Football Looks for First SEC Win Against Mississippi State

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THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football continues its 2024 non-conference slate this weekend as it welcomes the Mississippi State Bulldogs to Mountain America Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7. Scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. AZT kickoff, the contest will be broadcast on ESPN (Mark Jones, Roddy Jones, Quint Kessenich) and available over the airwaves locally on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE BULLDOGS -  This will be the first meeting between the Sun Devils and Bulldogs, with ASU looking for its first victory over an SEC team in program history. While ASU has three wins over Missouri and one over Oklahoma, those schools were not in the SEC at the time of those competitions. The Bulldogs have won 10 straight non-conference games since Sept. 3, 2022. The streak started with a home win against Memphis, including a bowl game win over Illinois. MSU is 26-5 in non-conference games dating back to the 2017 season. Mississippi State concluded week one with the best team passing grade in the SEC, second-best nationally, (93.7) per Pro Football Focus.Mississippi State scored five of its six offensive touchdowns in five plays or less against Eastern Kentucky. » State's time of possession averaged 1:49 per offensive drive & 1:38 per scoring drive. Only two scoring drives went longer than two minutes.

KICKING OFF

• ASU has now held opponents to less than 30 points in 42 of 68 games since 2018 (61.8 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 37 occasions over 68 games (54.4 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017. 
• ASU's offensive linemen had a combined 156 career starts spread amongst them entering the 2024 season, the fifth-highest tally in the country.
• The Sun Devils were among the worst teams in the nation on third downs last season, both converting and defending - ranking 120th in converting just 31.76 percent of their attempts and 91st in allowing opponents to convert 40.99 percent of theirs. While the sample size is small, the Sun Devils certainly showed immense improvement in the category in the opener as the team converted 53.33 percent of its opportunites (8-of-15) - the 40th-best tally in the FBS - whole limiting Wyoming to just 23.08 percent of theirs (3-of-13) - 28th-best in the FBS.
• ASU's average starting field position was its own 36.6 yard line - the 11th-best in the nation - while holding Wyoming to a starting average of its own 24.2 yard line - the 14th-worst total in the country. The net 12.4 yardage difference was the ninth-best in the FBS after Week One. 
• ASU was credited with just two missed tackles on defense in the opener, ranking behind only Oregon (0) and Colorado (2) for the fewest in the country in Week One. The Sun Devils were Top-40 in the country last season in only being credited with 129 missed tackles on defense.
• Sam Leavitt showed his ability to keep his composure under pressure, with both his touchdown passes coming while being pressured, giving him a tie for the nation's lead in under-pressure touchdown passes through Week One.  His 149.3 NFL QBR while under pressure was seventh in the nation. 

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...

• Be the the first win over an SEC team in ASU's program history. ASU currently has three wins over Missouri and one over Oklahoma, but neither school was in the SEC at the time of those victories
• Give ASU a 2-0 start to the season where BOTH victories were over FBS schools for the first time since 2018 (UTSA/Michigan St.)
• Give ASU three wins over its last five games dating back to last season 
• End Mississippi State' 10-game winning streak in non-conference games, dating back to Sept. 3, 2022.

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. The Sun Devils were credited with just two missed tackles on defense in the opener, tied for the third-lowest tally among FBS schools in Week One. 

2. When Jake Smith and Xavion Alford took Frank Kush Field on Saturday, it had  been 1,342 days for Smith (Dec 29, 2020 - Aug. 31, 2024) and 1,009 days for Alford (Nov. 27, 2021 - Aug. 31, 2024) since either player appeared in a college football game.

3. Sam Leavitt completed two passes while under duress on Saturday, both going for touchdowns and giving him the FBS lead in under-pressure touchdowns early in the season. 

4. ASU's average starting field position on Saturday was its own 36.6 yard-line comapred to Wyoming's 24.2 yard line - a 12.4 yard net difference that was ninth-best in the country.

5. Leif Fautanu has played 2,712 career snaps, the third-most snaps among active players heading into the 2024 season behind only NMSU's Canaan Yarro (2,888) and Texas' Jake Majors (2,755)

6. ASU's defense has held opponents under 100 rushing yards in seven of 13 games under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. 

7.  ASU's 41-point margin of victory was the largest allowed by Wyoming in a season opener in the Cowboys' program history (dating back to 1893). 

8. ASU's running backs earned 83.6 percent of their total yards AFTER contact in the opener, the 15th-best tally in the FBS in Week One

9. ASU had 156 career starts spread across its offensive lineman entering the season, a total good for fifth in the nation coming into 2024. 

10. Cam Skattebo has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 8.6 percent of his career carries, good for the lowest tally among all active backs at both the FBS and FCS levels (min. 300 attempts).

BY THE NUMBERS
1,000 - While both were on the Sun Devil roster last season, antiquated NCAA rules that were inevitably overturned kept Jake Smith and Xavion Alford out for the season. When the duo took Frank Kush Field on against Wyoming, it marked  1,342 days for Smith (Dec 29, 2020 - Aug. 31, 2024) and 1,009 days for Alford (Nov. 27, 2021 - Aug. 31, 2024) since either player had appeared in a college football game. Ben Coleman was another newcomer last season that was forced to miss the year with an injury and took the field for the first time in 646 days (Nov. 25,  2022-Aug. 31, 2024) this past Saturday.

60 - Kenny Dillingham has put together a roster with 60 total newcomers this season - the ninth-most of any FBS school behind only Colorado after being second a year ago. The Sun Devils have just three players in their final year of eligibility that started their careers at Arizona State (Trenton Bourguet, Caleb McCullough and Anthonie Cooper) - tied for the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS. ASU's 46 scholarship newcomers are tied for third most in the FBS while the teams 58 returning players are tied for the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS. Only 38 of those players are scholarship student-athletes, tied for the third-lowest mark in the FBS.

53 - ASU among the worst teams in the nation on third downs last season, ranking 120th in converting just 31.76 percent of their attempts and 91st in allowing opponents to convert 40.99 percent of theirs. While the sample size is small, the Sun Devils certainly showed immense improvement in the category in the opener as the team converted 53.33 percent of its opportunites (8-of-15) - the 40th-best tally in the FBS - whole limiting Wyoming to just 23.08 percent of theirs (3-of-13) - 28th-best in the FBS. The Sun Devils averaged 10.4 yards per third down play on Saturday, the 11th-highest total in the country after ranking 112th a year ago at 4.4 yards per third down attempt.
8 - Cam Skattebo has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 8.6 percent of his career carries, good for the lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts). He was not stuffed once in the season opener against Wyoming. His 10.5 percent stuff rate last season was 14th among FBS running backs.  He is currently averaging 3.9 yards after contact per career rush - tied for seventh among all active FBS/FCS backs. He averaged 4.4 yards after contact per rush in the opener, good for 24th among FBS backs in Week One (min. 10 carries). Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 36.9 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs.

3 - Leif Fautanu has played 2,712 career snaps, the third-most snaps among active players heading into the 2024 season behind only NMSU's Canaan Yarro (2,888) and Texas' Jake Majors (2,755). He started all 12 games for the Sun Devils, playing all but one snap of the season (helmet came off) for the team at center (850). He finished with the fifth-best pass-blocking score among centers in the Pac-12 (78.7) - a total good for 29th in the country among all centers (min. 500 snaps). Fautanu was not credited with any pressures allowed in the opener against Wyoming. Fautanu has started 44 career games, all coming consecutively, in his career. 

0 - Sam Leavitt was credited with zero turnover worthy plays in his Sun Devil debut on Saturday. Leavitt showed his ability to keep his composure under pressure, with both his touchdown passes coming while being pressured, giving him a tie for the nation's lead in under-pressure touchdown passes through Week One.  His 149.3 NFL QBR while under pressure was seventh in the nation. Additionally, Leavitt picked up 36 rushing yards on QB scrambles, good for 16th among FBS quarterbacks through Week One. He picked up a first down/touchdown on 50 percent of those - tied for 10th among FBS quarterbacks. 

MILESTONE WATCH

• Running back Cam Skattebo is 270 rushing yards away from reaching 3,000 rushing yards in his career (currently at 2,730). He is 342 all-purpose yards away from reaching 4,000 all-purpose yards in his career (currently at 3,658) He is also 202 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000 receiving yards in his career (currently at 798)
• Skattebo is 1 touchdown away from scoring 30 touchdowns in his career (currently at 29 - 1 passing, 5 receiving, 23 rushing)
• Skattebo is 3 games played away from appearing in 40 games in his career (currently at 37)
• Running back Alton McCaskill is 2 touchdowns away from scoring 20 touchdowns in his career (currently at 18 - 2 receiving, 16 rushing)
• Wide receiver Xavier Guillory is 389 receiving yards away from reaching 2,000 receiving yards in his career (currently at 1,611)
• Wide receiver Melquan Stovall is 95 receiving yards away from reaching 1,500 receiving yards in his career (currently at 1,405). Stovall is 4 games played away from appearing in 50 games in his career (currently at 46)
• Quarterback Jeff Sims is 254 passing yards away from reaching 5,000 passing yards in his career (currently at 4,746)
• Defensive lineman Jeff Clark is 4 tackles away from registering 100 tackles in his career (currently at 96). He is 1 sack away from registering 10 sacks in his career (currently at 9.0). Clark is 2 games played away from appearing in 40 games in his career (currently at 38).
• Linebacker Caleb McCullough is 8 games played away from appearing in 40 games in his career, all in an ASU uniform (currently at 32)
• Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott is 5 tackles away from registering 150 tackles in his career (currently at 145)
• Defensive back Shamari Simmons is 19 tackles away from registering 200 tackles in his career (currently at 181). He is 2 interceptions away from collecting 10 interceptions in his career (currently at 8). Simmons needs 3 more pass defenses to reach 30 passes defended in his career (currently at 27) 
• Kicker Parker Lewis is 4 made field goals away from reaching 30 made field goals in his career (currently at 26)

HOT OUT THE GATES

• The Sun Devils put together one of their best season openers in recent memory with a 48-7 rout over Wyoming last Saturday. 
• The 41-point margin of victory marked the largest loss by Wyoming in a season opener in the history of the program (dating back to 1893). It was the sixth-largest margin of victory in a season opener for the Sun Devils over an FBS school in modern program history. 
• The 41-point victory was the the sixth-largest overall by one FBS team over another in Week One and the second-largest by an unranked FBS team over another.
• With their 48 point performance, Arizona State became the first team to score over 40 against Wyoming since Northern Illinois did so in a Sept. 11, 2021 50-43 loss. 
• The 48 points scored by the Sun Devils are the most allowed by Wyoming since Oregon scored 49 points on Sept. 16, 2017.
• Arizona State's 41 point margin of victory over the Cowboys was the biggest since Wyoming lost to Boise State, 63-14, back on Nov. 22, 2014.
• Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward's unit allowed only 118 yards to Wyoming which was the fewest by an ASU defense since it allowed 37 yards to Idaho State on Sept. 5, 2009.
• The Sun Devils scored via an interception AND fumble return for touchdowns. It marks the first time that Arizona State has scored a defensive touchdown on both an interception and a fumble return in the same game since a 34-9 victory over UCLA on senior night on Nov. 28, 2008.
• Is was the 25th consecutive victory in a HOME opener for the Sun Devils, currently the second-longest active streak in the nation behind only Illinois (27) - (2020 excluded due to unusual circumstances across country, numerous canceled and rescheduled games and ASU not having a home opener until December).
• Teams that won at least nine games a year ago were 31-10 on opening weekend, woth ASU marking one of those losses over a Cowboy squad that was 9-4 last year. ASU was one of just six unranked teams to defeat a nine win team from a year ago.

WILD SKATT

• Running back Cam Skattebo is 10th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs with 2,730 career rushing yards while his 6.4 yards per carry are tied for fifth in that group. (min. 300 carries)
• He has forced 162 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 5th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks while his 0.38 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt are tied for third (min. 300 attempts).
• Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 36.9 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 300 attempts). His 29.9 percent 1D/TD percentage this season was Top-45 in the FBS. 
• He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 8.6 percent of his career carries, good for the lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts). He was not stuffed once in the season opener against Wyoming. His 10.5 percent stuff rate last season was 14th among FBS running backs. 
• He is currently averaging 3.9 yards after contact per career rush - tied for seventh among all active FBS/FCS backs. He averaged 4.4 yards after contact per rush in the opener, good for 24th among FBS backs in Week One (min. 10 carries).
• Skattebo was a a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player after doing a little of everything last season, recording over 50 snaps at quarterback, over 350 at running back, two at tight end, over 100 as either a slot receiver or wide wide receiver, three on kick return and over five on punt coverage
• He also punted eight times for a team-best 42.3 yards per punt on eight punts, none of which were returned - one of just three punters in the country with 8+ punts in the country to lay such a claim - and three punts over 50 yards

WHEN THE LEAVITT BREAKS

• Sam Leavitt's Sun Devil debut was about as good as anyone could have asked for with the redshirt freshman throwing for 258 yards on 14-of-22 passing, recording two touchdowns and no interceptions while also adding 47 rushing yards.
• The 258 passing yards with the third-most by a Sun Devil making his debut since 1996, behind only Joey Yellen (292, 2019) and Jayden Daniels (284, 2019).
• Leavitt was not credited with a single turnover-worthy play in the opener. 
• His 11.7 passing yards per attempt with 10th among FBS quarterbacks (min. 20 attempts).
• Leavitt showed his ability to keep his composure under pressure, with both his touchdown passes coming while being pressured, giving him a tie for the nation's lead in under-pressure touchdown passes through Week One.  His 149.3 NFL QBR while under pressure was seventh in the nation. 
• Additionally, Leavitt picked up 36 rushing yards on QB scrambles, good for 16th among FBS quarterbacks through Week One. He picked up a first down/touchdown on 50 percent of those - tied for 10th among FBS quarterbacks.

KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU

• ASU has allowed just 18 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 68 games - tied for second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (16). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
• ASU has allowed just 11 catches for 50 or more yards in that span,  tied for the fourth-lowest amount in the FBS in that time.
• ASU has allowed just 22 total plays over 30 yards last season, tied for 35th in the FBS. It did not allow a single one in the opener against Wyoming. In fact, it gave up just one play over 20 yards - a total good for ninth in the country.
• ASU gave up just 2.27 yards per play to Wyoming in the opener, the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS in Week One. 
• It should be noted that 74 of Wyoming's 118 total yards came on its final drive against ASU's deep reserves and walk-ons and required the Cowboys to take all three of their timeouts in a 48-0 game to accomplish. Prior to that drive, Wyoming had just 44 yards of offense through 57 minutes of game action, averaging a paltry 1.02 yards per play. 
• Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 37 occasions over 68 games (54.4 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 110 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.6 per game/68 games)). That is the sixth-lowest tally in the FBS in that time (James Madison, Sam Houston State and Kennesaw 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.

RULE OF THIRDS

• The Sun Devils were among the worst teams in the nation on third downs last season, both converting and defending - ranking 120th in converting just 31.76 percent of their attempts and 91st in allowing opponents to convert 40.99 percent of theirs.
• While the sample size is small, the Sun Devils certainly showed immense improvement in the category in the opener as the team converted 53.33 percent of its opportunites (8-of-15) - the 40th-best tally in the FBS - whole limiting Wyoming to just 23.08 percent of theirs (3-of-13) - 28th-best in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils averaged 10.4 yards per third down play on Saturday, the 11th-highest total in the country after ranking 112th a year ago at 4.4 yards per third down attempt.
• Conversely, the defense allowed just 1.8 yards per third down to the Cowboy offense - the 13th-lowest total in the country after allowing 5.3 per third down play a year ago (67th).

SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL PLAYERS

• The field position battle was one ASU frequently lost a season ago, but showed glimpses of improvement in the opener on Saturday.
• ASU's average starting field position was its own 36.6 yard line - the 11th-best in the nation - while holding Wyoming to a starting average of its own 24.2 yard line - the 14th-worst total in the country. 
• The net 12.4 yardage difference was the ninth-best in the FBS after week one. 
• In Charlie Ragle's first season as the Special Teams Coordinator, the Sun Devils set a new school record for fewest yards allowed on kick returns.
• Ragle's unit only allowed 246 kick return yards on 15 attempts, breaking the previous record set in 1946 (247 yards on 9 returns).
• The 16.4 yards per kick return by opponents also set a new program record, eclipsing the previous mark of 16.6 set in 1950 (829 yards on 50 returns). 
• The 16.4 tally was good for 16th in the FBS a season ago.
• The longest kickoff return by an ASU opponent was a pedestrian 26-yard return by Utah's Mikey Matthews on Nov. 4, 2023.
• On the flip side, the Sun Devils were also very solid with returning kicks, ranking 23rd in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in kickoff return average at 22.90.

NO FLY ZONE

• ASU's pass defense numbers in the opener continue a trend in the Sun Devil Football program that has transcended coaching/personnel changes over the past four-plus seasons. ASU held Wyoming to just 78 passing yards on 10-of-20 passing with two interceptions to just one touchdown.
• ASU had a team coverage score of 84.5 according to PFF for the Opener, good for 20th in the nation. Wyoming had an open target just 50 percent of the time in the game, tied for the 33rd-lowest tally in the FBS in Week One. ASU allowed just one passing play over 15 yards (coming against its fourth string defense late in the game), good for the 6th lowest total in the FBS after the first week of action. 
• ASU has allowed just 5.4 yards after the catch per completion since 2020 - the 33rd-lowest tally in the FBS. 
• ASU has given up just 1.94 yards after contact per reception - the 11th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• ASU has allowed just 62 passing touchdowns since the start of 2020 - tied for the 20th-fewest in the FBS. The team has allowed a touchdown on just 4.5 percent of passes thrown against it in that time (62/1389) - the 40th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• The secondary has contested a target on 16.6 percent of passing plays since the start of 2020 - good for 40th in the FBS in that time.
• Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 85.5 since the start of 2020 - the 49th-lowest mark in the FBS. 
• Since 2020, the 6.91 opponent passing yards per attempt allowed are 41st in the FBS.
• Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 34 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.

IN THE TRENCHES

• Justin Wodtly was the second-highest graded defensive lineman in the Big 12 in Week One with his score of 88.0 from PFF.
• A year ago, C.J. Fite played the fourth-most snaps of any true freshman defender in the Pac-12 and tops among all defensive linemen... He was Top-50 among all true freshmen defenders in the FBS in snaps played and his 350 snaps were third among all true freshmen interior defensive lineman in the FBS for the season.
• Among FBS true AND redshirt freshmen, Fite's 71.3 grade from PFF on run defense was fifth in the country. That mark was good for 13th among all Pac-12 interior defenders, regardless of year. 
• ASU's interior linemen as a whole last season had 22 combined tackles for loss or no gain on rushes - good for 13th in the FBS. Those interior linemen had an average depth of tackle of just 1.49 yards, the 23rd-lowest tally in the FBS. 
• The Sun Devil defense was succesful in harrying opposing quarterbacks, giving team's just an average of 2.37 seconds to throw the ball - the 20th-fastest time in the FBS.
• The team forced a quick pressure (less than 2.5 seconds to pressure) on 114 occasions - 26th-best in the FBS and the team's overall 159 total pressures were 30th. These numbers come despite blitzing only 29.6 percent of the time - the 32nd-lowest percentage in the FBS. 
• Despite being the only FBS team to see at least 11 different combinations of its starting five offensive linemen due to unprecedented bad luck on the injury front, ASU allowed just 13 total sacks in its final eight games (including four games with no sacks) compared to 17 in the first four games.  The 13 sacks in the last 8 games are 42nd-lowest in that time while the 17 in the first four weeks were sixth-WORST in the country.
• The team allowed a knockdown percentage of 11.1 percent in the final eight games and is right in the middle of the FBS. Through the first four weeks of the season, ASU's knockdown percentage was 21.9 - 7th worst in the FBS.
• Leif Fautanu finished with the 29th best pass blocking score in the FBS among all centers (min. 500 snaps. It will be the second-best grade of any returning player in the Big 12 this season

GETTING DEFENSIVE

• ASU's defense will look to build upon a solid base in its second season under defensive coordinator Brian Ward, who was named a candidate for the 2023 Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. 
• ASU was credited with just two missed tackles on defense in the opener, ranking behind only Oregon (0) and Colorado (2) for the fewest in the country in Week One. The Sun Devils were Top-40 in the country last season in only being credited with 129 missed tackles on defense.
• In eight of 11 games following the season opener last season, ASU 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, Washington State 27/32.9, UCLA 7/28.6)
• On opponent drives starting within 60 yards of the ASU end zone, the Sun Devils allowed a touchdown just 32.3 percent of the time (10/31), 40th in the FBS and and 11th of the 53 teams with over 25 such drives faced.
• On 54 opponent red zone drives last season, ASU allowed just 29 touchdowns - a 53.7 percent touchdown conversion rate that was was 30th-lowest in the FBS despite facing 146 red zone plays - the 17th-highest tally in the FBS.
• Ward's defense helped hold opponents to just six touchdowns allowed following 20 turnovers by ASU's offensive or special teams units (30.0 percent), ranking among the Top-50 schools in the country in the category.
• 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.

GOLD RUSH

• The Sun Devil rushing attack was in full force in Week One, with the Sun Devils rushing for 241 yards on 49 carries with five different players rushing for 25 yards or more.
• The running back room was especially efficient with ASU's running backs earning 83.6 percent of their total yards AFTER contact in the opener, the 15th-best tally in the FBS in Week One. The group's 4.2 yards after contact per rush were 26th in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils ranked 18th in the FBS in averaging 0.26 missed tackles forced per running play last season. The team was stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage just 17.2 percent of the time, 28th in the FBS.
• Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU's 90 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 46th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 42 games, where none of the teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 47 games over the last four-plus seasons. 
• ASU has received a team rushing grade of 95.5 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 34th-highest tally in the FBS.
• Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 17.8 percent of its rushes - good for the 26th-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.2 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 25th in the FBS.
• Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 30.5 percent of its rushes - 18th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.4 yards per rush in that time, tied for 27th in the FBS.
• Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 51 of 68 games (75.0 percent).
• The Sun Devils have produced a 1,000-yard rusher nine times in the last 13 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

• ASU was 36th in the FBS in allowing just 133.5 rush yards per game to opponents last season. The Sun Devils held Wyoming to just 40 yards in the opener. 
• The effort marked the seventh time in 13 games under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward that ASU has held an opponent under 100 rushing yards in a game. 
• A year ago, 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 three games of the 2016 season that ASU had accomplished the feat (Northern Arizona - 56 yards, Texas Tech - 72 yards, UTSA - 93 yards).
• It was the first time it had happened against three-straight Pac-12 Conference opponents since a four-game stretch in the 2015 season (USC - 76, UCLA - 62, Colorado - 49, Utah - 72).
• In that 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 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. 
• ASU's safeties and corners received a 76.7 overall run defense grade in Week One against Wyoming, good for 33rd nationally.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

• The Sun Devils have 23 pick sixes since the 2012 season, a tally good for Top-10 in the FBS after picking up one on the second play of the season against Wyoming. 
• Taking out ASU's COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, the Sun Devils had a streak of at least one pick six in 23 consecutive seasons (2000-2022) come to a close last season - ending what was the longest streak in the FBS. 
• ASU immediately started a new streak with Zyrus Fiaseu's 29-yard return in the opener of 2024. 
• ASU would also pick up a scoop-and-score from Justin Wodtly later in the contest on a 6-yard fumble return, giving ASU an interception AND fumble return for a touchdown in the same game for the first time since UCLA in 2008.
• ASU has outscored opponents 924-537 in points off takeaways since 2012. 
• Since 2012, ASU has scored 64.2 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (158 of 246) while finding the end zone 114 times in that span (46.3 percent).
• Conversely, opponents have scored just 49.7 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (96 of 193) with 68 touchdowns (35.2 percent).

WHO'S THE NEW GUY

• For the second consecutive season, there will be a slew of newcomers taking the field for the Sun Devils in the form of 60 new players this season - the ninth-highest tally in thie FBS.
• The Sun Devils have just three players in their final year of eligibility that started their careers at Arizona State (Trenton Bourguet, Caleb McCullough and Anthonie Cooper) - tied for the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS.
• ASU's 46 scholarship newcomers are tied for third most in the FBS while the teams 58 returning players are tied for the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS. Only 38 of those players are scholarship student-athletes, tied for the third-lowest mark in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils welcomed the 48th best freshman class in the country by 247Sports, good for the top half of the Big 12 at No. 7 in the league.
• The team's transfer portal haul was tabbed at No. 30 overall and No. 4 in the Big 12.
• Overall, with the two groups combined, ASU checks in with the No. 43 class in the country and No. 7 in the Big 12.
• It should be noted, however, that ASU's talent rating from 247Sports (which takes into account transfer's high school ratings) is ranked 30th in the nation and second in the Big 12.
• While both were on the Sun Devil roster last season, antiquated NCAA rules that were inevitably overturned kept Jake Smith and Xavion Alford out for the season. When the duo took Frank Kush Field on Saturday night, it had been 1,342 days for Smith (Dec 29, 2020 - Aug. 31, 2024) and 1,009 days for Alford (Nov. 27, 2021 - Aug. 31, 2024) since either player has appeared in a college football game.
• Ben Coleman was another newcomer last season that was forced to miss the year with an injury and took the field for the first time in 646 days (Nov. 25,  2022-Aug. 31, 2024) on Saturday.

MOUNTAIN AMERICA STADIUM, HOME OF THE ASU SUN DEVILS

• Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics have announced a multi-year naming rights partnership last season 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: 

• Xavion Alford - Graduated SP24 Liberal Studies BA
• Emmit Bohle - Graduated SP23 Liberal Studies BA
• Coben Bourguet - Graduated SP24 Engineering Management BSE, working on Industrial Engineering MS)
• Trenton Bourguet - Graduated FA22 Communication BS
• Cade Briggs - Graduated SP23 University Studies BA (Texas Tech, Homeland Security Graduate Certificate (ASU)
• DeCarlos Brooks - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
• Jeff Clark - Graduated SP24 (Louisville)
• Ben Coleman - Graduated FA22 Media Studies (Cal), Earned Master's at ASU in SP24 Communications, working on Digital Audience Strategy MS
• Anthonie Cooper - Graduated FA22 Interdisciplinary Studies
• Prince Dorbah - Graduated SU24 Communication BS
• Leif Fautanu - Graduated FA23 Liberal Studies BA, working on Communications MA
• Xavier Guillory - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
• Caleb McCullough - Graduated SP24 Interdisciplinary Studies
• Troy Omeire - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
• Elijah O'Neal - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
• Shamari Simmons - Graduated FA23 Liberal Studies BA
• Jake Smith - Graduated FA23 Liberal Studies BA, working on Communications MA
• Melquan Stovall - Graduated FA22 Business Administration/Organization and Innovation Management BS, Earned master's at ASU SP24 – Organizational Leadership MS, Starting another master's – Global Security MA
• Parker Lewis – Graduated SP24 (Ohio State), working on W.P. Carey MBA
• Jeff Sims – Graduated SP24 (Nebraska)