Football opens Big 12 play on the road at Baylor

WACO, Texas - The defending Big 12 Champions and College Football Playoff quarterfinalist Arizona State Sun Devils will kick off the conference schedule this weekend on the road with the team’s Big 12 opener at Baylor in Waco, Texas this Saturday, Sept. 20 at McLane Stadium. 

Scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. AZT kickoff (6:30 p.m. locally), the contest will be broadcast nationally on FOX (Tim Brando, Devin Gardner, Josh Sims). 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).

On the Bears / Conference openers

• This will be just the second time in history that ASU has squared off against Baylor, with ASU winning its 1990 season debut at Mountain America Stadium, 34-14 - Baylor’s largest loss of the season that year despite ASU going on to win just three more games that season.
• Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson is the nation’s leading returner in QBR (83.7) after ranking fifth overall last season. He is currently second in the FBS in passing yards (1,070) and third in passing touchdowns (10).
• RB Bryson Washington is 13th in the NCAA in rushing yards (304), 14th in rushing TDs (4) and 15th in rush yards per game (101.3)
• ASU will continue looking to turn a new leaf in conference openers as it sets course for its second year in the Big 12 after the program finished its time in the Pac-12 with just an 18-26-2 record in conference openers with a 18-27-1 record in Pac-12 road openers. Unfortunately, that trend continued last season with a loss at Texas Tech in the team’s Big 12 opener/road opener.
• The Sun Devils will start league play on the road for the second consecutive season for the first time since 2013 and 2014. Road conference openers were something the program rarely did in the Pac-12, doing so in only four previous seasons dating back to 2006 when it was more consistent from year to year - 2020 (due to unique circumstances of COVID-19), 2018, 2014, 2013.
• ASU has not won its first conference road game of the season “officially” since 2019 at Cal (2021 victory over UCLA later vacated). It has not won its first conference road game when it was also the first conference game of the season since 2014 at Colorado.
• ASU has truly not been good when its first conference game of the season has been played on the road, going 5-13-1 in such games since it joined the Pac-12 in 1978.

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.
• Jordyn Tyson has 11-straight games with over 60 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. He has four-straight games with a receiving touchdown dating back to last season.
• Since the start of last season, Tyson is second among all receivers in receiving yards (1,415) and touchdowns (14)  - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games. Tyson’s 68 receiving first downs in that stretch are the most in the country. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is the only player ahead of Tyson in those two categories (1,630 yards and 18 touchdowns) but it should be noted Smith has done so in four more games of action than Tyson in that time. Tyson leads Smith by three receiving first downs.
• ASU converted 2-of-3 fourth down opportunities against Texas State, with those drives both resulting in a touchdown (the other a turnover on downs). ASU now has 25 fourth-down conversions since the start of last year, resulting in 16 touchdowns and three field goals on drives that included a successful fourth down conversion.
• ASU’s 45 fourth-down conversions since 2023 with Kenny Dillingham took the reins are the seventh-most in the FBS.
• Under Kenny Dillingham, ASU have 12 games eclipsing 200 rushing yards, going 9-3 in those.
• ASU has allowed just one touchdown drive in the final four minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-25 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.0%) that is second-best in the nation. ASU has also not allowed a single touchdown in the first four minutes of the second half from the start of 2024 to the present.
• ASU has held opponents to a third down mark of 28.9% through three games this season - its lowest through the first three games of a season since a 26.2% in 2011. The tally is good for 28th in the FBS currently.
• Jordan Crook (129) and Keyshaun Elliott (126) have played just 60.8 and 59.4% of ASU’s defensive snaps this season. Despite that, the two lead the team with 24 and 20 tackles respectively - representing over 23% of the team’s overall non-special teams tackles this season despite being on the field less than two-thirds of the time.

An ASU victory would ...

• Give ASU a much needed victory in a number of conference opener categories, where the Sun Devils enter the weekend with an 18-27-2 record overall in conference openers since joining the Pac-12 in 1978, an 18-28-1 record in conference road openers in that time, and a 5-13-1 record when the program’s first conference game of the year is played on the road.
• Give ASU its first victory when the first conference game of the season was played on the road since 2014.
• Give ASU its fourth consecutive victory in a conference road game dating back to last season, which would be its longest since a six-game stretch between the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
• Improve ASU to 3-1 to start the year for a second straight season, notable as the program is officially credited with just six total wins between the 2020-23 seasons.
  
  

Milestone watch

• Running back Kanye Udoh is 221 rushing yards away from 2,000 career rushing yards (currently at 1,779).
• Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is 115 receiving yards away from 2,000 career receiving yards (currently at 1,885). That is the 15th-highest total among active players at the FBS level.
• Tyson is two touchdown receptions away from 20 career TD catches (currently at 18). That mark ties him for sixth among active players at the FBS level.
• Elliott is 27 tackles away from 250 career tackles (currently at 223). That number is the 19th-highest total among active players at the FBS level.
• Offensive lineman Ben Coleman is one start away from 40 career starts (currently at 39).
• Defensive back Myles Rowser is 20 tackles away from 250 career tackles (currently at 230). Rowser is one pass deflection away from 15 career pass deflections (currently at 14).
• Defensive lineman Prince Dorbah is 3.5 tackles for loss away from 20 career TFLs (currently at 16.5).
• Kicker Jesus Gomez connected on his 50th career field goal in the win over Texas State (currently at 51 made FGs). That figure is tied for the eighth-most among kickers at the FBS level. Gomez is 41 points shy of 300 career points (currently at 259 career points). He is 13th among all active FBS players in career points.
• Quarterback Sam Leavitt is 282 total yards of offense away from 4,500 career total yards (currently at 4,218). Leavitt is 1 total touchdown away from 40 career total touchdowns (currently at 39 = 31 passing; 8 rushing).
• Defensive lineman Clayton Smith is three sacks away from 15 career sacks (currently at 12.0).

Making the grade
(Notable PFF grades)

• Sam Leavitt (86.3) and Raleek Brown  (83.9) were the first and second-highest graded rushers in the Big 12 in Week 3, with Leavitt posting the best quarterback rushing grade in the nation in the process and Brown posting the fourth-best mark about running backs in the nation.
• Leavitt was also the highest graded player on overall offense in the Big 12, regardless of position, for the week (90.6). It was the 13th best offensive score for any FBS player for the week and seventh among all quarterbacks.
• Chamon Metayer (89.6) and Jordyn Tyson (87.1) were the third and fourth-highest graded receivers in the Big 12 for the week with Metayer checking in as the second-highest graded tight end in the nation and 13th among wide receivers.
• Keith Abney was the third-highest graded defender for overall defense for Week 3 (88.7) in the Big 12and the second-highest graded cornerback in the FBS for the week.
• Jacob Kongaika (82.9) and Jordan Crook (81.7) were the first and second highest graded run defenders in the Big 12 for Week 3 with Kongaika ranking as the No. 1 defensive interior player in the nation  in the category.
• Raleek Brown (86.6) has the fifth-highest graded mark in the country among running backs on rushing plays.
• Jordyn Tyson (83.4) is currently the nation’s 15th-highest graded wide receiver on receiving plays while Chamon Metayer is the nation’s 15th-highest graded tight end as a receiver.
• Keith Abney is the No. 15-highest graded corner in overall defense in the country (81.9) and has the 15th-best tackling grade in the country among corners as well.

By the numbers

49 - Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 49 occasions over 84 games (58.3 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9%) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 20 times in 29 games (69.0%) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. ASU has  held opponents to 30 points or less in 56 of 84 games since 2018 (66.7%). This is notable as it did allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4%) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 22 times in 29 games (75.9) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.

44 - Jordan Crook (129) and Keyshaun Elliott (126) have played just 60.8 and 59.4% of ASU’s defensive snaps this season. Despite that, the two lead the team with 24 and 20 tackles respectively (44 total) - representing over 23% of the team’s overall non-special teams tackles this season despite being on the field less than two-thirds of the time. Perhaps even more impressive has been fellow Sun Devil linebacker Martell Hughes, who is quietly fourth on the team in tackles with 18 despite playing just 61 snaps on defense this season and 17 of those tackles have come on defense (just one on special teams), meaning Hughes is recording a tackle 27.9% of the time he is on the field.

12 - ASU’s defense has 12 QB hits this season, tied for first in the Big 12 and 8th in the FBS while the team’s 45 total pressures are fourth in the league and 13th nationally. These total are notable as ASU finished 47th and 80th in those categories, respectively, last season. Seven of those hits (which exclude sacks) have been attributed to the defensive linemen, the 26th-best tally in the country and second in the Big 12. ASU’s DL has accounted for 30 QB hurries, second in the conference and 19th in the country. ASU has had this success despite blitzing just 20.2 percent of the time, the fourth-lowest total in the country. The team has brought four or fewer pass rushers 111 times this year - the fourth-most in the country.

11 - Sam Leavitt has 11 rushes of 10+ yards this season - second-most among all FBS quarterbacks. His 220 rush yards (removing sacks) are the eighth-most in the FBS while his 180 yards after contact are second-most in the country and 26th out of all players regardless of position. His 9.0 yards after contact per rush are 6th among all FBS players. Leavitt’s rushes - 55.0% of them - have resulted in a first down or touchdown, the 5th-highest percentage among FBS QBS (min. 10 attempts) and 8th among all players regardless of position. The sophomore leads all FBS quarterbacks with 178 yards on QB scrambles this year, also leading the group with 13.7 yards per scramble (min. 7 scrambles). Leavitt has picked up 87.6% of his scramble yards after contact - 11th-most in the FBS.

11 - Jordyn Tyson has 11-straight games with over 60 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. He has four-straight games with a receiving touchdown dating back to last season. Since the start of last season, Tyson is second among all receivers in receiving yards (1,415) and touchdowns (14) - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games. Tyson’s 68 receiving first downs in that stretch are the most in the country. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is the only player ahead of Tyson in those two categories (1,630 yards and 18 touchdowns) but it should be noted Smith has done so in four more games of action than Tyson in that time. Tyson leads Smith by three receiving first downs.

1 - ASU has allowed just one touchdown drive in the final four minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-25 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.0 percent) that is second-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. The team already has a 23-3 advantage in the “middle eight” of games this year to give it a 110-19 advantage since the start of last season in the category (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).

#10Things (X-Friendly Notes)

1. Opponents are averaging just 2.71 yards per rushing play this season, the 21st lowest total in the nation.

2. ASU currently ranks 10th in the FBS with 18 passes defending this year (17 PBUs, 1 INT). The Sun Devils were 16th in the nation with 69 passes defended last season and 14th with 16 interceptions.

3.  The Sun Devils have forced 24 tackles for loss this season, a total good for 17th in the country. The team’s 11 sacks are fifth and notable as ASU was 83rd and 96th in TFLS in 2024 and 2023 and 73rd and 70th in sacks.

4. The team already has a 23-3 advantage in the “middle eight” of games this year to give it a 110-19 advantage since the start of last season in the category (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).

5. The Sun Devils have a 37.0% (10-of-27) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter dating back to the start of last season, the 13th-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 first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-25 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.0%) that is second-best in the nation.

7.  ASU’s 45 QB pressures are 13th nationally despite the fact that the team blitzes just 20.2 percent of the time - the fourth-lowest percentage in the country.

8. Jordyn Tyson has found his success despite facing press coverage on 44 of his 65 snaps this season - the third-highest total in the FBS - and posting an 81.8 receiving grade vs. the press, good for 10th among FBS receivers

9. ASU has held opponents to a third down mark of 28.9% through three games this season - its lowest through the first three games of a season since a 26.2% in 2011. The tally is good for 28th in the FBS currently.

10. Raleek Brown has forced 20 missed tackles on the year on run plays, the fifth-most among FBS backs.

Last time out - Texas State

• The Sun Devil defense held Texas State to a season low of 303 yards after the Bobcats piled up 454 and 604 yards in each of their last two outings.
• The 303 total yards of offense were the lowest by the Bobcats since a 300-yard game against Rice in Dec. of 2023 and lowest in a regular season game since having 280 yards against Coastal in Nov. of 2023.
• ASU recorded 10 tackles for loss and 5 sacks against, the first time it posted both those numbers in a single game since the UCLA contest on Dec. 5, 2020 (also 10 and 5).
• Texas State came into the game with the nation’s No. 7 rushing offense, averaging 280.0 yards per game. ASU’s No. 21 rushing defense held them to just 119 yards on 42 carries.
• Texas State’s 2.8 yards per carry was its lowest since 2.7 yards against South Alabama on Nov. 25, 2023 and its 10th-lowest in a game since the 2020 season (65 games)
• Raleek Brown’s 12.0 yards per carry (144 yards on 12 carries) were the fourth-most for an ASU running back that has cleared 125 rushing yards since the 1996 season. He is the only player in that time to reach 140 rushing yards on 12 or fewer carries.
• His 75-yard touchdown run was the longest run and touchdown run for an ASU player at Mountain America Stadium since Kalen Ballage vs. Texas Tech in 2016.
  
  Six degrees of Sun Devil-ation
• Baylor tight end Michael Trigg and ASU cornerback Kyndrich Breedlove played at Ole Miss as sophomores in 2022.
• BU wide receiver Kole Wilson and ASU offensive lineman Jimeto Obigbo played together at UIW in 2022. Baylor wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins attended Texas State in 2023 alongside both Wilson and Obigbo.
• ASU cornerback Nyland Green and Baylor offensive lineman Sean Thompkins grew up in Covington, Ga. and played on the same team at Newton High School in 2020. Green also played at Purdue alongside Baylor wide receiver Ryne Shackelford from 2023-2024.
• ASU defensive lineman MyKeil Gardner and Baylor safety Tyler Turner and outside linebacker Emar’rion Winston played for Oregon in 2023.
• ASU offensive line/run game coordinator Saga Tuitele worked at Fresno State when Baylor long back Phoenix Jackson and ASU wide receiver Jalen Moss played for the Bulldogs from 2022-2024.
• Baylor cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt and ASU defensive back Keith Abney II went to Waxahachie High School and played together from 2021-2023.
• ASU assistant coach Bryan Carrington and Baylor pass-game coordinator both coached at TCU in 2022.
• Baylor special teams coordinator was a staff member at Houston in 2022 when ASU offensive lineman Josh Atkins played for the Cougars.
• ASU offensive lineman Jalen Klemm played for Washington when Baylor assistant coach Inoke Breckterfield coached there in 2023.
• ASU punter Kanyon Floyd and Baylor tight end Matthew Klopfenstein are both from Scottsdale, Ariz. and played at Horizon High School in 2022.
• Baylor wide receivers Jacorey Watson and Ashton Jones played at Shadow Creek High School in Texas with ASU safety Maurice Williams from 2022-2023.
  
  
  
  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).
  
  Air Jordyn
• Jordyn Tyson has 11-straight games with over 60 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. He has four straight games with a receiving touchdown dating back to last season.
  
  
• Since the start of last season, Tyson is second among all receivers in receiving yards (1,415) and touchdowns (14)  - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games. Tyson’s 68 receiving first downs in that stretch are the most in the country.
• Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is the only player ahead of Tyson in those two categories (1,630 yards and 18 touchdowns) but it should be noted Smith has done so in four more games of action than Tyson in that time. Tyson leads Smith by three receiving first downs.
• Eight of Tyson’s 18 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 17 receiving first downs this season are first in the FBS and his four receiving touchdowns are third. His 134 yards after the catch are 21st in the FBS and his 314 total receiving yards are seventh. 17 of his 24 receptions have resulted in a first down or touchdown (70.8%).
• 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%).
• Tyson has found his success despite facing press coverage on 44 of his 65 snaps this season - the third-highest total in the FBS. He has an 81.8 receiving grade vs. press coverage this year, good for 10th among FBS receivers. His 217 yards out of press coverage are sixth-most in the FBS.
• Tyson has been targeted on 34.0% of ASU passing plays this season - the 13th-highest ratio among FBS receivers.
• 8.3% of his receptions have been on contested balls this season, tied for 21st among FBS receivers. His five missed tackles forced on the season are tied for seventh among FBS receivers.
  
  Agent Zero
• Jordyn Tyson (who wears No. 0) 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 seven games in which he has eclipsed the century mark in receiving since becoming a Sun Devil.
• 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.
• 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.
• In his first six games as a Sun Devil, Tyson compiled 25 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns (61.5 ypg). Over the nine games since, he has accounted for 74 receptions for 1,046 yards and 11 touchdowns (116.2 ypg)
• 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 84 run block snaps this year are 16th among FBS receivers.
  
  
  Take it or Leavitt
• Sam Leavitt has four career games in which he has passed and rushed for a touchdown.
• 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 remains one of just six 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 set his receivers up for success, finding open players and hitting dudes in stride to the tune of 67.7 yards coming after the catch - fourth among FBS receivers. That tally was 58.6% last season - good for third nationally.
• Leavitt has 11 rushes of 10+ yards this season - second-most among all FBS quarterbacks.
• His 220 rush yards (removing quarterback sacks) are the eighth-most in the FBS while his 180 yards after contact are second-most in the country and 26th out of all players regardless of position. His 9.0 yards after contact per rush are sixth among all FBS players.
• 55.0% of Leavitt’s rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - the fifth-highest percentage among FBS QBS (min. 10 attempts) and eighth among all players regardless of position.
• The sophomore leads all FBS quarterbacks with 178 yards on QB scrambles this year, also leading the group with 13.7 yards per scramble (min. 7 scrambles).
• Leavitt has picked up 87.6% of his scramble yards after contact - 11th-most in the FBS. No player in the country has a higher rushing grade while under pressure than Leavitt’s 87.5 tally.
• Leavitt has recored a 74.6 overall offensive grade when pressured this season, good for 19th in the country and fourth among QBs that have been pressured at least 30 times (36).
  
  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 at ASU, he finished with 21 over his final nine games played with just four interceptions and now has a 26 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 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% 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 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.
  
  Sprung a leek
• Raleek Brown has had the opportunity to show Sun Devil fans how electric he can be while healthy this season, leading ASU with 292 rushing yards with two touchdowns on the year.
• The 292 yards are 16th among all FBS players while his 8.34 yards per carry in the seventh-best mark in the country. His 130.67 all-purpose yards per game are 21st in the FBS.
• Brown is currently the nation’s fourth-highest graded running back on rushing plays with his 87.2 mark (min. 25 carries).
• The elusive back has forced 20 missed tackles on the year on run plays, the fifth-most among FBS backs.
• Brown’s 12.0 yards per carry (144 yards on 12 carries) against Texas State were the fourth-most for an ASU running back that has cleared 125 rushing yards since the 1996 season. He is the only player in that time to reach 140 rushing yards on 12 or fewer carries.
• His 75-yard touchdown run was the longest run AND touchdown run for an ASU player at home since Kalen Ballage vs. Texas Tech in 2016.
• Brown has recorded back-to-back outings of 100+ rushing yards for the first time in his career while piling up a new career-high of 144 rushing yards. The 144 yards were the third-most by a Big 12 running back this season.
• His two 100-yard performances mark him one of just two running backs to accomplish the feat in the league. His 8.3 yards per rush are the most in the Big 12 for a running back that has played at least three games this season.
  
  
  
  Skatte-who?
• The Sun Devil running back room of Raleek Brown, Kyson Brown, Kanye Udoh and Demarius Robinson 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 627 of ASU’s 1,224 total yards of offense this season (51.2). The group’s 527 rushing yards are 21st among any running back room in the FBS. They have forced 32 missed tackles on running plays, which is good for second in the FBS - as are its 38 overall missed tackles forced.
• The group has 26 first downs/touchdown rushing, good for 35th in the nation while the trio’s 32.1 1D/TD percentage is 34th in the FBS.
• The group’s 123 receiving yards are 20th among FBS running back rooms and their seven receiving first downs are tied for 11th.
• 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
• ASU has outscored opponents 144-56 in the first half of its last eight games dating back to last season.
• The team has really gotten off to a nice start in the second half of games this season, outscoring opponents 35-13 in the third quarter of games. The team’s 10.5 points per third quarter against FBS teams is 12th in the FBS this season after finishing 34th in the country last season at 7.2 points per third.
• 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.
• The Sun Devils had not punted on an opening drive since Nov. 11, 2023 at UCLA prior to the Mississippi State contest in Week Two. 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% 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.
  
  
  
  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.
• The team already has a 23-3 advantage in the “middle eight” of games this year to give it a 110-19 advantage since the start of last season in the category (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half). ASU outscored opponents 87-16 in the category last season.
• The Sun Devils have a 37.0% (10-of-27) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter dating back to the start of last season, the 13th-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 first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati) and held opponents to a 1-for-25 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (4.0%) that is second-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 84 games - 3rd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (19) and Wisconsin (21). The FBS average in that span is 45.56 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, tied for 28th in the FBS.
• The 37 total plays allowed of 30+ yards in two-plus seasons under defensive coordinator Brian Ward are tied for the 7th-lowest total in the FBS.
• Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 117 total 30-plus yard plays (1.4 per game/84 games). That is tied for the third-lowest tally in the FBS in that time behind Iowa (92) and Washington (115). (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
• ASU has held opponents to a third down mark of 28.9% through three games this season - its lowest through the first three games of a season since a 26.2% in 2011. The tally is good for 28th in the FBS currently.
• 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.
• The team showed vast improvements in third down offense last year, finishing 18th in the country in converting 45.92% 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%.
• Unfortunately, ASU has taken a step back in the category through three games this year, sitting at a 27.03 conversion percentage on third downs that is 129th in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils converted 50-of-68 opportunities on 3rd-and-3 or fewer yards last year, a 73.5% 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 3.3 yards per third down this season, tied for 26th 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% of its offensive drives start inside its own 20-yard line last year - the ninth-lowest tally nationally compared to 21.9% 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% of the yards available on offense last year while limiting opponents to picking up just 45.2% of theirs. The net 14.8% difference was the 13th-best total in the FBS.
• ASU had a successful play percentage (40% of first down yardage, 50% of second down yardage, third down conversion) of 39.2% 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.
• ASU currently ranks 39th with 50.0% of its drives ending with a touchdown or field goal attempt and 45th in allowing just 36.8% of opponent drives to do the same. 54.1% 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% 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% tally as only 28% of its drives resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt (124th) compared to a 57% success rate for opponents (132nd of 133).
• ASU is 42nd in averaging 2.70 points per drive this season on offense and also 43rd in allowing just 1.71 point per drive on defense. ASU has not allowed a point to an opponent on a drive starting inside the opponent’s own 20-yard line. 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.
  
  In the zone
• One area of stuggle for the Sun Devils last season was success inside the red zone where the team ranked 119th in red zone scoring conversions (75.44) and 59th in red zone touchdown percentage (63.16).
• ASU has scored on 10 of its 11 red zone trips this season (90.91) with the lone exception coming against Texas State when ASU crossed into the red zone before taking several knees to end the game.
• Taking out garbage time, ASU’s 1.000 scoring pertage is tied for first in the FBS.
• In fact, starts behind its own 40-yard line but reaches that yardline on the drive, the team has gone on to score or attempt a field goal 83.3% of the time, which is sixth best nationally.
  
  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 prior to his injury, Alford had 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 nine 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% of coverage snaps, the fourth-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 second-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
• ASU currently ranks 10th in the FBS with 18 passes defending this year (17 PBUs, 1 INT). The Sun Devils were 16th in the nation with 69 passes defended last season and 14th with 16 interceptions.
• Keith Abney has allowed just a 60.0 completion percentage against this season, tied for the 15th-lowest among Big 12 corners (min. 50 pass coverage snaps).
• His 0.63 yards allowed per coverage snap is eighth-lowest among Big 12 cornerbacks and   he has allowed just a 20.0 first down/touchdown percentage, tied for ninth among league corners.
• Abney and Javan Robinson have not been credited with a missed tackle on a pass play this season.
• Kyndrich Breedlove has allowed a reception just once per 12.6 coverage snaps this season, the seventh-best tally among FBS slot defenders (min. 50 snaps). His five receptiuons allowed are tied for the eighth-lowest of the group and his 62 yards allowed in 22nd.
• Breedlove has allowed just 14 yards after the catch, tied for the fifth lowest among slot defenders. His 25.0 forced incompletion rate when targeted is third among Big 12 corners. 
• 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 was 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 season. He 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.
  
  Hold the line
• The Sun Devils have forced 24 tackles for loss this season, a total good for 17th in the country, while the team’s 11 sacks are fifth.
• This is a marked change in trend from the past couple seasons, where ASU finished in the lower half of the country in all categories (83rd and 96th in TFLS in 2024 and 2023, 73rd and 70th in sacks).
• Overall the team has 33 plays this season that have resulted in a tackle for loss or no gain, tied for 32nd best in the country.
• ASU has allowed an average of just 4.62 yards per play this season, good for 44th in the country. Removing Mississippi State’s three 40+-yard touchdown throws, that number comes crashing down to 3.95 per play, which would rank 17th in the nation.
• Opponents averaged just 5.23 yards per play in 2024 - 40th-lowest in the country after being 93rd at 5.95 in 2023. Only 22.2 percent of opponent plays gained 7 or more yards, the 23rd-lowest tally in the country after ranking 105th in 2023 at 35.1 percent.
• ASU has limited opponents to a quality drive (a drive in which the opponent managed a first down inside the ASU 40-yard line) to just 28.6 percent of the time - 28th nationally - and has held teams to just 2.41 points per those drives, good for 29th in the country.
  
  In the trenches
• ASU’s defense has 12 QB hits this season, tied for first in the Big 12 and 8th in the FBS while the team’s 45 total pressures are fourth in the league and 13th nationally. These total are notable as ASU finished 47th and 80th in those categories, respectively, last season.
• Seven of those hits (which exclude sacks) have been attributed to the defensive linemen, the 26th-best tally in the country and second in the Big 12.
• ASU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 30 QB hurries, which is second in the conference and 19th in the country.
• The group’s three batted passes at the line of scrimmage are tied for fifth in the country.
• ASU has had this success despite blitzing just 20.2% of the time , the fourth-lowest total in the country. The team has brought four or fewer pass rushers 111 times this year - the fourth-most in the country.
• That being said, when ASU does blitz, it has forced a quarterback pressure 48.1% of the time, the 19th-highest total in the country.
• Prince Dorbah’s average depth of tackle on run plays this season is -1.25 yards, which is second among Big 12 linemen and 20th among all FBS linemen. Clayton Smith is ninth among the league’s linemen with a .33 average depth of tackle on run plays.
• Smith is second among Big 12 linemen with 15 quarterback pressures this season (6th nationally) and his 12 QB hurries lead the league (second nationally).
• 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 tackle 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.
  
  
  
  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.
• Overall in 2025, ASU has a team pass blocking grade of 79.1 according to PFF, good for 21st in the FBS while the offensive line itself has graded out at 72.0 on overall offense - which is 39th in the country.
• The team has given quarterbacks 3.69 seconds to throw per play this year, tops in the Big 12 and fourth-most nationally. 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 2.65 seconds before allowing a pressure is second best in the Big 12 and 16th-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.
• Sam Leavitt had less than 2.50 seconds to thow the ball on just 40.0% of his dropbacks this season, the 22nd-lowest total in the FBS. That mark was 46.6% of his dropbacks last season, the 35th-lowest tally in the FBS (out of 94 QBs that have at least 50% of their team’s dropbacks). For perspective, in 2023, Trenton Bourguet had less than 2.50 seconds to throw the ball 65.9% of the time - the second-most of any quarterback in the FBS.
• Among centers with at least 75 pass blocking snaps this season. Ben Coleman’s one pressure allowed is tied for the 14th-lowest in the FBS. Max Iheanachor four pressures allowed are tied for the 26th-lowest among right tackles in the FBS with at least 75 pass block stats.
• 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.
• 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.
  
  
  Middle of the lineup
• With the Sun Devils utilizing a 4-2-5 lineup on defense, the two linebackers on the field at any given time can easily get lost in the grand scheme of things but that room has been exception for the Sun Devils this season.
• Jordan Crook (129) and Keyshaun Elliott (126) have played just 60.8 and 59.4% of ASU’s defensive snaps this season. Despite that, the two lead the team with 24 and 20 tackles respectively - representing over 23 percent of the team’s overall non-special teams tackles this season despite being on the field less than 2/3rds of the time.
• Crook was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after the Texas State game after he stuffed the stat sheet during a 12-tackle performance, credited with 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. His 12 tackles were the second-most in the Big 12 this week and fifth among all linebackers in the country. He made first contact on a play nine times according to PFF, the second-highest total in the Big 12 and tied for 14th-most in the country.
• The 3.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Sun Devil since Tyler Johnson had 3.5 against Stanford on Oct. 8, 2021.
• Among Big 12 linebackers with at least 100 snaps played, Crook’s overall defensive grade of 77.0 is sixth in the league and 42nd among all FBS linebackers.
• Talking about making the most of the opportunity, fellow linebacker Martell Hughes is quietly fourth on the team in tackles with 18 despite playing just 61 snaps on defense this season. 17 of those tackles have come on defense (just one on special teams), meaning Hughes is recording a tackle 27.9% of the time he is on the field.
  
  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 last season, good for 38th nationally after ranking 89th a in 2023 (396.8).
• ASU has allowed just 1.74 points per drive against FBS teams this season, good for 43rd nationally. The team has yet to allow point on a drive that started inside the opponents own 20-yard line. Last year, 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.
• ASU is currently 41st in the country in allowing opponents to pick up just 40.3% of the yards available to them. The team allowed offenses to pick up just 45.2 of their available yards last season, the 48th-lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country in 2023 in allowing 56.3% of available yards.
• ASU was much improved in keeping opponents from getting across the 50, allowing other teams to pick up just 67.6% of their available yards up to their own 40-yard line - the 62nd-lowest total in the FBS while also allowing only 58.5% of opponent yards up to the ASU 40 - 51st nationally. ASU ranked 121st and 126 in those categories in 2023.
• Last year, only 40.7% 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 49 occasions over 84 games (58.3% of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9%) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 20 times in 29 games (69.0%) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
• ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 56 of 84 games since 2018 (66.7%). This is notable as it did allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4%) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 22 times in 29 games (75.9) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
• ASU has held its two opponents after the opener to fewer points than they were averaging per game coming into the contest (Miss St. 24/34.0, Texas State (15/47.5)) 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).
   
  Gold rush
• ASU enters the weekend ranked 19th in the country in averaging 232.3 rushing yards per game. The Sun Devils ranked 20th in the FBS in averaging 199.9 rushing yards per game last year.
• 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).
• The team has rushed for 200 or more yards 12 times under Kenny Dillingham, compiling a 9-3 record when it does. 
• ASU is posting a first down or touchdown when it rushes the ball 36.1% of the time this year, good for 16th nationally. ASU averaged a rushing first down or touchdown 31.0% of the time in 2024, good for 23rd nationally.
• The team ranks 14th this season in averaging 4.2 yards after contact per rush. The rushing backs were especially efficient in punishing opponents last year earning 3.6 yards after contact per rush - 21st in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils have forced 41 missed tackles on running plays this year, good for second in the FBS. 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 has received a team rushing grade of 95.6 from PFF since the start of 2023, good for 10th-best nationally. The team has averaged 3.4 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 15th in the FBS.
• The team’s 30.9 first down/touchdown percentage since 2023 is 27th in the FBS and 31.4% of its drives in that time have ended in a rushing touchdown.
• Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 66 of 84 games (78.6%).
• 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 27th nationally in allowed just 91.3 rush yards per game this season, keyed by holding a Texas State offense that was averaging 280 rushing yards per game to just 119 on 42 carries.
• Opponents are averaging just 2.71 yards per rushing play this season, the 21st lowest total in the nation.
• 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.
• There have been 14 instances in 29 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 five of its last seven dating back to last season under 100 rushing yards dating back to last season.
• Javan Robinson has a 72.7 grade on run defense this year, good for sixth among Big 12 corners. His 79.3 grade on run defense last season 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 recorded four defensive touchdowns last season (2 pick sixes, 2 fumble returns), Top-10 in the FBS.
• ASU has outscored opponents 991-561 in points off takeaways since 2012 - 14-0 this season 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).
• 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%). The three interceptions in the game were the most for an ASU team since having three against Stanford on Oct. 8, 2021.
• 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.
  
  Sweet Jesus
• The Sun Devils are breathing much easier in field goal range this season with the addition of Jesus Gomez on special teams.
• The veteran is 5-of-6 on field goal kicking this season, with the lone miss coming on a 57-yard attempt at the end of the first half against NAU.
• He kicked ASU’s first 50-yard field goal since 2023 on a 51-yarder against Mississippi State - tied for the 26th-longest in the FBS this season.
• The five made field goals are tied for 22nd in the FBS this season and he is 11-of-11 on extra point attempts.
  
  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:

• Xavion Alford, BA Liberal Studies, 2024
• Coben Bourguet, BSE Engineering Management, 2024
• Ben Coleman, MA Communication, 2024
• Anthonie Cooper, BA Interdisciplinary Studies (Communication/Nutrition and Healthy Living), 2022
• Prince Dorbah, BS Communication, 2024
• Adama Fall, BA Liberal Studies, 2024
• Zyrus Fiaseu, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Cameron Harpole, BA Communication, 2025
• Max Iheanachor, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Chamon Metayer, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Elijah O’Neal, BA Liberal Studies, 2024
• Kyle Scott, BS Psychology, 2025
• Ian Shewell, BS Clinical Exercise Science, 2025
• Jeff Sims, BA Liberal Studies, Graduated SP24 (Nebraska)
• Clayton Smith, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Justin Wodtly, BA Liberal Studies, 2025