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Football Opens Pac-12 Play vs. No. 5 Trojans

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Football Opens Pac-12 Play vs. No. 5 TrojansFootball Opens Pac-12 Play vs. No. 5 Trojans

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football opens Pac-12 action this weekend as it welcomes No. 5 USC on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils in Tempe. Scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. AZT kickoff, the contest will be broadcast nationally on FOX (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman, Josh Sims) and available over the airwaves locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE TROJANS/PAC-12 OPENERS -  USC leads the all-time series between the two teams, 25-14 though the series has been much-more evenly tilted over the last decade. After ASU lost  11-straight from 2000-2010, the Sun Devils have managed to go 5-7 since the 2021 season with three of those coming at home. ASU is 18-24-2 all-time in Pac-12 Openers overall, though it is 27-16-1 all-time in its first Pac-12 HOME game of the year.

KICKING OFF

  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 36 of 58 games since 2018 (62.1 percent), notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 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 32 occasions over 58 games (55.2 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 rushed for 100+ yards in 46 of 58 games (79.3 percent).
  • 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).
  • On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils have allowed a touchdown just 18.2 percent of the time (2 of 11), 23rd in the FBS and sixth among teams that have faced 5 or more such drives.The team's 2.64 points per drive on those drives are 37th nationally.
  • Coach Dillingham had his work cut out for him after taking the job nine months ago, essentially rebuilding the whole 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 also 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).
  • The Sun Devils have forced 52 missed tackles on offense this season, the seventh-best tally in the FBS.
  • B.J. Green III has forced a QB pressure on 18.2 percent of his pass rushing plays this season (14 of 77), 13th among all defensive linemen/edge defenders who have played at least 50 snaps on a pass rush. His 14 QB pressures are tied for 10th nationally.
  • Cam Skattebo has forced 125 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 12th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.43 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are second (min. 200 carries). He has forced 21 this season on rushing plays, fourth among FBS running backs. His 24 overall missed tackles forced on offense are third among all FBS players.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...

  • Help the Sun Devils avoid just its fourth 1-3 start during the Pac-10/12 era (since 1978) and its first back-to-back 1-3 start since the 1965 and 1966 seasons
  • Improve ASU to 87-25-1 in September games in Tempe since 1978
  • Improve ASU to 19-24-2 all-time in Pac-12 openers and 28-16-1 in its first Pac-12 home game of the year
  • Bring ASU back within 6-7 over the last 13 games in the series after losing 11 straight from 2000-10

MILESTONE WATCH

  • 1 or 4 receptions for Jalin Conyers to move into a tie for 11th/10th in ASU tight end history in career catches (Needs 51 or 54, currently at 50).
  • 448 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 552).

MAKING THE GRADE - PFF WEEK STANDOUTS
Week 3

  • 83.8 - Joey Ramos - Pass Blocking - 7th among Pac-12 guards, 11th among all Pac-12 players
  • 81.8 - Leif Fautanu - Pass Blocking - 3rd among Pac-12 centers, 18th among all Pac-12 players, 32nd among FBS centers
  • 79.4 - Prince Dorbah - Run Defense - 2nd among Pac-12 edge defenders, 5th among all Pac-12 players, 7th among FBS edge defenders

Season

  • 75.3 - Cam Skattebo - Rushing - 1st among Pac-12 halfbacks, 1st among all Pac-12 offensive players, 48th among all FBS players, 32nd  among all FBS halfbacks
  • 79.2 - B.J. Green - Overall Defense - 4th among Pac-12 edge defenders, 14th among all Pac-12 players, 28th among FBS edge defenders
  • 78.0 - Dashaun Mallory - Run Defense - 1st among Pac-12 defensive interior players, 12th among all Pac-12 players, 19th among all FBS interior linemen
  • 78.3 - B.J. Green - Pass Rushing - 4th among Pac-12 edge defenders, 5th among all Pac-12 players, 42nd among FBS edge defenders

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. The Sun Devils feature 78 new players on the roster in 2023, the second-most of any FBS institution behind only Colorado (88)

2. The Sun Devil defense has allowed just 28 total plays over ten yards this season, 17th in the FBS.

3. ASU is seventh among all FBS programs in forcing opponents to miss 52 total tackles on offense this season.

4. Chris Edmonds leads all Pac-12 safeties in forcing six stops on run defense this season - tied for 12th among FBS safeties.

5. ASU's 15 points off turnovers allowed against Fresno State were the fewest by a team that turned the ball over 8+ times since at least the 2012 season and the only team not to allow a touchdown in that circumstance.

6. Cam Skattebo has been stuffed for loss or no gain on just 8.3 percent of his career rushes, the second-lowest tally among all FBS and FCS running backs.

7.  SInce 2021, ASU has given up just 1.88 yards after contact per reception to opponents, the sixth-lowest tally in the FBS.

8. B.J. Green III has 14 quarterbacks pressures this season, tied for 10th among all FBS defensive linemen.

9. On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils have allowed a touchdown just 18.2 percent of the time (2 of 11), 23rd in the FBS and sixth among teams that have faced 5 or more such drives.

10. Among all FBS interior linemen with at least 50 plays on run defense this season, Dashaun Mallory's 78.0 PFF grade is 13th. His three stops for loss or no gain are 10th and his five total stops are 18th. 

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.

46 - Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 46 of 58 games (79.3 percent). ASU has forced 31 missed tackles on rushing plays this season, 21st in the FBS. 70.1 percent of the team's rushing yards have come after first contact, 18th 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 30th-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.4 yards after contact per rush in that time - 16th in the FBS. Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 29.5 percent of its rushes - 30th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.7 yards per rush in that time, tied for 12th in the FBS.

39 - Cam Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 39.1 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs while he has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 8.3 percent of his career carries, the third-lowest tally among all active backs (min. 200 attempts).He has forced 125 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 12th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.43 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are second (min. 200 attempts). He has forced 21 this season on rushing plays, fourth among FBS running backs. His 24 overall missed tackles forced on offense are third among all FBS players.

32 - ASU  has allowed just 32 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for the 9th-fewest in the FBS. The team has allowed a touchdown on just 3.6 percent of passes thrown against it in that time (32/890) - the 11th-lowest tally in the FBS.Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 79.8 since the start of 2021 - the 26th-lowest mark in the FBS. The 6.69 opponent passing yards per attempt in that time are 34th in the FBS. ASU has allowed just 5.2 yards after the catch per completion since 2021 - the 28th-lowest tally in the FBS. ASU has given up just 1.88 yards after contact per reception - the sixth-lowest tally in the FBS.

18 - B.J. Green III has forced a QB pressure on 18.2 percent of his pass rushing plays this season (14 of 77), 13th among all defensive linemen/edge defenders who have played at least 50 snaps on a pass rush. Green has 14 quarterback pressures this season, tied for 10th among all FBS defensive linemen and edge defenders. Amongst active FBS linemen/edge rushers with at least 300 pass rushing snaps since 2021, Green's 19.6 career pressure percentage is second behind only UCLA's Laiatu Latu. Green's 17.6 career "win" percentage on pass rushing plays is tied for ninth among all active FBS linemen since 2021. His 19 quarterback hits in that time are 10th.

18 - On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils have allowed a touchdown just 18.2 percent of the time (2 of 11), 23rd in the FBS and sixth among teams that have faced 5 or more such drives.The team's 2.64 points per drive on those drives are 37th nationally. The team's 2.64 points per drive on those drives are 37th nationally. The Sun Devils are 31st nationally in allowing just 4.51 yards per play this season. The Sun Devils are 34th in the FBS in allowing just 293.3 total yards of defense per game.

RUSH HOUR

  • ASU has forced 31 missed tackles on rushing plays this season, 21st in the FBS. 70.1 percent of the team's rushing yards have come after first contact, 18th in the FBS.
  • Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 72 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are Top-50 among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 32 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 37 games over the last three-plus seasons.
  • ASU has received a team rushing grade of 95.3 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 21st-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 30th-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.4 yards after contact per rush in that time - 16th in the FBS.
  • Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 29.5 percent of its rushes - 30th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.7 yards per rush in that time, tied for 12th in the FBS.
  • Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 46 of 58 games (79.3 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.

KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU

  • ASU has allowed just 13 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 58 games. The .22 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.17 per game on 10 plays over 59 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
  • ASU has allowed just 28 plays over 10 yards this season, 17th in the FBS. The defense has allowed just six total plays over 20 yards, tied for ninth nationally
  • 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.
  • Utah's Thomas Yassmin had a 72-yard catch last year that was 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, and ended a streak of 20 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 32 occasions over 58 games (55.2 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 85 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.5 per game/58 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.

RO RO RO YOUR BOAT

  • Ro Torrence has not been credited with allowing an open target this season, one of just eight Pac-12 corners with at least 40 coverage snaps with such a claim. Opponents have just a 51.0 successful play percentage against Torrence, the 10th-lowest tally
  • Team's have just a 21.4 first down or touch down rate when targeting Ro Torrence, the eighth-lowest tally among league corners (min. 70 coverage snaps). Opponents have just a 47.9 successful play percentage against Torrence, the 5th-lowest tally among league corners.
  • Torrence  allowed just 20 receptions in coverage last season, the lowest tally among Pac-12 corners with at least 300 snaps played in coverage in the regular season and the 14th-lowest tally among all FBS corners.
  • Torrence allowed just 225 yards to receivers in coverage this season - the lowest in the Pac-12 regular season and the 16th-lowest tally in the FBS. His 0.72 yards allowed per coverage snap was fourth in the Pac-12 and 31st in the FBS.
  • He allowed just four plays over 15 yards against him - tied for 6th-lowest in the FBS regular season.
  • In Cover-0 or Cover-1, Torrence allowed just five catches on 101 coverage snaps - the lowest tally among FBS corners in the regular season. Opponents manged just a 31.3 percent completion rate aginst him in those man coverages - the sixth-lowest in the FBS. His 50 yards allowed in Cover-0 or Cover-1 coverage were the fourth-lowest in the FBS and his forced incompletion rate of 31.3 percent was 11th among FBS corners (min. 100 Cover-0/Cover-1 snaps).

NO FLY ZONE

  • Opponents haven't had much luck against other secondary members either, picking up a first down or touchdown just 15.4 percent of the time when targeting Demetries Ford - the third-lowest tally among league corners. The two first downs allowed by Ford are tied for third-lowest among league corners.
  • Opponents have just a 46.9 and 49.4 successful play percentage when targeting Jordan Clark or Ford, the third- and fifth-lowest tallies among Pac-12 corners (min. 70 snaps). Clark's tally is notable as no Pac-12 corner has been targeted as much as he has this season with his 27 targets seven more than the next closest corner.
  • The back end has held it down as well with safeties Chris Edmonds and Shamari Simmons rankings third and fourth among Pac-12 safeties in allowing just a 49.0 and 49.5 successful play percentage when targeted.
  • Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 79.8 since the start of 2021 - the 26th-lowest mark in the FBS.
  • The 6.69 opponent passing yards per attempt in that time are 34th in the FBS.
  • ASU has allowed just 5.2 yards after the catch per completion since 2021 - the 28th-lowest tally in the FBS. ASU has given up just 1.88 yards after contact per reception - the sixth-lowest tally in the FBS.
  • ASU has allowed just 32 passing touchdowns since the start of 2021 - tied for the 9th-fewest in the FBS. The team has allowed a touchdown on just 3.6 percent of passes thrown against it in that time (32/890) - the 11th-lowest tally in the FBS.
  • The secondary has contested a target on 17.2 percent of passing plays since the start of 2021 - good for 35th in the FBS in that time.
  • Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 26 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. ASU has allowed just three passing plays over 20 yards this season, tied for fourth-lowest in the FBS.

GREEN LIGHT, GO

  • B.J. Green III has forced a QB pressure on 18.2 percent of his pass rushing plays this season (14 of 77), 13th among all defensive linemen/edge defenders who have played at least 50 snaps on a pass rush.
  • Green has 14 quarterback pressures this season, tied for 10th among all FBS defensive linemen and edge defenders.
  • Amongst active FBS linemen/edge rushers with at least 300 pass rushing snaps since 2021, Green's 19.6 career pressure percentage is second behind only UCLA's Laiatu Latu.
  • Green's 17.6 career "win" percentage on pass rushing plays is tied for ninth among all active FBS linemen since 2021. His 19 quarterback hits in that time are 10th.
  • 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 six missed tackles on offense this season, tied for 19th among all FBS receivers. He has added seven more on kick returns, which is tied for 12th among all returners in the country.
  • Badger's 74.7 kickoff yards per game are seventh in the FBS and his 28.00 average per return is 14th.
  • 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

  • Jalin Conyers has immediately picked up where he left off, posting 85 yards after the catch this season (includes yards on passes caught behind the line of scrimmage), which was good for fifth among all FBS tight ends before missing Week 3. 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.
  • 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 three this season were tied for fourth among FBS tight ends before missing Week 3. 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.

SKATT BACK

  • Among the flurry of new Sun Devil players this year, one exceptional offensive threat will be the addition of running back Cam Skattebo.
  • Skattebo is 29th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs with 2,041 career rushing yards while his 7.0 yards per carry are third among that group. (min. 200 carries)
  • He has forced 125 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 12th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.43 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are second (min. 200 attempts). He has forced 21 this season on rushing plays, fourth among FBS running backs. His 24 overall missed tackles forced on offense are third among all FBS players.
  • Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 39.1 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 200 attempts) while he has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 8.3 percent of his career carries, the third-lowest tally among all active backs (min. 200 attempts).

GETTING DEFENSIVE

  • The Sun Devils will look to Brian Ward to lead the defense this season, with the defensive coordinator from Washington State looking to right the ship that struggled at times at ASU last season after a stringing together several impressive years prior.
  • 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).
  • On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils have allowed a touchdown just 18.2 percent of the time (2 of 11), 23rd in the FBS and sixth among teams that have faced 5 or more such drives.The team's 2.64 points per drive on those drives are 37th nationally.
  • The Sun Devils are 31st nationally in allowing just 4.51 yards per play this season. The Sun Devils are 34th in the FBS in allowing just 293.3 total yards of defense per game.
  • The Sun Devil defense thus far has been succesful in harrying opposing quarterbacks, giving team's just an average of 2.14 seconds to throw the ball - the sixth-fastest time in the FBS. 27.9 percent of ASU's team pressures this season have come in less than 2.5 seconds, good for 35th in the FBS.
  • 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 72 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 884-502 in points off takeaways since 2012.
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.8 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (150 of 235) while finding the end zone 110 times in that span (46.8 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.9 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (90 of 184) with 62 touchdowns (33.7 percent).
  • ASU has interceptions 17 of the last 23 games dating back to the 2021 season.
  • Oddly enough, the bounces last year did not go the Sun Devils' way on fumbles last year. ASU was the last team in FBS without a fumble recovery, having seen 12 balls on the ground without a recovery prior to the fourth quarter of the UCLA game - the ninth game of the season. ASU saw 14 fumbles by opponents last season with only one recovery (last in the FBS) and a 7.14 recovery percentage that was 8 points lower than Lousiana-Monroe (the only other team in the FBS under 20 percent on its recovery percentage).
  • That absurd trend continued in the opener with Southern Utah putting three balls on the ground and none of the three were recovered by ASU.

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).