rush in that time, tied for 21st in the FBS.
• Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 48 of 64 games (75.0 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, which marked the third consecutive game that ASU had held an opponent to under 100 rushing yards.
• It was 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 was the first time it had happened against Pac-12 Conference opponents since a four-game stretch in the 2015 season (USC - 76, UCLA - 62, Colorado - 49, Utah - 72).
• In the three-game span against CU/UW/WSU, Arizona State 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 that success can be attibuted to the Sun Devil secondary as well, which has received a positive rush defense grade on 17.3 percent of run plays this season from PFF, the 32nd-highest tally among safeties and corners in the FBS.
• Chris Edmonds ranks 14th among all FBS safeties with 14 defensive "stops" on run plays this season and his four tackles for loss or no gain on those plays are 34th among those.
• Much of ASU's success on run plays has come by not giving up on the first effort, with the team's 47 missed tackles on run plays ranking as the 38th-lowest in the FBS.

KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU

• ASU has allowed just 15 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 64 games - second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (12). 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 the lowest amount in the FBS in that time.
• ASU has allowed just 30 total plays over 20 yards this season, tied for 22nd in the FBS. while the teams 13 plays over 30 yards are 24th. The team has allowed just three plays over 50 yards on the year, tied for the 33rd-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 64 games (54.7 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 100 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.5 per game/64 games)). That is the fourth-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 200 pass coverage snaps played, Demetries Ford's 20.0 forced inompletion rate is third.
• 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 (55 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only seven league corners with 200 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact, of 98 total FBS corners to be targeted 41+ times, he is one of just 15  to not be credited with a touchdown.
• Clark is eighth among Pac-12 corners with 200+ coverage snaps in allowing a first down on just 30.9 percent of his targets.
• 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's four first downs allowed are the 6th-lowest.
• ASU is 39th nationally in allowing a first down or touchdown on just 32.4 percent of the passing plays against it this season.
• ASU has allowed just 21 passing plays over 20 yards this season, tied for 15th-lowest in the FBS.
• While ASU sits in the middle of the FBS and Pac-12 in allowing 228.1 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/383.1, No. 2 Washington State/335.7, No. 5 USC/326.7, No. 7 Colorado/320.6, No. 14 Fresno State/297.7). As such, Sharp's College Football Advanced Metrics have the Sun Devils ranked 25th 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 82.1  since the start of 2020 - the 28th-lowest mark in the FBS.
• The 6.61 opponent passing yards per attempt in that time are 20th in the FBS.
• ASU has allowed just 5.1 yards after the catch per completion since 2020 - the 18th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• ASU has given up just 1.83 yards after contact per reception - the 3rd-lowest tally in the FBS.
• ASU has allowed just 48 passing touchdowns since the start of 2020 - tied for the 6th-fewest in the FBS. The team has allowed a touchdown on just 3.8 percent of passes thrown against it in that time (48/1272) - the 11th-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 36th 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 16.2  percent of his pass rushing plays this season (47 of 290), 10th among all  FBS players who have played at least 200 snaps on a pass rush.
• Green has 47 quarterback pressures this season, good for 3rd among all FBS players. He is also fourth in the nation with 10 quarterback hits this year.
• He ranks 20th among all FBS players as a pass rusher this season with an 82.1 grade on pass rush plays from PFF.
• Amongst active FBS players with at least 400 pass rushing snaps since 2021, Green's 18.0 career pressure percentage is 6th (99/550).
• Green's 16.2 career "win" percentage on pass rushing plays is 14th among all active FBS linemen since 2021. His 23 quarterback hits in that time are 11th.
• 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 14 more on kick returns, which is tied for sixth among all kickoff returners in the country.
• Among active FBS receivers since 2021, Badger's 45 missed tackles forced on receiving plays are 10th - 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 is first in the FBS with 64.2 kickoff return yards per game and his 28.90 average yards per return are 4th.
• When Badger returns a kick, ASU is averaging a starting field position of the 32.3 yard line - the 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 128.6 all-purpose yards per game.
• On the receiving end, his 382 total yards after the catch are 16th among FBS receivers and his 8.1 yards after the catch per receptions are 28th.
• Badger has been targeted on 16.3 of his offensive snaps this season, the 39th-highest tally among all 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 40 receiving yards to reach 1500 for his career (currently at 1469). He is 20 receptions away from moving into Top-10 all time at ASU (currently at 123, needs 143).
• 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 4th among FBS tight ends despite missing essentially three games this year. His 9.8 yards after the catch per receptions this year are tops 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 2.14 yards per route run this year, seventh among FBS tight ends (min. 25 targets).
• His 106 yards after contact this season are 4th 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 needs just 37 rushing yards to reach 2500 in his career (currently at 2463).
• Skattebo has an overall offensive grade of 76.7 this season from PFF, 26th among all FBS halfbacks with at least 300 snaps played.
• Skattebo is 18th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs since 2021 with 2,463 career rushing yards while his 6.5 yards per carry are 5th among that group. (min. 300 carries)
• He has forced 146 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 10th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.38 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are second (min. 300 attempts) since 2021.
• He has forced 42 this season on rushing plays, 20th among FBS running backs. His 53 overall missed tackles forced on offense are 10th among all FBS running backs.
• Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 37.4 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 300 attempts) since 2021. His 29.9 percent 1D/TD percentage this season in 34th in the FBS.
• He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 9.5 percent of his career carries, good for the lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts) since 2021. His 12.6 percent stuff rate is 20th among FBS running backs this year.
• He ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries against Washington State. 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 had for a touchdown in five straight games prior to the Utah contest.

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 11th among FBS interior linemen with nine tackles for loss or no gain this season. His 18 total defensive "stops" are 12th among FBS interior linemen.
• Mallory's average depth of tackle is 0.95 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).
• Among FBS interior linemen with at least 100 run defense snaps, C.J. Fite ranks No. 40 with a 77.4 overall grade - ranking first among all FBS true freshmen in the category.
• ASU's interior linemen as a whole this season have 36 combined "stops" on run plays this year, tied for 31st in the nation. The groups 16 combined tackles for loss or no gain are 18th. Those interior linemen have an average depth of tackle of just 1.40 yards, the 18th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• The Sun Devil defense thus far has been succesful in harrying opposing quarterbacks, giving team's just an average of 2.35 seconds to throw the ball - the 22nd-fastest time in the FBS.
• The team has forced quick pressure (less than 2.5 seconds to pressure) on 25.4 percent of its pass rush snaps - 40th-best in the FBS and the team's overall 34.5 pressure percentage is 37th.
• Despite being one of just four teams in the FBS to have seen at least eight 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 five games. ASU has allowed just nine total sacks in the last five games compared to 17 in the first four games.
• Leif Fautanu is currently the 11th-highest graded center in the FBS as a pass blocker with a score of 83.4. His eight QB pressures allowed are tied for the 19th-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 5.34 yards per play to opponents this season, good for 50th in the FBS.  It is a notable tally as six FBS teams ASU has faced rank in the Top-55 nationally in Total Offense (#4 Washington, #8 USC,  #34 Oklahoma State #47 Washington State, #52 Cal, #53 Fresno State, ). Sharp's College Football advanced metrics has ranked ASU's defensive schedule as the 12th-toughest in the FBS this season.
• ASU ranks Top-60 in the FBS (fourth in the Pac-12) despite that in total defense at 360.0 yards allowed per game.
• In seven of eight 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 34.6 percent of the time, 20th in the FBS among 60 teams with 20+ such drives faced.
• On 40 opponent red zone drives this season, ASU has allowed just 20 touchdowns - a 50 percent touchdown conversion rate that is 27th-lowest in the FBS despite facing 115 red zone plays - the 6th-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).