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Football concludes non-conference slate against Texas State at home

The Sun Devils will look to get back on the winning track against the Bobcats in a unique TNT-HBO Max broadcasted game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. AZT.

ASU Game Notes (PDF) Opens in a new window Season Stats (PDF) Opens in a new window Texas State Game Notes (PDF)
Football concludes non-conference slate against Texas State at homeFootball concludes non-conference slate against Texas State at home

Myles Rowser readies for the play against Mississippi State.

Myles Rowser readies for the play against Mississippi State.

TEMPE -  The defending Big 12 Champions and College Football Playoff quarterfinalist Arizona State Sun Devils return home to conclude the regular season non-conference slate this weekend at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe against Texas State.  Scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. AZT kickoff, the contest will be broadcast nationally onTNT-HBO Max (J.B. Long, Mike Golic Jr., Coy Wire ). The game will also be available over the local airwaves in Arizona on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn). The Sun Devils enter the contest ranked No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.

On the Bobcats

  • This will be the second meeting between the Sun Devils and Bobcats after ASU rallied to defeat TXST, 31-28, on the road in San Marcos a year ago.
  • It is just the fourth contest in ASU program history against a team currently in the Sub Belt Conference (one win each against Lafayette in 2001 and Lousiana-Monroe in 2009), though Texas State will be moving to the former home of the Sun Devils when it joins the Pac-12 Conference next season.
  • The matchup will pit the FBS’ second- and fifth-youngest head coaches in Kenny Dillingham, 35, and GJ Kinne, 36.
  • The contest will feature the nation’s No. 7 rushing offense in the Bobcats (280.0 yards per game) against the No. 21 rushing defense in ASU (77.5). ASU has held three-straight opponents under 100 rushing yards dating back to last season and in five of its last six games.
  • Texas State is looking for its first 3-0 start to a season since the 1983 campaign and enter the game ranked 17th in scoring (47.5) and 16th in total offense (530.0)

Kicking off

  • The Sun Devils return 16 players in 2025 that started at least six games a year ago. The 16 returning starters are tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season. The total is notable as the Sun Devils had the second-most new players on the roster in the FBS (78) in 2022 and the ninth-most in 2023 (60). Arizona State had just 17 returning starters COMBINED entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
  • The Sun Devils have 23 players in their final year of eligibility, the 20th-highest tally among all FBS schools this season.
  • Jordyn Tyson has 10-straight games with over 60 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. Since the start of that stretch against Kansas last year, Tyson is tied for all FBS receivers in that stretch with 12 touchdowns and just 12 yards shy of the most receiving yards (1,101)  - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games.  Tyson’s 55 receiving first downs in that stretch are 11 more than  any player of the country.
  • Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has the most yardage in the stretch at 1,113 and is tied with Tyson with his 12 touchdowns but it should be noted Smith has done so in four more games of action than Tyson in that time.
  • ASU converted 2-of-3 fourth down opportunities against MSU, with those drives resulting in a touchdown and a field goal (with a turnover on downs). ASU now has 23 fourth down conversions since the start of last year, resulting in 14 touchdowns and three field goals on drives that included a successful fourth down conversion.
  • ASU’s 41 fourth-down conversions since 2023 with Kenny Dillingham took the reins are the seventh-most in the FBS.
  • Under Kenny Dillingham, ASU has seven games in which it has surpassed 200 passing and 200 rushing yards in the same game. It had only had eight such games total from the 2016-2022 seasons.
  • The have been 14 instances in 28 games that an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023. Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games. The 13 games are tied for the 8th-most in the FBS since 2023.
  • ASU has allowed just one touchdown drive in the final four minutes of the second half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-23 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.3 percent) that is third-best in the nation.
  • ASU has not allowed a single touchdown in the first four minutes of the second half from the start of 2024 to the present.

By the Numbers

48 - Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 48 occasions over 83 games (57.8 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 19 times in 28 games (67.9 percent) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. ASU has  held opponents to 30 points or less in 55 of 83 games since 2018 (66.3 percent). This is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 21 times in 28 games (75.0) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.

25 - The Sun Devil defensive line has done its part to force the issue against opponent offenses, ranking in the Top-25 in several categories so far this season. ASU defensive line has five QB hits this season, tied for the second-most in the Big 12 and 23rd in the FBS.  ASU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 22 QB hurries, which is also tied for second in the conference and 16th in the country.  The group’s three batted passes at the line of scrimmage are tied for first in the country. ASU has had this success despite blitzing just 23.9 percent of the time (14th-lowest in the country) and bringing four or fewer pass rushers 71 times this year - tied for 12th-most in the country.

16 - The Sun Devils return 16 players in 2025 that started at least six games a year ago - tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season. The total is notable as the Sun Devils had the second-most newcomers on the roster in the FBS (78) coming into the 2022 campaign and the ninth-most in 2023 (60). Arizona State had just 17 returning starters COMBINED entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons.  Eight Sun Devils started all 14 games last year, and seven of them return.. The Sun Devils have 23 players in their final year of eligibility, the 20th-highest tally among all FBS schools this season. ASU’s offensive line entered the season with 134 collective starts, good for 12th in the nation to start the year

14 - There have been 14 instances in 28 games that an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023. Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games. The 14 games are tied for 8th-most in the nation since 2023. ASU has held three-straight opponents under 100 rushing yards and five of its last six dating back to last season. ASU ranks 21st nationally in allowed just 77.50 rush yards per game this season - a year removed from finishing 21st nationally with 112.9 allowed per game -  but will be put to the test in that realm as it welcomes a Texas State program that is currently seventh in the nation averaging 280.0 rushing yards per game entering the weekend.

10 - Jordyn Tyson  has 10-straight games with over 60 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. Since the start of that stretch against Kansas last year, Tyson is tied for all FBS receivers in that stretch with 12 touchdowns and just 12 yards shy of the most receiving yards (1,101)  - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games.  Tyson’s 55 receiving first downs in that stretch are 11 more than  any player of the country. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has the most yardage in the stretch at 1,113 and is tied with Tyson with his 12 touchdowns but it should be noted Smith has done so in four more games of action than Tyson in that time. Eight of Tyson’s 16 career touchdown receptions have come in the final five minutes of either the first or second halves

3 - The Sun Devils has given quarterbacks 3.39 seconds to throw per play this year, third-most in the Big 12 and 16th-best in the FBS. ASU’s 2.73 seconds before allowing a pressure is second best in the Big 12 and 12th-best in the FBS. Sam Leavitt had less than 2.50 seconds to thow the ball on just 35.6 percent of his dropbacks this season, the seventh-lowest total in the FBS. Jimeto Obigbo and Max Iheanachor have allowed just one QB pressure this season each, tied for the seventh-lowest total among Big 12 linemen. Just 5.6 percent of ASU’s pressures have come from the right tackle this season - tied for 13th-lowest at that position in the nation. The left guard spot has also accounted for just 5.6 percent of QB pressures, good for 28th nationally.

#10Things (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. ASU punted on the first drive of the game at MSU last Saturday for the first time since Nov. 11 , 2023 at UCLA. In the 17 game stretch in between, ASU  scored 10 touchdowns and three field goals.

2. Arizona State (6-0) was one of 16 teams to go undefeated at home in 2024 and the only Big 12 team to do so. ASU is looking for its eighth-straight home victory on Saturday night.

3.  ASU’s 16 returning starters (6+ starts) were tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season.

4. ASU has outscored opponents 107-19 in the “middle eight” of games since the start of last year (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).

5. The Sun Devils have a 40 percent (10-of-25) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter dating back to last season, the 11th-best percentage in the nation (does not include pick six against UCF last year).

6.  Conversely, ASU has allowed just one touchdown drive in the final four minutes of the second half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-23 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.3 percent) that is third-best in the nation.

7.  With Raleek Brown (110) and Kanye Udoh (105) going over 100 rushing yards at MSU, it was the second time in the last five games that two players went over the century mark in the same game -  notable as ASU had just five TOTAL instances of that happening between 2000-23.

8. ASU’s defense has 14 games since 2023 holding an opponent under 100 rushing yards, tied for the 8th-most in the FBS in that time.

9. Kyson Brown, Raleek Brown and Kanye Udoh have forced 23 missed tackles on running plays - good for fifth in the FBS - while its 27 overall missed tackles are tied for second in the FBS.

10. Jordyn Tyson has recorded 8 touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games in his career (7 receiving, 1 punt return) - tied for the most among active FBS players since his freshman campaign in 2022.

An ASU victory would...

  • Improve ASU to 5-1 in regular season non-conference road games over the past two seasons.
  • Extend ASU’s home winning streak to 8 consecutive victories, its longest since a 9-game stretch between the 2012-14 seasons.
  • Bring ASU back to .500 (6-6) against schools from the state ofTexas since the 2000 season
  • Keep Texas State from its first 3-0 start since 1983
  • Move ASU to 2-0 in the all-time series
  • Help ASU avoid its first two-game losing streak since the final two games of the 2023 season.

Milestone watch

  • Running back Kanye Udoh is 130 rushing yards away from 2,000 career rushing yards (currently at 1,879)
  • Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is 152 receiving yards away from 2,000 career receiving yards (currently at 1,848) Tyson is 5 receptions away from 120 career receptions (currently at 115). Tyson is 3 touchdown reception away from 20 career TD catches (currently at 17)
  • Wide receiver Malik McClain is 4 games played away from 50 career games played (currently at 46)
  • Defensive lineman Justin Wodtly is 6 games played away from 50 career games played (currently at 44)
  • Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott is 7 games played away from 50 career games played (currently at 43)
  • Linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu is 4 tackles for loss away from 20 career tackles for loss (currently at 16)
  • Offensive lineman Ben Coleman started is 2 starts away from 40 career starts (currently at 38)
  • Defensive back Myles Rowser is 25 tackles away from 250 career tackles (currently at 225)
  • Rowser and X Alford are 2 pass deflections away from 15 career pass deflections (currently at 13)
  • Prince Dorbah is 1 sack away from 10 career sacks (currently at 9.0)

Making the grade (Notable PFF grades)

  • Jordyn Tyson’s 89.9 receiving grade since Week 6 of last season in third-best among all active FBS receivers in that time (USC’s Makai Lemon-90.2/TTU’s Terrance Carter-90.1).
  • ASU has received a team rushing grade of 94.8 from PFF since the start of 2023, good for 13th-best nationally.
  • Josh Atkins was the second-highest graded tackle in the Big 12 and 18th-highest graded among FBS tackles in Week 2 with his overall offensive grade of 79.2 His 76.9 run blocking score for the week was third among Big 12 tackles and 21st among FBS tackles.
  • Jordyn Tyson was the fifth-best graded wide receiver in the leagye and 39th nationally with a receiving grade of 74.0 in Week 2.
  • Keyshaun Elliott was the second-highest graded linebacker in coverage in the Big 12 in Week 2 and 27th among FBS linebackers (72.4).
  • Xavion Alford recorded the league’s ninth-best grade as a tackler in Week 2 at 82.5.

Last time out - Mississippi State

  • Arizona State finished with six tackles for loss, the second-straight game it had six or more stops behind the line of scrimmage. It was the first time accomplishing the feat in back-to-back games since recording eight at Cal (9/30) and nine vs Colorado (10/7) in 2023.
  • Jesus Gomez nailed a 51-yard field goal to end the first half. He was the first Sun Devil to make a 50+-yard field goal since Dario Longhetto had a 51-yarder vs Washington State Oct. 28, 2023. Gomez now has seven field goals of 50+-yards in his career (6 at Eastern Michigan, 1 at ASU).
  • ASU had an eight-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown that chewed 4:26 off the clock to begin the second half. They did not attempt a pass during the drive, running for all 75 yards with three different players going over 20 yards.
  • The Sun Devils also managed a 17-play, 95-yard drive in the fourth quarter that took 8:54 off the clock. It was the 10th time ASU has mustered a 95+ yard scoring drive since 2011, but the only time the drive resulted in a field goal.  Of the 21 95+ yard scoring drives in the FBS this season, it is the only one to result in a field goal.
  • The 8:54 drive time was the longest since a 9:09 touchdown drive at Washington in 2021.
  • The 17 plays are tied for the 12th-most for a drive in the FBS this season and tied for the second-most for most plays before resorting to a field goal (Northern Illinois, 18).
  • Captains for Arizona State were Keith Abney, Jordan Crook, Malik McClain, and Tupelo, Mississippi native Kyson Brown.
  • The Sun Devils punted on their opening drive for the first time since Nov. 11, 2023 at UCLA, ending a streak of 17-straight games where the team did not punt on its first offensive drive of the game. ASU had scored touchdowns on 10 of those and field goals on three others.
  • Mississippi State received the opening kickoff and quickly drove downfield for the first score of the game, the first time an opponent had scored first against ASU since Nov. 9, 2024 vs. UCF - ending a six-game streak of scoring first.
  • ASU was held scoreless in a first quarter for the first time since Sept. 21, 2024 at Texas Tech, ending a streak of 11-straight games scoring in the first quarter
  • ASU has outscored opponents 107-19 in the “middle eight” of games since the start of last year and 10-0 against the Bulldogs.
  • It was the second time in ASU’s last five games dating back to last season that the team had two separate players rush for over 100 yards (Raleek Brown, 110, and Kanye Udoh, 105). That’s notable as the Sun Devils had not accomplished that feat since the 2017 season prior.
  • ASU held Mississippi State to just 66 rushing yards, marking the 14th time in 28 games under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward holding an opponent to under 100 rushing yards. Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games.
  • The Sun Devils gave up 153 yards on the three touchdown passes against them (51.0 yards per play), compared to just 192 total yards allowed in the 60 others plays in the contest (3.2 yards per play).

    Six degrees of Sun Devil-ation
  • Texas State tight end/pass game coordinator Will Bryant coached ASU wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at Allen High School in 2021. Tyson’s and Texas State running back Jaylen Jenkins both played at Allen in 2021.
  • ASU linebacker Jordan Crook was on the team at Duncanville High School when Texas State wide receivers coach Randy Martinez was on staff from 2021-2022. ASU offensive lineman Desean Bryant Jr. and Texas State Ameer Ross went to Duncanville and were teammates with Crook under Martinez for one season in their time from 2022-24.
  • Texas State defensive back DJ Taylor Jr. began his college football career with ASU and played 15 total games over his first three years in college in Maroon and Gold from 2020-2023. Ezra Dotson-Oyatade was a member of the Sun Devil Football team from 2021-22, but did not see any game action.  TXST defensive lineman J.P. Deeter played for ASU during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Texas State. Defensive lineman Kyran Bourda went to ASU from 2022-24 before transferring to Texas State.
  • ASU wide receiver Jaren Hamilton and Texas State safety Ryan Nolan played at Gainesville High School in Florida in 2022.
  • ASU offensive Lineman Jimeto Obigbo played two seasons at Texas State before transferring to ASU in 2025. His twin brother, Emeka, is an offensive lineman on Texas State. Fellow lineman Josh Atkins went to Mansfield Timberview High School with the Obigbos and offensive lineman Bamidele Badusi.
  • Atkins also played alongside TXST linebacker Treylin Payne and defensive tackle Amipeleasi Langi Jr. at Houston in 2022.
  • Texas State linebacker Terrence Cooks II and ASU defensive back Xavion Alford are both Pearland, Texas natives and were teammates at Shadow Creek High School during 2019-2020.
  • ASU wide receiver Harry Hassmann played together with both Texas State defensive end Blake Isbell and wide receiver Tucker Cusano at Coppell High School from 2023-25.
  • ASU defensive back Keith Abney and Texas State defensive end Jermy Jackson Jr. played at Waxahachie High School from 2021-22
  • Texas State kicker Michael James and ASU wide receiver Noble Johnson were on the Rockwall High School team from 2020-22
  • Texas State offensive lineman Preston Ward and ASU wide receiver Derek Eusebio played alongside each other at Parish Episcopal in 2022
  • ASU offensive lineman Ben Coleman and Texas State wide receiver Mavin Anderson played for Cal during the 2021-2022 season
  • Texas State cornerback Khamari Terrell and ASU defensive lineman MyKeil Gardner were both at Oregon in the 2023-24 season
  • Texas State running back Jaylen Jenkins and ASU defensive back Javan Robinson were freshman on the 2022 roster at Washington State

    Veteran presence
  • The Sun Devils return 16 players in 2025 that started at least six games a year ago. The 16 returning starters were tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season. The total is notable as the Sun Devils had the second-most newcomers on the roster in the FBS (78) in 2022 and the ninth-most in 2023 (60). Arizona State had just 17 returning starters COMBINED entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
  • Eight Sun Devils started all 14 games last year, and seven of them return. C.J. Fite, Josh Atkins, Ben Coleman, Max Iheanachor, Javan Robinson, Myles “Ghost” Rowser and Keith Abney II were 14-game starters. Center and second-team Walter Camp All-American Leif Fautanu is the only 14-game starter who doesn’t return in 2025.
  • The Sun Devils have 23 players in their final year of eligibility, the 20th-highest tally among all FBS schools this season.
  • The Sun Devil offensive line entered the 2025 season with 134 starts to its collective credit across the FBS/FCS level, good for the 12th-highest total in the nation coming into the year.
  • Arizona State has six returnees from the 2024 All Big 12 Team returning next year, led by wide receiver and first team honoree Jordyn Tyson (Offensive Newcomer of the Year), second team honoree Sam Leavitt (Offensive Freshman of the Year), defensive back Xavion Alford (first), tight end Chamon Metayer (second), defensive lineman C.J. Fite (second) and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (second).

    Take it or Leavitt
  • Sam Leavitt recorded his first career game with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns against NAU in the opener. In doing so, it was just the third time since 1997 that a Sun Devil quarterback accomplished the feat with Taylor Kelly doing it twice in 2013.
  • Leavitt is one of just four quarterbacks to rush for two touchdowns while throwing for two touchdowns in a single game this year.
  • Leavitt  has five career games posting 300+ yards of total offense.
  • Leavitt has six rushes of 10+ yards this season - most among Big 12 QBs and seventh among all FBS quarterbacks.
  • The sophomore leads all FBS quarterbacks with 127 yards on QB scrambles this year. The 14.1 avaerage per scramble is second among FBS quarterbacks with at least 5 scrambles.
  • Leavitt has picked up 86.6 percent of his scramble yards AFTER contact - 14th most in the nation
  • Leavitt rushed for 435 yards on 51 scrambles last year, good for the second-most among quarterbacks in the FBS. He picked up a first down or touchdown on 47.1 percent of those QB scrambles, good for 11th among FBS quarterbacks (min 25 scrambles). He had the nation’s sixth-best rushing grade when scrambling at 76.4. His 79.1 overall rushing grade was 18th among FBS quarterbacks.
  • Leavitt set his receivers up for success, finding open players and hitting dudes in stride to the tune of 66.4 yards coming after the catch - 10th among FBS receivers. That tally was 58.6 percent last season- good for third nationally.

    When the Leavitt breaks
  • Sam Leavitt finished his first year in Tempe as the school record holder for total offense by a freshman with 3,328 yards and second in program history in passing yards by a freshman at 2,885. The 3,328 total yards of offense with eighth in ASU season history.
  • He was named the Big 12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.
  • Leavitt was the nation’s second-highest graded freshman player (true or redshirt with 400 snaps) on either side of the football by PFF (88.9), behind only Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (89.8).
  • His 88.9 grade for the season is the eighth-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 400 snaps played). Of the seven players ahead of him, six started an NFL game last season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler). His grade was higher than the freshman year grades of NFL starting quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones, Jordan Love, Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels. The grade was good for 12th among all FBS quarterbacks in 2024
  • After having just three touchdown passes in his first four games, he finished with 21 over his final nine games played with just four interceptions and now has a 24 TD-7 INT ratio in his last 11 games.
  • Leavitt had eight passes for 50+ yards last year, most in Big 12 and tied for second most in the FBS for the season, only ASU player this century to have more in one season was Jayden Daniels in 2019.
  • Among players with at least 300 dropbacks, Leavitt tied for third in the FBS with just five turnover-worthy throws on the season, according to Pro Football Focus .
  • His six interceptions were tied for sixth-fewest in the FBS among those with at least 300 dropbacks.
  • He was one of just four with 20+ touchdowns (24) with six or fewer interceptions (six) AND turnover-worthy throws (5) (min. 300 dropbacks).
  • Only 20 of his passes were broken, good for the 20th-lowest total in the FBS. His four passes batted at the line of scrimmage at tied for 25th-lowest in the FBS (min. 300 dropbacks).
  • Leavitt showed his ability to keep his composure under pressure, with 708 passing yards while pressured - good for 19th nationally despite missing a game. His 7.8 yards per attempt while under pressure were 12th-best in the country. His 5 under pressure touchdowns were 20th.
  • His 74.8 NFL QBR while under pressure was 30th in the nation. He picked up a first down with his arm 41 times on 143 pressures - 13th-most in the FBS.
  • Leavitt became the first ASU quarterback to have six games in a season with three or more touchdown passes (6) since Mike Berocovici in 2015 (6). The six games were tied for second-most this century behind only Andrew Walter’s seven in 2004. The last Big 12 freshman to have that many performances in a season was Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford in 2007 (eight).
  • Leavitt thrice earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and also earned the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week honor following the K-State contest.
  • He was the first Sun Devil to post three consecutive games with three touchdown passes and no picks since Jayden Daniels did it three times in 2019.

    Air Jordyn
  • Jordyn Tyson became the first Sun Devil to be named a Preseason First AP All-American entering this season. He was also named a Walter Camp Preseason All-American, and recognized on the Maxwell Award Awatch List, the Biletnikoff Award Watch List and a First Team Preseason All Big-12 selection.
  • Tyson earned Third-Team Associated Press All American honors last and is one of 16 returners from those teams in 2025. He is one of five returning AP All Americans returning on offense along with center Jake Slaughter (Florida), wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Eric Rivers (Florida International) and tackle Spencer Fano (Utah).
  • Tyson has six games in which he has eclipsed the century mark in receiving since becoming a Sun Devil.
  • He has 10-straight games with over 60 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. Since the start of that stretch against Kansas last year, Tyson is tied for all FBS receivers in that stretch with 12 touchdowns and just 12 yards shy of the most receiving yards (1,101)  - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games.  Tyson’s 55 receiving first downs in that stretch are 11 more than  any player of the country.
  • Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has the most yardage in the stretch at 1,113 and is tied with Tyson with his 12 touchdowns but it should be noted Smith has done so in four more games of action than Tyson in that time.
  • Eight of Tyson’s 16 career touchdown receptions have come in the final five minutes of either the first or second halves (with nine total touchdowns in that criteria with a late punt return TD against ASU in 2022).
  • Tyson’s 13 receiving first downs this season are second in the FBS, as are his three receiving touchdowns. His 99 yards after the catch are 19th in the FBS and his 209 total receiving yards are 25th. 13 of his 18 receptions have resulted in a first down or touchdown (72.2 percent).
  • Tyson has recorded 8 touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games in his career (7 receiving, 1 punt return) - tied for the most among FBS players since his freshman campaign in 2022 (though UK’s Ja’Mori Maclin has almost 100 more snaps in that stretch to achieve the feat).Of his 24 total receptions in the fourth quarter of games in his career, 16 have resulted in a first down or touchdown (66.7 percent).
  • Tyson had a breakout season in 2024, with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before getting injured in the second half of the Nov. 30 Arizona game and missing the postseason. He had five games of 100-yards receiving including 12 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas State on Nov. 16.
  • His efforts earned him Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
  • In his first six games as a Sun Devil, Tyson compiled 25 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns (61.5 ypg). Over the eight games since, he has accounted for 68 receptions for 905 yards and 10 touchdowns (113.1 ypg).
  • The ten touchdowns last season tied him for sixth all-time in Sun Devil history, one of just 11 Sun Devils total to reach double digits in a season, and the most since Jaelen Strong had 10 in 2014.
  • Tyson has emphasized wide receiver coach Hines Ward’s “No Block, No Rock” mantra as he was fifth among FBS receivers with 298 run-blocking snaps last season prior to his injury. His 57 run block snaps this year are 27th among FBS receivers and fifth among Power Four receivers NOT in a Big Ten offense.

    Skatte-who?
  • The Sun Devil running back trio of Kyson Brown, Raleek Brown, and Kanye Udoh have filled-in admirably for ASU as they look to fill the void left by 2025 Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Skattebo.
  • The trio has produced 457 of ASU’s 791 total yards of offense this season (57.8). The trio’s 356 rushing yards are 26th among any running back room in the FBS. They have forced 23 missed tackles on running plays - good for fifth in the FBS - while its 27 overall missed tackles are tied for second in the FBS.
  • Raleek Brown’s 13 missed tackles forced on running plays are seventh in the FBS.
  • The group has 20 first downs/touchdown rushing, good for 20th in the nation while the trio’s 35.1 1D/TD percentage is 19th in the FBS.
  • The group’s 101 receiving yards are 14th among FBS running back rooms and their six receiving first downs are tied for sixth.
  • With Raleek Brown (110) and Kanye Udoh (105) going over 100 rushing yards against Mississippi State, it marked the second time in the last five games dating back to last year that two players went over the century mark in the same game. That’s notable as ASU had just five TOTAL instances of that happening between 2000-23.
  • Kyson Brown accounted for 145 yards against NAU, racking up 70+ rushing and receiving yards in the same game for the first time in his career. He now has two games with 70+ receiving and three with 70+ rushing yards.
  • Since 1996, Brown became just the 10th Sun Devil player to have 70+ rushing and receiving in the same game. Cam Skattebo accounted for two of those last year. Brown accomplished the feat on just 14 total touchdowns, the lowest of the group ahead of Rachaad White in 2020 (15) and Demario Richard in 2015 (19). All other instances came on 24 or more touches.
  • Of those 10 instances, six have happened since Shaun Aguano was hired prior to the 2019 season.
  • In the five games Kyson Brown has had at least eight touches in his career, he has averaged 106.2 total yards from scrimmage (66 touches for 531 total yards/8.05 yards per touch).

    Starting strong
  • The Sun Devils had not punted on an opening drive since Nov. 11 , 2023 at UCLA prior to his last weekend at Mississippi State. In the 17 games stretch without punting, ASU recorded touchdowns in 10, field goals in three, threw interceptions in two, and turned the ball over on downs and missed a field goal once each.
  • ASU scored on 78.6 percent of its opening drives last season, a total that ranked 2nd in the FBS behind only Army (12-for-14; 85.7%). It scored on its opening drive against NAU in the opener.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 124-53 in the first half of its last seven games dating back to last season.
  • Prior to the  Kansas State-Iowa State stretch last year, ASU was 71st in the country in allowing 13.2 points per game in the first half to opponents. Over those four games, ASU allowed just 13 points combined.
  • ASU’s 26.7 points per first half between BYU-Iowa State were the most in the nation and the 4.3 points against per first half in those three games were third-lowest.
  • All told, ASU’s 18.9 points per first half on the season were 11th in the country while the 10.6 points against per first half were the 30th-best in the country.

    Finish strong, too
  • The Sun Devils was exceptional in closing out halves last season, scoring 17 touchdowns in the final five minutes of either the first or second halves - a tally good for fifth in the FBS. ASU picked up one such touchdown in the final five minutes of the game against NAU.
  • ASU outscored opponents 87-16 in the “middle eight” of games a year ago (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half). The team already has a 20-3 advantage in the category this year to give it a 107-19 advantage.
  • The Sun Devils have a 40 percent (10-of-25) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter dating back to last season, the 11th-best percentage in the nation (does not include pick six against UCF last year).
  • Conversely, ASU has allowed just one touchdown drive in the final four minutes of the second half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-23 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.3 percent) that is third-best in the nation.
  • ASU has not allowed a single touchdown in the first four minutes of the second half from the start of 2024 to the present.
  • ASU outscored opponents, 156-77, in the second quarters of games last season heading into halftime.
  • The Sun Devils allowed just 4.1 yards per third down play in the fourth quarter of games last season, the 24th-lowest total in the country.
  • Third-and-fourth down defense was among ASU’s struggles at times last season, ranking 100th with a 44.7 conversion rate allowed. However, the team was markedly improved in that category in the 4th quarter of games, trimming it down to a 40.0 conversion rate - 59th in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils won three games last season when trailing or tied at some point in the fourth quarter.

    Keep them in front of you
  • ASU has allowed just 22 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 83 games - 3rd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (19) and Wisconsin (21). The FBS average in that span is 45.80 such plays. ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17, giving up a nation-leading 55 such plays in that span - 13 more than any other school in the FBS.
  • ASU has allowed just 10 total 50+ yard plays in the Dillingham/Ward era.
  • ASU has allowed just 14 catches for 50 or more yards in that span, tied for the 4th-lowest amount in the FBS in that time (Washington, 11/Penn State, 12, Kentucky, 13).
  • The team has allowed just seven in the Dillingham/Ward era.
  • The Sun Devils allowed just 12 plays over 30 yards last season, tied for the 3rd-lowest total in the country. ASU allowed just 22 total plays over 30 yards in 2023, which was 35th in the FBS. ASU has allowed three such plays this year
  • The 39 total plays allowed of 30+ yards in two-plus seasons under defensive coordinator Brian Ward are tied for the 14th-lowest total in the FBS.
  • Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 125 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.5 per game/83 games). That is tied for the 3rd-lowest tally in the FBS in that time behind Iowa (95) and Northwestern (125). (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
  • NAU went 2-for-15 on third downs (13.3%) in the opener, which was tied for the 13th-lowest conversion percentage by a Sun Devil opponent since 1997.
  • ASU’s 27.59 third down conversion percentage against this year is tied for 36th nationally.
  • The team showed vast improvements in third down offense last year, finishing 18th in the country in converting 45.92 percent of its third down attempts - 90-of-196. The Sun Devils were among the worst teams in the nation on converting third downs in 2023, ranking 120th in converting just 31.76 percent.
  • Unfortunately, ASU has taken a step back in the category through two games this year, sitting at a paltry 20.83 conversion percentage on third downs that is 128th in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils converted 50-of-68 opportunities on 3rd-and-3 or fewer yards last year, a 73.5 percent success rate that was 13th nationally.
  • Much of ASU’s success on third down was attributed to its improvements on first down last season. The team averaged 6.4 yards per first down, tied for 35th in the FBS after being 98th in 2023 (5.4).
  • ASU’s 6.0 yards per third down play last season was tied for 33rd nationally after ranking 112th nationally at 4.4 yards per third down in 2023.
  • Conversely, the defense allowed just 4.6 yards per third down to opponent offenses - the 21st-lowest total in the country after allowing 5.3 per third down play in 2023 (67th). ASU is allowing 3.8 yards per third down this season, tied for 42nd in the FBS.
  • Opponents had just a 57.8 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU last season, ranking ASU 17th in the country. ASU ranked 113th nationally in 2023 in allowing opponents a 96.1 NFL QBR on third down passing.

    Playing the field
  • The field position battle was one ASU frequently lost in 2023, but showed marked improvement in 2024. ASU had just 12.8 percent of its offensive drives start inside its own 20-yard line last year - the ninth-lowest tally nationally compared to 21.9 percent of the team’s drive’s in 2023 - 105th in the FBS.
  • ASU’s average starting field position last year was its own 29.4 yard line while holding opponents to a starting average of their own 28.4 yard line. ASU’s average starting field position in 2023 was its own 25.3 yard line compared to opponents starting on their own 34.8. The -9.5 net field position yards ranked ASU dead last in the country (133 of 133), a discrepency that the Sun Devils cut down by 8 yards this year (+1.0) and ranking 62nd nationally.
  • The Sun Devils ranked 6th nationally in picking up 60.0  percent of the yards available on offense last year while limiting opponents to picking up just 45.2 percent of theirs. The net 14.8 percent difference was the 13th-best total in the FBS.
  • ASU had a successful play percentage (40 percent of first down yardage, 50 percent of second down yardage, 3rd down conversion) of 39.2 percent last year, which was good for 26th in the FBS. The total was notable as ASU had just a 31.0 successful play percentage in 2023 that was 115th in the country.
  • 54.1 percent of Sun Devil offensive drives resulted in ASU scoring a touchdown or getting in range for a field goal attempt - good for 11th nationally. Only 40.7 percent of such opponent drives did the same, a net +13.4 percent difference that was the 21st-best in the nation. ASU ranked dead last (133rd) in the category in 2023 with a net -29.0 percent tally as only 28 percent of its drives resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt (124th) compared to a 57 percent success rate for opponents (132nd of 133).
  • The Sun Devils averaged 3.03 points per drive last season, good for 12th nationally while allowing just 1.99 points per drive on defense - 43rd in the country. The net +1.04  points per drive over opponents advantage was 14th in the country. In 2023, ASU was 130th nationally with a net -1.54 points per drive with the offense scoring just 1.40 points per drive (122nd) while allowing opponents to post 2.95 points per drive (123rd) - the latter compared to a 2.15 mark this season that is 58th..

    The 100-yard landlord
  • Xavion Alford dubbed himself the @100YardLandlord across his social media platforms and has made sure to become eponymous with the title this season as ASU’s last line of defense in the secondary.
  • In 78 coverage snaps this season, Alford has been directly targeted just once and has not allowed a reception.
  • Alford had the 10th-most snaps in coverage in the FBS (522) and allowed just 9 receptions last season, the 7th-fewest in the FBS despite posting 100 more coverage snaps than any of the six players ahead of him (min. 300 coverage snaps).
  • Prior to the Bowl Season, opponents chose to throw his way on just 4.2 percent of coverage snaps, the 4th-lowest total among all FBS players. His 19 targets on the year are 14th-lowest in the FBS.
  • He allowed just 90 yards in coverage prior to Bowl Season - 4th-lowest among all FBS players.
  • He allowed just 0.20 yards per coverage snap prior to Bowl Season, the 2nd-lowest total in the FBS.
  • Alford forced an incompletion 26.3 percent of the time when targeted, the 8th-best tally among all FBS players.
  • Opponents had just a 34.9 NFL QBR when targeting Alford prior to the Bowl Season, 9th-lowest in the FBS.
  • Alford was the 38th-highest graded defensive player in coverage prior to Bowl Season (87.5), 19th among safeties and 4th among Big 12 players. He was the 31st-highest graded safety in the FBS on overall defense (81.0), a total good for ninth among all Big 12 players.
  • ASU’s last line of defense, Alford was sure-handed as well with the nation’s 24th-best tackling grade among safeties (82.1).
  • He was credited with just 8 missed tackles this year with a 9.7 missed tackle percentage that was 37th among FBS safeties. Alford was second on the Sun Devils with 85 tackles.

    No fly zone
  • The Sun Devils were 16th in the nation with 69 passes defended last season and 14th with 16 interceptions. The team started the season with five breakups and an interception in the opener
  • Keith Abney has allowed just a 50.0 completion percentage against this season, tied for the eight-lowest among Big 12 players (min. 50 pass coverage snaps) and fourth among league corners.
  • His 11.4 target rate in coverage is the fourth-lowest among Big 12 corners and his 0.63 yards allowed per coverage snap is also fourth-lowest.
  • Abney and Javan Robinson have not been credited with a missed tackle on a pass play this season.
  • Robinson was not credited with a touchdown allowed in ASU’s six-game winning streak at the end of last season and opponents had just a 68.3 NFL rating against him in that stretch that is 10th-lowest in the Big-12.
  • Abney’s 11 forced incompletions (according to PFF) were the fourth-most among alll Big 12 players last season
  • After giving up two touchdowns in the first four games of the year, Abney was credited with just two allowed over the final 10 games of the seaso. Was targeted just once and did not allow a completion on 35 passing plays in a pivotal win over BYU late in the season
  • Abney had three missed tackles in the first four games but had only two over the remaining 10. He allowed a NFL passer rating above 40.0 just once in the final four games
  • A true Sun Devil corner (nickelback excluded) had an interception in four-consecutive games between the Utah and UCF games, the first time ASU had accomplished that feat since 2013.
  • Opponents had just a 57.5 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU last season, ranking ASU 17th in the country. ASU ranked 113th nationally in 2023 in allowing opponents a 96.1 NFL QBR on third down passing.
  • The ASU defense allowed just 6.64 yards per passing attempt last season, the 40th-lowest total in the country. The group was 88th in 2023 with 7.54 yards allowed per attempt.
  • Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 42 total passing plays over 40 yards - the 7th-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
  • ASU defensive line has five QB hits this season, tied for the second-most in the Big 12 and 23rd in the FBS.
  • ASU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 22 QB hurries, which is also tied for second in the conference and 16th in the country.
  • The group’s three batted passes at the line of scrimmage are tied for first in the country.
  • ASU has had this success despite blitzing just 23.9 percent of the time (14th-lowest in the country) and bringing four or fewer pass rushers 71 times this year - tied for 12th-most in the country.
  • ASU’s linemen have accounted for seven tackles for loss or no gain on run plays this year, good for 37th nationally.
  • As a TEAM, ASU ranks 28th nationally with six sacks and 38th with 14.0 tackles for loss.
  • Clayton Smith’s average depth of tackle of .33 yards in eighth among Big 12 linemen while C.J. Fite’s 0.67 mark is 13th.
  • Smith is tied for first among Big 12 linemen with 11 quarterback pressures this season (3rd nationally) and his eight QB hurries are two more than any other player in the league (second nationally).
  • Fite’s 4 QB pressures are tied for fourth among all Big 12 interior linemen this year.
  • C.J. Fite’s eight tackles for loss or no gain last year were tied for the fifth-most among Big 12 interior linemen. His 16 defensive “stops” on run defense were ninth among Big 12 interior players
  • Fite’s average depth of tackl on run plays last season was 1.16 yards from the line of scrimmage, the 19th-best total among FBS interior linemen.
  • In 2023, 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.
  • Jacob Kongaika’s 0.00 average depth of tackle on runs plays last year was second among Big 12 defensive linemen and  15th among FBS linemen.
  • Clayton Smith recorded nine QB hits on the season last year, tied for sixth in the Big 12 and his seven tackles for loss or no gain with tied for seventh among Big 12 linemen. He was credited with 22 defensive “stops” on the year, good for 17th among all Big 12 defensive linemen.

    Where's the beef?
  • The Sun Devil offensive line entered the 2025 season with 134 starts to its collective credit across the FBS/FCS level, good for the 12th highest total in the nation coming into the year. Last year the group entered with  a combined 156 career starts spread amongst them entering the 2024 season, the fifth-highest tally in the country.
  • The experienced group did its part last year in protecting its quarterback and also paving the way for its rushers as the squad was one of the more improved lines in the country.
  • ASU’s offensive linemen received a 82.0 pass blocking grade from PFF as a group last season, the 23rd-best tally nationally. 
  • As a team, ASU was 40th in the country in only allowing 1.50 sacks per game last season after ranking 96th in 2023 with 2.50 allowed per game.
  • The team has given quarterbacks 3.39 seconds to throw per play this year, third-most in the Big 12 and 16th-best in the FBS. ASU’s quarterbacks had an average time to throw of 3.51 seconds last season, good for 14th-best in the FBS after ranking 128th in the country in 2023 at 2.48 seconds.
  • ASU’s 2.73 seconds before allowing a pressure is second best in the Big 12 and 12th-best in the FBS. The group was 33rd nationally with an average of 2.57 seconds before allowing a QB pressure last year. ASU was 117th in 2023 with a 2.37 mark before giving up a QB pressure.
  • Just 5.6 percent of ASU’s pressures have come from the right tackle this season - tied for 13th-lowest at that position in the nation. The left guard spot has also accounted for just 5.6 percent of QB pressures, good for 28th nationally. ASU’s in-line tight ends have not been credited with a pressure allowed, tied for first nationally.
  • Sam Leavitt had less than 2.50 seconds to thow the ball on just 35.6 percent of his dropbacks this season, the seventh-lowest total in the FBS. That mark was 46.6 percent of his dropbacks last season, the 35th-lowest tally in the FBS (out of 94 QBs that have at least 50 percent of their team’s dropbacks). For perspective, in 2023, Trenton Bourguet had less than 2.50 seconds to throw the ball 65.9 percent of the time - the second-MOST of any quarterback in the FBS.
  • Jimeto Obigbo and Max Iheanachor have allowed just one QB pressure this season each, tied for the seventh-lowest total among Big 12 linemen
  • Ben Coleman was the 21st-highest graded guard as a pass blocker in the FBS last season with his grade of 84.6 (min. 300 pass block snaps).
  • Coleman was not credited with allowing a sack on the year, playing the 13th most pass block snaps (451) among the FBS guards to lay such a claim.

    Getting defensive
  • ASU’s defense continued 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 allowed just 339.6 yards per game, good for 38th nationally after ranking 89th a in 2023 (396.8).
  • Opponents averaged just 5.23 yards per play - 40th-lowest in the country after being 93rd at 5.95 in 2023. Only 22.2 percent of opponent plays have gained 7 or more yards, the 23rd-lowest tally in the country after ranking 105th in 2023 at 35.1 percent.
  • Opponents averaged just 1.82 points per drive on drives starting between their own 20- and 40-yard lines, the 41st-lowest total in the country. ASU was 127th in the category in 2023.
  • ASU’s defense ranked 21st in overall defensive EPA at -0.070. The teams +0.160 net EPA between offense and defense was 12th nationally.
  • The team allowed offenses to pick up just 45.2 of their available yards, the 48th-lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country in 2023 in allowing 56.3 percent of available yards.
  • ASU was much improved in keeping opponents from getting across the 50, allowing other teams to pick up just 67.6 percent of their available yards up to their own 40-yard line - the 62nd-lowest total in the FBS while also allowing only 58.5 percent of opponent yards up to the ASU 40 - 51st nationally. ASU ranked 121st and 126 in those categories in 2023.
  • Only 40.7 percent of opponent drives resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt, the 60th-lowest total in the FBS - notable after being 132nd (of 133) in the country in 2023 with a 57.0 clip.
  • Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 48 occasions over 83 games (57.8 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 19 times in 28 games (67.9 percent) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
  • ASU has  held opponents to 30 points or less in 55 of 83 games since 2018 (66.3 percent). This is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 21 times in 28 games (75.0) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
  • ASU was 11 for 14 in holding opponents under their season scoring average last year, following the season opener: Mississippi State (23/56.0), Texas State (28/41.5),  Texas Tech (30/44.7), Utah (19/28.3), Cincinnati (24/31.0), Oklahoma State (21/30.5), UCF (31/33.2) Kansas State (14/31.2), BYU (21/31.6), Arizona (7/23.1), Iowa State (19/31.2). ASU is 1-for-1 this year (Miss. St. (24/34.0))

    Gold rush
  • The Sun Devils ranked 20th in the FBS in averaging 199.9 rushing yards per game last year. The team sits 28th so far this season at 226.0 yards per game.
  • Twice last season, ASU rushed for over 300 yards in a game - the first time it had accomplished that feat since 2012 (vs. NAU, vs. Navy).
  • ASU averaged a rushing first down or touchdown 31.0 percent of the time in 2024, good for 23rd nationally. That tally sits are 34.8 this season, tied for 20th in the country.
  • The rushing attack was especially efficient in punishing opponents with ASU running backs earning 3.6 yards after contact per rush - 21st in the FBS. The team ranks 11th this season in averaging 4.6 yards after contact per rush.
  • ASU forced 177 missed tackles on run plays last season, second-most in the FBS and were tied for third in the FBS in averaging 0.31 missed tackles forced per running play. ASU is 7th this season with 28 missed tackles forced on rushes and second with 0.41 forced per run.
  • ASU has received a team rushing grade of 94.8 from PFF since the start of 2023, good for 13th-best nationally. The team has averaged 3.4 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 22nd in the FBS.
  • The team’s 30.6 first down/touchdown percentage since 2023 is 30th in the FBS and 31.1 percent of its drives in that time have ended in a rushing touchdown.
  • Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 64 of 83 games (77.1 percent).
  • The Sun Devils have produced a 1,000-yard rusher 10 times in the last 14 seasons  - with one of the lone exceptions being the shortened 2020 season. For comparison, from 1976-2010, ASU had just eight 1000-yard rushers over 34 years.

But also no rush

  • ASU ranks 21st nationally in allowed just 77.50 rush yards per game this season.
  • The Sun Devils held opponents to just 112.9 rushing yards per game last year, the 21st-best total in the country and tops in the Big 12. That came despite ASU playing four of the Top-15 teams in the nation last season in rushing offense (5. UCF/11. Kansas State/13. Kansas./15. Texas State). No other team in the Top-30 faced more than two such opponents in the regular season. ASU was 36th in the FBS in allowing just 133.5 rush yards per game to opponents in 2023.
  • On run plays, the big men up front on the defensive line had a depth of tackle average of just 1.89 yards from the line of scrimmage last year, tops in the Big 12 and 19th nationally. The line continues to be strong in that area this year with a 1.95 depth of tackle that is 5th in the Big 12.
  • There have been 14 instances in 28 games that an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023. Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games. The 14 games are tied for 8th-most in the nation since 2023.
  • ASU has held three-straight opponents under 100 rushing yards and five of its last six dating back to last season.
  • Javan Robinson’s 79.3 grade on run defense was third among Big 12 corners and 29th among all corners in the nation (min. 250 run defense snaps). He was tied for eighth in the nation in fewest missed tackles on run plays (1) and showed his ability to sniff those plays out with his average depth of tackles being just 1.7 yards heyond the line of scrimmage - the second-shortest DOT among all FBS corners
  • In fact, much of ASU’s run defense success can be attibuted to the Sun Devil secondary, which received an overall run defensive grade of 91.3 last season between the corners and safeties - 11th best in the FBS.
  • The group recorded an average depth of tackle on run plays of 6.57 yards from the line of scrimmage - the 25th-best total in the FBS.

    A hand in the cookie jar
  • The Sun Devils had 23 takeaways last season (16 interceptions, 7 fumble recovers), good for 23rd nationally after the program finished with only eight takeaways in 2023.
  • The team ranked 6th in the FBS and tops in the Big 12 with a +1.00 turnover margin per game.
  • The Sun Devils were 129th in the nation in turnover margin in 2023 at -11, improving that mark to +14 last year and the No. 6 mark in the country. The 25-turnover swing was the largest turnaround by any team in the FBS this season, the 5th-best in the last 10 years and the 25th-best of any program since the 1996 season
  • ASU was tied for 5th nationally with just three fumbles lost last year. It recovered seven, good for 55th after ranking 110th in 2023 with just four.
  • ASU has recorded four defensive touchdowns last season (2 pick sixes, 2 fumble returns), Top-10 in the FBS.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 984-561 in points off takeaways since 2012 - 7-0 this seasoin and 77-21 last season.
  • Iowa State had lost just three fumbles during the entire regular season prior to losing two in the third quarter alone to the Sun Devils in the Big 12 Championship. The Cyclones had entered the contest 17th in the country with a +0.75 turnover margin per game prior to losing three in the third quarter to the Sun Devils.
  • Sun Devil true corners (excluded the nickelback) recorded interceptions in four straight games (Keith Abney vs. Utah and at Cincinnati/Javan Robinson at Oklahoma State/Laterrance Welch vs. UCF). It was the first time ASU has had corners accomplish that feat in four straight games since 2013 (Robert Nelson at Stanford/Osahon Irabor vs. USC and Notre Dame/Nelson and Lloyd Carrington vs. Colorado).
  • Last season marked the first since 2020 (at USC 4 TOs; at Arizona 7 TOs) that the Sun Devils forced three or more turnovers twice in a three-game span (3 vs. Wyoming, 3 at Texas State).
  • The Sun Devils picked off Utah’s Cam Rising three times, matching the veteran’s career high for a game. Rising had 17 interceptions in his career (on over 750 career passes), of which the Sun Devils are responsible for six of them (35.3 percent). The three interceptions in the game were the most for an ASU team since having three against Stanford on Oct. 8, 2021.
  • ASU was one of just five teams in the country with a fumble recovery in each of its first three games.
  • 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.

    Grand Kanyon
  • Sun Devil punter Kanyon Floyd showed major signs of development in his first game during his sophomore season, earning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week One.
  • Among punters with at least 7 punts this season, Floyd’s 44.8 average is 28th in the FBS.
  • He managed to flip the field for ASU on several occasions in their 38-19 win over NAU.Floyd averaged 48.5 yards per attempt, the most among any Big 12 punter with multiple attempts. It was 18th best average among all FBS punters with three or more punts.
  • Floyd’s career-long 58-yard punt when the Sun Devils were pinned deep in their own territory was tied for the 17th-longest by a FBS punter and tied for the longest by any Big 12 punter in Week One.
  • He also took over kickoff duties after a long return midway through the game and eliminated the kick return threat with four kickoffs averaging 64.5 yards with no returns past the 25-yard line and a pair of touchbacks.

    Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils
  • Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics have announced a multi-year naming rights partnership in 2023 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.
  • 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 16 young men this season that have already earned their undergraduate degrees: