Sun Devil Football hosts No. 24 TCU in Blackout game

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State Sun Devils - defending Big 12 Champions and College Football Playoff quarterfinalists – will host the program’s annual Blackout contest this weekend as it welcomes No. 24/25 TCU to Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Friday, September 26, in the program’s first home Big 12 game of the year.

Scheduled for a 6 p.m. AZT kickoff, 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). It should be noted that there is a chance for inclement weather in the Valley area on Friday, and fans are encouraged to follow the Sun Devil Football social accounts for any schedule updates.

On the Horned Frogs/Blackouts

• This marks the third all-time meeting between the two teams, though they haven’t faced off since a home-and-home series in 1974 and 1975. ASU won both those contests convincingly, with a 37-7 victory at home and a 33-10 win in Fort Worth.
• TCU QB Josh Hoover ranks No. 1 nationally in passing yards per game (333.0) and touchdown passes per game (3.67).
• TCU will mark the third-straight Sun Devil opponent averaging over 38.0 points  and 500 yards of offense per game, with the Horned Frogs coming in at 41.7 points per game (23rd) and 516.0 yards (14th)
• TCU enters the contest with a seven-game winning streak dating back to last season, tied for the second-longest active win streak in the FBS. Since 2022, only seven schools in the country have won more games on the road than TCU’s 12 victories.
• ASU will be looking to continue what has become a pleasant tradition in Blackout games. The Sun Devils are looking for their sixth win over a Top-25 team in a Blackout contest since the 2011 season.
  •  ASU 27, #16 Utah 19 (October 11, 2024)
  • ASU 16, #15 Michigan State 13 (September 8, 2018)
  • ASU 13, #5 Washington 7 (October 14, 2017)
  • ASU 32, #20 Wisconsin 30 (September 14, 2013)
  • ASU 37, #21 Missouri 30, OT (September 9, 2011)

Kicking off

• The Sun Devils return 16 players who started at least six games a year ago in 2025. 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 in the FBS (78) in 2022 and the ninth-most in 2023 (60). Arizona State had only 17 returning starters entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined.
• Jordyn Tyson has found his success this season despite facing press coverage on 63 of his 142 receiving snaps - the third-highest total in the FBS. His 239 yards out of press coverage are the 11th-most in the FBS, and his 13 first downs/touchdowns are fourth.
• Tyson has been nearly uncoverable in man coverage this season, putting up a 91.0 grade on 40 man coverages this season - the highest grade among all FBS players. Facing man, Tyson has caught 13 (first in the FBS) of his 17 targets for 156 yards with three touchdowns and 10 receiving 1st downs/touchdowns (also first in the FBS).
• Since the start of last year, ASU has converted 26 fourth downs, resulting in 17 touchdowns and three field goals on drives that included a successful fourth down conversion.
• ASU’s 46 fourth-down conversions since 2023 with Kenny Dillingham took the reins are the seventh-most in the FBS.
• Under Kenny Dillingham, ASU has 12 games eclipsing 200 rushing yards, going 9-3 in those.
• Sam Leavitt has 13 rushes of 10+ yards this season - third-most among all FBS quarterbacks.
• His 292 rush yards (removing quarterback sacks) are the ninth-most in the FBS, while his 217 yards after contact are the most in the country and 29th out of all players, regardless of position. His 6.2 yards after contact per rush are fourth among all FBS players.
• 51.4% of Leavitt’s rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - the fourth-highest percentage among FBS QBS (min. 25 attempts) and sixth among all players regardless of position.
• Jordan Crook (171) and Keyshaun Elliott (169) have played just 59.8% and 59.1% of ASU’s defensive snaps this season. Despite that, the two lead the team with 33 and 30 tackles respectively, representing 24.3% of the overall non-special teams tackles (63 of 259) this season, despite being on the field less than 2/3rds of the time.

An ASU victory would ...

• Mark ASU’s first official 2-0 start in conference play since 2012 in the Pac-12 (all ASU’s victories in a 3-0 Pac-12 start in 2021 were later vacated).
• Give ASU its second consecutive 4-1 start to a season, marking the first time the Sun Devils have done it in back-to-back years since the 2011 and 2012 campaigns.
• Extend ASU’s home winning streak to 9 consecutive victories, which would match its longest since a nine-game stretch between the 2012-14 seasons.
• Give ASU its eighth-straight victory over an opponent from the Big 12
• Move ASU to 8-6 against schools from the state of Texas since the 2000 season, while giving the Sun Devils their third victory over a Texas school in as many weeks.
• End TCU’s seven-game winning streak dating back to last season, currently tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the nation behind Memphis (8).
• Give the Sun Devils their sixth win over a Top-25 program in a home Blackout game since the 2011 season.

Milestone Watch

• Running back Kanye Udoh is 203 rushing yards away from 2,000 career rushing yards (currently at 1,797).
• Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is 72 receiving yards away from 2,000 career receiving yards (currently at 1,928). Tyson is 22 catches away from 150 career catches (currently at 128).
• Tyson is one touchdown reception away from 20 career TD catches (currently at 19). Coming into the game, he was tied for sixth among active players at the FBS level in the category.
• WR Malik McClain, DL Justin Wodtly and LB Keyshaun Elliott are 2, 4 and 6 games played away, respectively, from 50 career games played (currently at 48, 46 and 44).
• Elliott is 17 tackles away from 250 career tackles (currently at 233). He had the 19th-highest total among active players at the FBS level coming into the game and added ten more tonight.
• Linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu is four tackles for loss away from 20 career total (currently at 16).
• Defensive back Myles Rowser is 14 tackles away from 250 career tackles (currently at 236). Rowser is one pass deflection away from 15 career pass deflections (currently at 14).
• Defensive lineman Prince Dorbah is one sack away from 10 career sacks (currently at 9.0).
• Dorbah is 3.5 tackles for loss away from 20 career TFLs (currently at 16.5).
• Gomez is 28 points shy of 300 career points (currently at 272 career points).
• Defensive lineman Clayton Smith is three sacks away from 15 career sacks (currently at 12.0).

Making the Grade (Notable PFF grades)

• For the second straight week, Chamon Metayer was ranked among the top 15 tight ends in the country, with a receiving grade of 70.5, which put him 13th in the FBS. He has the nation’s No. 7 grade among tight ends on receiving plays (72.9).
• Sam Leavitt recorded one of the FBS’s top rushing grades at 81.6, good for 20th among all FBS players (third among Big 12 players) and fourth among FBS quarterbacks. Leavitt has the fifth-highest grade among ALL FBS players for the season as a rusher (89.1) and ranks second among QBs (and first among all Big 12 players).
• Max Iheanachor (83.2) and Ben Coleman (80.4) were the nation’s 21st and 28th-highest graded pass blockers among tackles and centers, respectively. Ihenachor has the nation’s 14th-highest grade on the season among tackles (83.9).
• Javan Robinson (79.5) and Keith Abney (78.3) were the nation’s 14th and 21st-highest graded corners for the week.
• Abney is the Big-12’s highest graded corner on overall defense this season (85.8) and fourth among all FBS corners. His 83.0 grade in coverage tops the league and is sixth among FBS corners.
• Keyshaun Elliott recorded the nation’s 14th-best grade on run defense (88.5) and ninth among FBS linebackers. Fellow linebacker Jordan Crook posted the nation’s eighth-best grade as a tackler (86.8) and was first among all Big 12 players.

By the Numbers

• Jordan Crook (171) and Keyshaun Elliott (169) have played just 59.8% and 59.1% of ASU’s defensive snaps this season. Despite that, the two lead the team with 33 and 30 tackles respectively - representing 24.3% of the team’s overall non-special teams tackles (63 of 259), while being on the field less than 2/3rds of the time. Elliott has the Big 12’s third-best score on run defense among linebackers this season at 83.0, good for 21st nationally. This season, his six tackles for loss or no gain on run plays are tied for fourth among FBS linebackers. Crook has accounted for nine defensive stops on 63 run defense plays this season, a 14.3 run stop percentage that is fifth among Big 12 linebackers.
• Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or fewer mark for total offensive yards on 50 occasions over 85 games (58.8% of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9%) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 21 times in 30 games (70.0%) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 57 of 85 games since 2018 (67.1%). Notably, it allowed 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4%) from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 23 times in 30 games (76.7) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
• Sam Leavitt has 13 rushes of 10+ yards this season - third-most among all FBS quarterbacks. His 292 rush yards (removing quarterback sacks) are the ninth-most in the FBS, while his 217 yards after contact are the most in the country and 29th out of all players, regardless of position. His 6.2 yards after contact per rush are fourth among all FBS players. 51.4% of Leavitt’s rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - the fourth-highest percentage among FBS QBS (min. 25 attempts) and sixth among all players regardless of position. The sophomore leads all FBS quarterbacks with 220 yards on QB scrambles this year, leading the group with 13.8 yards per scramble (min. 10 scrambles).
• ASU’s defense has 12 QB hits this season, good for 24th in the FBS, while the team’s 55 total pressures are 18th nationally. These totals are notable as ASU finished 47th and 80th in those categories last season. Seven hits (excluding sacks) have been attributed to the defensive linemen. ASU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 39 QB hurries, second in the conference and 20th in the country, while the group’s 53 total QB pressures are 22nd. The group’s three batted passes at the line of scrimmage are tied for 18th in the country. ASU has had this success despite blitzing just 17.9% of the time, the fifth-lowest total in the country. The team has brought four or fewer pass rushers 146 times this year, the second-most in the country.
• Jordyn Tyson has recorded nine touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games in his career (8 receiving, one punt return), the most among FBS players since his freshman campaign in 2022. Of his 26 total receptions in the fourth quarter of games in his career, 17 have resulted in a first down or touchdown (65.4%). Eight of Tyson’s 19 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). Since the start of last season, Tyson has been second among all receivers in receiving yards (1,458) and touchdowns (15), despite not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or CFP games. Tyson’s 71 receiving first downs in that stretch are the most in the country.
• ASU has not allowed a single touchdown in the first four minutes of the second half since the start of 2024. The Sun Devils have a 34.5% (10-of-29) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter dating back to the start of last season, the 19th-best percentage in the nation (does not include a pick-six against UCF the previous year). Conversely, ASU has allowed just two touchdown drives in the final four minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati last year, at Baylor this year) and held opponents to a 2-for-27 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (7.4%) that is eighth-best in the nation (drives that end at any point in the final four minutes of the half).

 

#10Things (X-Friendly Notes)

1. The Sun Devils’ net +0.019 difference between offense and defensive EPA is 32nd in the FBS.
   
2. ASU currently ranks 7th in the FBS with 23 passes defended this year (21 PBUs, 2 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 29 tackles for loss this season, a total good for 16th in the country, while the team’s 13 sacks are 11th, notable after ranking 83rd and 96th in TFLS in 2024 and 2023, 73rd and 70th in sacks.
4. ASU has not allowed a single touchdown in the first four minutes of the second half since the start of 2024.
5. The Sun Devils’ 34.5% (10-of-29) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter, dating back to the start of last season, is the 19th-best percentage in the nation (does not include pick six against UCF last year).
6. Conversely, ASU has allowed just two touchdown drives in the final four minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 (at UC last year, at BU this year), holding opponents to a 2-for-27 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (7.4%) that is eighth-best in the nation.
7. ASU’s 53 QB pressures are 22nd nationally, even though the team blitzes just 17.9% of the time, fifth-lowest in the country. The team has brought four or fewer pass rushers 146 times, second-most in the country.
8. Jordyn Tyson has been nearly uncoverable in man coverage this season, putting up a 91.0 grade on 40 man coverages this season - the highest grade among all FBS players. His 13 receptions against man coverage are tops in the FBS.
9. The Sun Devils are 6-1 in games of seven points or less in the last two seasons, going 5-0 in such games last year and 1-1 thus far this season.
10. Jordyn Tyson (135) and Malik McLain (119) rank fifth and sixth among all FBS receivers in run blocking snaps this season, and the most among Power Four receivers. McLain’s 72.2 grade in gap blocking is 13th among FBS receivers.

Last time out - Baylor

• ASU earned a much-needed victory in many conference opener categories after the Sun Devils entered 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 ASU’s first conference game of the year was played on the road. ASU had dropped its first Big 12 road game at Texas Tech last season.
• The win gave ASU its first victory in the first conference game of the season, which was played on the road since 2014 at Colorado. It also gave ASU its fourth consecutive victory in a conference road game dating back to last season, which is its longest since a six-game stretch between the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
• The win also gave ASU its seventh-straight victory over a Big 12 opponent dating back to last season and ended Baylor’s six-game winning streak in Big 12 games dating back to last season.
• Baylor wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins came into the game with 17 catches for 257 yards and was a critical part of the Bears’ offense. The Sun Devils held him to just one catch for -1 yard.
• Bryson Washington’s 111 rushing yards were his second-fewest in his last eight regular-season games dating back to last year. It is only the third time he hasn’t recorded a touchdown in those eight games.
• After being called for six penalties totaling 60 yards in the first half, ASU was assessed only one penalty for ten yards in the second half.
• ASU had a 14-6 advantage in first downs and a 19:00-11:00 edge in time of possession over Baylor.
• Baylor entered the game averaging 517.3 yards of offense per game and 38.0 points per game, ranking 14th and 39th in the FBS, respectively, before being held to 357 yards and 24 points on Saturday. Baylor QBs were fourth in the country, averaging 368.0 passing yards per game, before having just 250 on Saturday.
• Baylor averaged 41.3 points per game during its six-game Big 12 winning streak coming into the contest. Baylor’s 24 points were its fewest in a home Big 12 game since November 4, 2023, vs. Houston (24-25 OT) - a streak of six games. 
  
  

Six degrees of Sun Devil-ation

• ASU DB coach Bryan Carrington coached at TCU in 2022 as an offensive analyst and recruiting coordinator under current head coach Sonny Dykes. In 2016, Carrington was also on the same coaching staff at the University of Houston as TCU offensive line coach A.J. Ricker.
• TCU defensive coordinator Andy Avalos and TCU pass game coordinator Tre Watson coached alongside ASU offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo at Oregon in 2019.
• ASU offensive lineman Jalen Klemm played for Washington when TCU assistant coach Julius Brown coached there in 2023. TCU cornerback Elijah Jackson and Klemm transferred to their respective schools from the University of Washington and played on the same team in 2023.
• ASU linebacker Jordan Crook played at Arkansas while TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles was on the Razorbacks’ staff in 2022.
• TCU quarterback Josh Hoover attended Rockwall-Heath High School and played alongside ASU wide receiver Noble Johnson in 2021. TCU wide receiver Fletcher Fierro also attended the same high school in Rockwall, Texas.
• ASU freshman running back Grayson Rigdon, TCU freshman quarterback Adam Schobel, and his brother, TCU edge rusher John Schobel, won the Class 3A Division 1 state championship for Columbus High School in Texas in 2024. It was the first state title in Columbus High’s history.
• ASU offensive lineman Ben Coleman played at Cal with TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr in 2023.
• TCU safety Austin Jordan played at Texas with ASU linebacker Prince Dorbah and defensive lineman Zac Swanson in 2022.
• ASU safety Maurice Williams played at Shadow Creek High School alongside TCU linebacker Anthony Williams and TCU cornerback Cam Jamerson. ASU DB Xavion Alford also attended Shadow Creek High School, graduating in 2020.
• ASU halfback Kyson Brown ran behind TCU offensive lineman Tobias Steppes in high school in Lancaster, Texas, before each made their way to the Big 12.
  
  
  

Veteran Presence

• The Sun Devils return 16 players who started at least six games a year ago in 2024. 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 entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined.
• Eight Sun Devils started all 14 games last year, and seven returned. 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 had a streak of 11-straight games with over 60 receiving yards, which ended at Baylor - the longest active streak in the nation. That said, he has five straight games with a receiving touchdown dating back to last season.
• Since the start of last season, Tyson has been second among all receivers in receiving yards (1,458) and touchdowns (15), despite not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games. Tyson’s 71 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 that Smith has done so in three more games of action than Tyson in that time. Tyson leads Smith by six receiving first downs.
• Eight of Tyson’s 19 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 has recorded nine touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games in his career (8 receiving, one punt return) - the most among FBS players since his freshman campaign in 2022. Of his 26 total receptions in the fourth quarter of games in his career, 17 have resulted in a first down or touchdown (65.4%).
• Tyson’s 20 receiving first downs/touchdowns (64.5% on 31 catches) this season are tied for first in the FBS, and his five receiving touchdowns are tied for second. His 166 yards after the catch are 18th in the FBS, and his 357 total receiving yards are 14th.
• Tyson has succeeded despite facing press coverage on 63 of his 142 receiving snaps this season - the third-highest total in the FBS. His 239 yards out of press coverage are the 11th-most in the FBS, and his 13 first downs/touchdowns are fourth.
• Tyson has been nigh-uncoverable in man coverage this season, putting up a 91.0 grade on 40-man coverages this season - the highest grade among all FBS players. Facing man, Tyson has caught 13 (first in the FBS) of his 17 targets for 156 yards with three touchdowns and 10 receiving first downs/touchdowns (also first in the FBS).
• Tyson has been targeted on 41.6% of all ASU plays with an aimed pass this season - the 14th-highest ratio among FBS players. His 33.1 target percentage on his receiving snaps is eighth in the country.
• He has caught 60.0% of his contested targets this season, good for 14th among FBS receivers (min. 25 total targets).

 

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 year 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 November 30 Arizona game and missing the postseason. He received five games of 100 yards, including 12 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas State on November 16. His efforts earned him Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
• The 10 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 10 games since, he has accounted for 81 receptions for 1,089 yards and 12 touchdowns (108.9 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 before his injury. This year, his 129 run block snaps are also 5th among FBS receivers and the most among Power Four receivers.

Take it or Leavitt

• Sam Leavitt has five career games in which he has passed and rushed for a touchdown, and five in which he has posted 300+ yards of total offense. He is averaging 241.8 yards of total offense per game this season.
• Leavitt is the only FBS player this season with at least six passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns and 200 rushing yards.
• After three uncharacteristic interceptions in his first two games this year, Leavitt has been flawless in his 57 attempts over the last two games.
• Leavitt has set his receivers up for success, finding open players and hitting dudes in stride. 66.8% of his yards came after the catch, fifth among FBS receivers. That tally was 58.6% last season, good for third nationally.
• Leavitt has 13 rushes of 10+ yards this season - third-most among all FBS quarterbacks.
• His 292 rush yards (removing quarterback sacks) are the ninth-most in the FBS, while his 217 yards after contact are the most in the country and 29th out of ALL players, regardless of position. His 6.2 yards after contact per rush are fourth among all FBS players.
• 51.4 percent of Leavitt’s rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown - the fourth-highest percentage among FBS QBS (min. 25 attempts) and sixth among all players regardless of position.
• The sophomore leads all FBS quarterbacks with 220 yards on QB scrambles this year, leading the group with 13.8 yards per scramble (min. 10 scrambles).
• Leavitt has picked up 80.0% of his scramble yards after contact, 10th-most in the FBS. His 88.5 tally of rushing yards on plays with a quarterback pressure is second among all FBS quarterbacks.
• Leavitt has recorded a 78.2 overall offensive grade when pressured this season, good for seventh in the country and fourth among the 87 QBs (that have been pressured at least 30 times. His 41 dropbacks under pressure are tied for the 31st-most in the FBS.
• Leavitt has recorded 11 first downs/touchdowns with his arm while under pressure this season, tied for 22nd in the FBS. His 78.0 NFL QBR under pressure is 28th in the country.

When the Leavitt breaks

• 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. That game remains one of just 11 instances this season where a QB rushed for at least two touchdowns while throwing for at least two touchdowns.
• 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 was 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). Six of the seven players ahead of him 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, the most in the Big 12 and tied for the second-most in the FBS for the season. The 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 (five) (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 tied for 25th-lowest in the FBS (min. 300 dropbacks).
• Leavitt maintained 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 five 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, the 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 (six) since Mike Berocovici in 2015 (six). 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 earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors three times and the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week three times.
• 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 372 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the year.
  
  
• The 372 yards are 18th among all FBS players, while his 6.64 yards per carry is the 25th-best mark in the country. His 123.75 all-purpose yards per game are 25th in the FBS, and he has reached the 100 all-purpose mark in all four games so far.
• Brown is currently the nation’s 39th-highest graded running back on rushing plays with his 78.2 mark (min. 40 carries).
• The elusive back has forced 24 missed tackles on the year on run plays, the fifth-most among FBS backs.
• His 10 runs of 10 or more yards this season are 17th among FBS running 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 was the only player at 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.
  
  

Skatte-who?

• The Sun Devil running back room of Raleek Brown, Kyson Brown, Kanye Udoh, and Demarius Robinson has filled in admirably for ASU as they look to fill the void left by 2025 Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Skattebo.
• The trio has produced 769 of ASU’s 1,624 yards of offense this season (47.4%). The group’s 634 rushing yards are 25th among any running back room in the FBS. They have forced 36 missed tackles on running plays, which is good for fifth in the FBS.
• The group has 31 first downs/touchdown rushing, which is good for 35th in the nation.
• The group’s 135 receiving yards are 33rd among FBS running back rooms, and their eight receiving first downs are tied for 14th.
• 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 and 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 has become the 10th Sun Devil player with 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.
• Six of those 10 instances have happened since Shaun Aguano was hired before 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 154-66 in the first half of its last eight games dating back to last season.
• The team has gotten off to a nice start in the second half of games this season, outscoring opponents 38-13 in the third quarter. The team’s 8.0 points per third quarter against FBS teams is 34th in the FBS this season after finishing 34th in the country last season at 7.2 points per third.
• Before the Kansas State-Iowa State stretch last year, ASU was 71st in the country, allowing opponents to score 13.2 points per game in the first half. Over those four games, ASU allowed just 13 points combined.
• ASU scored 26.7 points per first half in BYU-Iowa State, the most in the nation, and the third-lowest was 4.3 points per first half against in those three games.
• 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 November 11, 2023, at UCLA, before the Mississippi State contest in Week Two. In the 17-game 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, ranking second in the FBS behind only Army (12-for-14; 85.7%).

 

Finish strong too

• The Sun Devils were exceptional in closing out halves last season, scoring 17 touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first or second halves, a tally good for fifth in the FBS.
• The team has a 23-10 advantage in the “middle eight” games this year, giving it a 110-29 advantage since the start of last season in this category (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half). ASU outscored opponents 87-16 in this category last season.
• The Sun Devils’ 34.5% (10-of-29) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final four minutes of the second quarter, dating back to the start of last season, is the 19th-best percentage in the nation (does not include pick six against UCF last year).
• Conversely, ASU has allowed just two touchdown drives in the final four minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati last year, at Baylor this year) and held opponents to a 2-for-27 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (7.4%) that is eighth-best in the nation (drives that end at any point in the final four minutes of the half).
• ASU has not allowed a single touchdown in the first four minutes of the second half since the start of 2024.
• ASU outscored opponents, 163-84, 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. ASU has struggled in that same category this season, with opponents averaging 8.7 yards per fourth-quarter third-down this year.
• Third-and-fourth down defense was among ASU’s struggles 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. ASU’s 2025 games have perhaps been more interesting than they should be due to opponents posting a 54.2 third-and-fourth down conversion percentage in the fourth quarter, 118th in the country.
• The Sun Devils have won four games in the past two seasons in which they were 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 in 85 games since the 2018 season, the second-fewest in the FBS behind only Washington (19). The FBS average in that span is 46.59 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 allowed just 14 catches for 50 or more yards in that span, tied for the third-lowest amount in the FBS at that time (Washington, 11/Penn State, 12).
• 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 third-lowest total in the country. ASU allowed 22 total plays over 30 yards in 2023, 35th in the FBS. ASU has allowed five such plays this year, and they are tied for 40th in the FBS.
• The 41 total plays allowed of 30+ yards in two-plus seasons under defensive coordinator Brian Ward are tied for the 12th-lowest total in the FBS.
• Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 127 total 30-plus yard plays (1.5 per game/85 games). That is the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS in that time behind Iowa (98), Northwestern (124) and Washington (126). (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 31.71 through four games this season, good for 35th in the country after finishing 98th in the FBS last year (43.01).
• 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. However, the Sun Devils were among the worst teams in the nation at converting third downs in 2023, ranking 120th in converting just 31.76%.
• Unfortunately, ASU has fallen behind in the category through three games this year, sitting at a 30.77 conversion percentage on third downs, which is 123rd 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 allows 4.1 yards per third down this season, tied for 34th 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. In 2023, ASU ranked 113th nationally in allowing opponents a 96.1 NFL QBR on third-down passing.

Playing the field

• ASU frequently lost the field position battle in 2023 but showed marked improvement in 2024. Last year, 12.8% of its offensive drives started inside its own 20-yard line—the ninth-lowest tally nationally, compared to 21.9% of the team’s drives in 2023 - 105th in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils have an average starting yard line of their own 29.0 this season, which is 49th in the FBS.
• ASU’s average starting field position last year was its own 29.4-yard line, while opponents were held 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 discrepancy that the Sun Devils cut down by 8 yards last year (+1.0) and ranked 62nd nationally.
• The Sun Devils ranked 6th nationally in gaining 60.0% of the yards available on offense last year while limiting opponents to gaining just 45.2% of theirs. The net 14.8% difference was the 13th-best total in the FBS. ASU is 43rd thus far this season in gaining 53.2% of its available yards and 49th in limiting opponents to gaining 44.2% of theirs, a 9.0% difference that is 46th.
• ASU’s successful play percentage (40 percent of first-down yardage, 50% of second-down yardage, and third-down conversion) was 39.2% last year, good for 26th in the FBS. The total was notable as ASU had just a 31.0 successful play percentage in 2023, 115th in the country.
• ASU currently ranks 35th with 53.3% of its drives ending with a touchdown or field goal attempt and 46th in allowing just 37.9% of opponent drives to do the same - a net 15.4% difference that ranks 40th (*against FBS competition only)
• Last season, 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% 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 44th in averaging 2.70 points per drive this season on offense and 50th in allowing just 1.97 points per defense drive. The Sun Devils averaged 3.03 points per drive last season, which is 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, which is 58th.

In the zone

• One area of struggle 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 15 of its 17 red zone trips this season (88.2), with one exception coming against Texas State, when ASU crossed into the red zone before taking several knees to end the game.
• ASU has been exceptionally efficient when forced to drive from deeper in its own territory, scoring points or attempting a field goal 80.0% of the time on drives where ASU passes its own 40-yard line during the drive (*not drives that start ahead of the 40)—good for the 12th-best total in the country.
• Conversely, ASU’s defense has done its part to buckle down on similar opponent drives, limiting teams to just a 55.0 TD/FGA percentage after crossing the 40, the 36th-lowest total in the country.

Abney Road

• Keith Abney has been exceptional in starting the season for the Sun Devil secondary. The junior is currently the highest graded corner on overall defense for the season in the Big 12 (85.8) and fourth-highest graded corner in the FBS. His 85.5 grade in coverage is tops among Big 12 corners and sixth among FBS corners. His 87.1 tackling grade is also tops among Big 12 corners and seventh among FBS corners.
• Abney has excelled in man coverage this season, holding opponents to just a 44.4% completion rate and a 58.6 NFL QBR when targeted in man. His 82.4 grade in man coverage is third among Big 12 corners and 18th in the FBS.
• Abney has allowed just a 55.0 completion percentage this season, tied for the sixth-lowest among Big 12 corners (min. 80 pass coverage snaps). His 8.7 yards allowed per reception are also sixth. He has been credited with just one completion allowed over 15 yards this season, tied for the fourth-fewest in the league.
• Opponents have just at 47.1 NFL QBR when targeting Abney, fourth-best among Big 12 corners and 24th among all FBS corners.
• His 0.65  yards allowed per coverage snap is fourth-lowest among Big 12 cornerbacks, and he has allowed just a 20.0 first down/touchdown percentage, tied for fourth among league corners.
• Abney’s 11 forced incompletions (according to PFF) were the fourth-most among all 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. 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 an NFL passer rating above 40.0 once in the final four games.

No-fly zone

• ASU currently ranks 7th in the FBS with 23 passes defended this year (21 PBUs, 2 INT). The Sun Devils were 16th in the nation with 69 passes defended last season and 14th with 16 interceptions.
• Keith Abney and Javan Robinson have not been credited with a missed tackle on a pass play this season.
• After a forgettable Mississippi State contest in which PFF credited Robinson with five receptions allowed for 173 yards, the veteran has shown off his short-term memory in the last two games, allowing just three total receptions for 23 yards in the previous two games. In fact, no reception was credited against Robinson in the Baylor game, and he was only targeted twice.
• Robinson has allowed just a 57.9 completion percentage this season, good for 8th among Big 12 corners (min. 80 coverage snaps).
• Last season, Robinson was not credited with a touchdown allowed in ASU’s six-game winning streak at the end of the year, and opponents had just a 68.3 NFL rating against him in that stretch, which was the 10th-lowest in the Big-12.
• Kyndrich Breedlove has allowed a reception just once per 9.7 coverage snaps this season, the 23rd-best tally among FBS slot defenders (min. 60 snaps). His five receptions allowed are tied for the eighth-lowest of the group, and his 62 yards allowed are 22nd.
• His 20.0 forced incompletion rate when targeted is sixth among Big 12 corners. 
• 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. In 2023, ASU ranked 113th nationally, 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 seventh-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 29 tackles for loss this season, a total good for 16th in the country, while the team’s 13 sacks are 11th.
• This is a marked change in trend from the past couple of seasons, where ASU finished in the lower half of the country in both categories (83rd and 96th in TFLS in 2024 and 2023, 73rd and 70th in sacks).
• Overall, the team has 41 plays this season, resulting in a tackle for loss or no gain, tied for 34th-best in the country.
• ASU has allowed an average of just 4.88 yards per play this season, which is good for 46th in the country. Removing Mississippi State’s three 40+-yard touchdown throws, that number comes crashing down to 4.37 per play, which would rank 28th 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% of opponent plays gained seven 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 35.5% of the time - 40th nationally - and has held teams to just 2.97 points per those drives, good for 49th in the country.

In the trenches

• ASU’s defense has 12 QB hits this season, good for 24th in the FBS, while the team’s 55 total pressures are 18th nationally. These totals are notable as ASU finished 47th and 80th in those categories, respectively, last season. Seven hits (excluding sacks) have been attributed to the defensive linemen.
• ASU’s defensive linemen have accounted for 39 QB hurries, which is second in the conference and 20th in the country, while the group’s 53 total QB pressures are 22nd
• The group’s three batted passes at the line of scrimmage are tied for 18th in the country.
• ASU has had this success despite blitzing just 17.9 percent of the time, the fifth-lowest total in the country. The team has brought four or fewer pass rushers 146 times this year, the second-most in the country.
• That being said, when ASU does blitz, it has forced a quarterback pressure 42.4% of the time, the 39th-highest total in the country.
• Clayton Smith is second among the league’s linemen with a .33 average depth of tackle on run plays.
• Smith is fourth among Big 12 linemen with 16 quarterback pressures this season (16th nationally), and his 12 QB hurries are second in the league (9th 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 linemen in the FBS for the season.
• Jacob Kongaika’s eight quarterback pressures are tied for the 20th-most among defensive interior linemen in the FBS.
• Kongaika’s 0.00 average depth of tackle on run 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 paving the way for its rushers as the squad was one of the more improved lines in the country.
• According to PFF, in 2025, ASU’s team pass blocking grade of 81.1 is good for 15th in the FBS.
• The team has given quarterbacks 3.54 seconds to throw per play this year, tops in the Big 12 and seventh-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 2.69 seconds before allowing pressure is second-best in the Big 12 and 13th-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 throw the ball on just 42.6 percent of his dropbacks this season, the 26th-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 with 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 percent of the time - the second-most of any quarterback in the FBS.
• Among centers with at least 100 pass blocking snaps this season. Ben Coleman’s three pressures allowed are tied for the 34th-lowest in the FBS. Josh Atkins and Max Iheanachor rank 32nd and 18th among left and right tackles in the FBS, respectively, with just five pressures allowed each.
• ASU’s offensive linemen received an 82.0 pass blocking grade from PFF last season, the 23rd-best tally nationally. 
• ASU ranked 40th in the country in allowing only 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 an exception for the Sun Devils this season.
• Jordan Crook (171) and Keyshaun Elliott (169) have played just 59.8% and 59.1% of ASU’s defensive snaps this season. Despite that, the two lead the team with 33 and 30 tackles respectively, representing 24.3% of the overall non-special teams tackles (63 of 259) this season, despite being on the field less than 2/3rds of the time.
• Elliott has the Big 12’s third-best score on run defense among linebackers this season at 83.0, good for 21st nationally. This season, his six tackles for loss or no gain on run plays are tied for fourth among FBS linebackers.
• Jordan Crook has accounted for nine defensive stops on 63 run defense plays this season, a 14.3 run stop percentage that is fifth among Big 12 linebackers and 39th among all FBS linebackers.
• 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. According to PFF, he made first contact on a play nine times, 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 October 8, 2021.

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 in 2023 (396.8).
• ASU has allowed just 1.97 points per drive against FBS teams this season, good for 50th nationally. Last year, opponents averaged just 1.82 points per drive on drives starting between their 20- and 40-yard lines, the 41st-lowest total in the country. ASU was 127th in the category in 2023.
• ASU’s -0.010 EPA per play this season ranks 18th in the FBS. 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 49th in the country in allowing opponents to pick up just 44.2% 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, 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 126th in those categories in 2023.
• 37.9% of opponent drives have resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt this year, good for 46th in the country. 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 fewer mark for total offensive yards on 50 occasions over 85 games (58.8% of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9%) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 21 times in 30 games (70.0%) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
• ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 57 of 85 games since 2018 (67.1%). Notably, it allowed 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4%) from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 23 times in 30 games (76.7) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
• ASU has held its three 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, Baylor 24/38.0) 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 24th in the country, averaging 219.0 rushing yards per game. The Sun Devils ranked 20th in the FBS, averaging 199.9 rushing yards per game last year.
• Under Kenny Dillingham, the team has rushed for 200 or more yards 12 times, compiling a 9-3 record when it does. 
• ASU is posting a first down or touchdown when it rushes the ball 32.9% of the time this year, which is good for 33rd nationally. ASU averaged a rushing first down or touchdown 31.0% of the time in 2024, good for 23rd nationally.
• The team ranks 38th this season, averaging 3.5 yards after contact per rush. The rushing backs were exceptionally efficient in punishing opponents last year, earning 3.6 yards after contact per rush - 21st in the FBS.
• The Sun Devils have forced 48 missed tackles on running plays this year, which is good for third 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 95.0 from PFF, which is good for being fourth-best nationally. The team has averaged 3.6 yards after contact per rush in that time—tied for 16th in the FBS.
• The team’s 31.4 first-down/touchdown percentage since 2023 is 26th 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 67 of 85 games (78%).
• 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 to 2010, ASU had just eight 1,000-yard rushers over 34 years.

But also no rush

• ASU ranks 28th nationally, allowing just 95.3 rush yards per game this season. Opponents are averaging just 3.07 yards per rushing play, the 29th-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, allowing opponents to have just 133.5 rush yards per game 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.
• Since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023, there have been 14 instances in 30 games where an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground. Between the 2018 and 2022 seasons, it happened 13 times in 55 games. The 14 games are tied for the 12th-most in the nation since 2023.
• ASU has held five of its last eight opponents, dating back to last season, who were under 100 rushing yards.
• 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 country 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 beyond the line of scrimmage, the second-shortest DOT among all FBS corners.
• In fact, much of ASU’s run defense success can be attributed 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 have six takeaways this season (two interceptions, four fumble recoveries) and a 0.75 turnover margin that is 27th in the country.
• The Sun Devils had 23 takeaways last season (16 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries), good for 23rd nationally after the program finished with only eight takeaways in 2023. The team ranked sixth in the FBS and tops in the Big 12 with a +1.00 turnover margin per game.
• ASU has outscored opponents 1000-561 in points off takeaways since 2012 - 23-0 this season and 77-21 last season.
• 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 fifth-best in the last 10 years and the 25th-best of any program since the 1996 season.
• ASU is one of just 30 teams remaining that have not lost a fumble this season. Last year, it was tied for fifth nationally with just three fumbles lost.
• ASU recovered seven fumbles last season, good for 55th after ranking 110th in 2023 with just four. ASU already has four fumble recoveries this season, tied for seventh in the nation.
• ASU recorded four defensive touchdowns (two pick-sixes, two fumble returns) last season, ranking it in the top 10 in the FBS.
• Iowa State had lost just three fumbles during the regular season before 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 before losing three in the third quarter to the Sun Devils.
• Sun Devil true corners (excluding 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 (on over 750 career passes), of which the Sun Devils are responsible for six (35.3%). The three interceptions in the game were the most for an ASU team since having three against Stanford on October 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 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 baby Jesus

• Sun Devil Football kicker Jesus Gomez played hero in Arizona State’s dramatic 27-24 road win over Baylor. Gomez drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, clinching a victory in ASU’s Big 12 Conference opener.
• The Sun Devils needed all four of Gomez’s made field goals as he set a new personal career-best mark for a single game. Gomez was responsible for 13 of ASU’s 27 points, connecting on four field goals and an extra point.
• Gomez’s four field goals were the most by a Sun Devil since Carter Brown had four against NAU on September 1, 2022. It was his seventh career game in which he had made three or more field goals.
• Gomez’s game-winner was ASU’s first walk-off field goal since September 18, 2018, when Brandon Ruiz hit a 28-yarder to knock off Michigan State.
• It was the first walk-off field goal on the road by a Sun Devil kicker in regulation since at least 1964.
• Gomez moved to 9-for-10 on field goal attempts for the season - notable as the team kicked just 11 field goals (11-for-20) TOTAL last season. His lone miss came on a 57-yard attempt at the end of the first half against NAU. His nine field goals made this season are tied for fifth nationally, and his 39 points put him in the Top-10 nationally among kickers.
• Gomez was one of only four kickers this season to make four field goals in a game without missing, and the only one to do it this week. He is one of only seven kickers to make four field goals in a game this season, regardless of the number of attempts.

The 100-yard landlord

• Xavion Alford dubbed himself the @100YardLandlord across his social media platforms and has made sure to become synonymous with the title this season as ASU’s last line of defense in the secondary.
• In 78 coverage snaps this season before his injury, Alford had been directly targeted just once and had 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).
• Before 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 the 14th-lowest in the FBS.
• He allowed just 0.20 yards per coverage snap before 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 before the Bowl Season, 9th-lowest in the FBS.
• Alford was the 38th-highest graded defensive player in coverage before 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 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.

Mountain America Stadium,
Home of the ASU Sun Devils

• Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics have announced a multi-year naming rights partnership with Mountain America Credit Union in 2023, which will form one of the most dynamic naming rights deals in college athletics.
• The 15-year partnership with Sun Devil Athletics – the most crucial 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 needy community members.
  • 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 who 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