TEMPE — The defending Big 12 Champions and College Football Playoff quarterfinalist Arizona State Sun Devils hit the road for the first time this season, heading east to take on Mississippi State on Saturday, Sept. 6 in Starkville. Scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. AZT kickoff (6:30 local), the contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 (Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Stormy Buonantony). The game will also be available over the local airwaves in Arizona on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn). The Sun Devils enter the contest ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll and No. 10 in the Coaches.
On the Bulldogs/SEC
- The Sun Devils dominated in the first half and held off a late surge to top Mississippi State in Tempe last season, 30-23, in the lone meeting between the two programs.
- Cam Skattebo finished with 262 rushing yards, the second-most ever by a Sun Devil, as ASU outgained MSU 346-24 on the ground and held on to the ball for 40 minutes and 13 seconds.
- The victory was the Sun Devils’ first win over an SEC team in program history. ASU added the victory its three wins over Missouri and one over Oklahoma, but neither school was in the SEC at the time of those victories.
- The Sun Devils will be looking for the program’s first win in a true SEC road game, though the program has only played in one of those (2009 at Georgia). The Sun Devils have played true road contests at Missouri but not while it was in the SEC and in 1951 at Arkansas when it was in the Southwest Conference.
- The contest will mark the first time ASU has played a regular season game east of the Mississippi River Michigan State in 2019 and is just the seventh time in the last 20 years it has done so (‘97 Miami (Fl.), 2004 Northwestern, 2009 Georgia, 2010 Wisconsin, 2011 Illinois, 2019 Michigan State).
Kicking off
- Arizona State was ranked in the AP Preseason Top-25 for the 25th time, checking in at No. 11. It was the third-highest AP Preseason ranking in program history (8th in 1998; 3rd in 1976).
- The Sun Devils return 16 players in 2025 that started at least six games a year ago. The 16 returning starters are tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season. The total is notable as the Sun Devils had the second-most new players on the roster in the FBS (78) in 2022 and the ninth-most in 2023 (60). Arizona State had just 17 returning starters COMBINED entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
- The Sun Devils have 23 players in their final year of eligibility, the 20th-highest tally among all FBS schools this season.
- Jordyn Tyson has nine-straight games with over 75 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. Since the start of that stretch against Kansas last year, no player in the country has more than his 1,030 receiving yards or 11 touchdowns or 49 receiving first downs - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games. Perhaps more impressive in the next closest player in yards and touchdowns in that span (Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith with 990 yards and 10 touchdowns), has done so in 13 games compared to Tyson’s nine.
- Sam Leavitt recorded his first career game with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. 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. Only four quarterbacks have achieved the feat this season.
- ASU converted 2-of-3 fourth down opportunities in the opener, resulting in touchdowns on both drives (with a turnover on downs). ASU made 19 fourth-down conversions in 2024, good for 14th in the country. After converting on those 19, ASU had 11 touchdowns, 2 field goals and took a knee to end the Mississippi State game.
- Since 1996, Kyson Brown is 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.
- Under Kenny Dillingham, ASU now has seven games in which it has surpassed 200 passing and 200 rushing yards in the same game. It had only had eight such games total from the 2016-2022 seasons.
- There have been 13 instances in 27 games that an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023. Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games. The 13 games are tied for the 12th-most in the FBS since 2023.
#10Things (X-friendly notes)
1. The Sun Devils have not punted on an opening drive since Nov. 11 , 2023 at UCLA. In those 17 games, ASU has scored 10 touchdowns with three field goals, turning the ball over via interception, downs or missed FGA in others.
2. Arizona State (6-0) was one of 16 teams to go undefeated at home in 2024 and the only Big 12 team to do so.
3. ASU’s 16 returning starters (6+ starts) were tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season.
4. ASU outscored opponents 121-36 in the first half of its last six games dating back to last season.
5. ASU has outscored opponents 97-19 in the “middle eight” of games since the start of last year (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).
6. Since Week 6 of last season, no player in the country has more receiving yards, touchdowns or first downs than Jordyn Tyson (1,033, 12, 49).
7. ASU has allowed just 21 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 82 games - 3rd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (19) and Wisconsin (20).
8. ASU’s defense has 13 games since 2023 holding an opponent under 100 rushing yards, tied for the 12th-most in the FBS in that time.
9. Kyson Brown is one of just two FBS players to have 70+ rushing AND receiving yards in a game this year and only the 10th time an ASU player has done it since 1996.
10. Sam Leavitt posted just ASU’s fourth game since 1997 with a player rushing AND passing for 2+ touchdowns in a single game against ASU.
By the numbers
54 - Last year, 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 opponent drives did the same, a net +13.4 mark that was the 21st n the nation. ASU ranked last (133rd) in the category in 2023 with a net -29.0% tally. Only 28% of its drives resulted in a TD/FG attempt (124th) compared to a 57% success rate for opponents (132nd of 133). ASU averaged 3.03 points per drive, good for 12th nationally and allowing just 1.99 PPD on defense - 43rd. The net +1.04 PPD over opponents advantage was 14th.
47 - Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 47 occasions over 82 games (57.3% of the time) - including 10 of 14 last year.
For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9%) from 2013-2017. ASU have held opponents to 30 points or less in 54 of 82 games since 2018 (65.9%) - including 10 of 14 this year (though one one of those came in an OT game). This is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4%) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU was 11 for 14 in holding opponents under their season scoring average last year, following the season opener.
16 - The Sun Devils return 16 players in 2025 that started at least six games a year ago - tied for the most among all FBS teams heading into this season.
The total is notable as the Sun Devils had the second-most newcomers on the roster in the FBS (78) coming into the 2022 campaign and the ninth-most in 2023 (60). Arizona State had just 17 returning starters combined entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Eight Sun Devils started all 14 games last year, and seven of them return with the lone exception being Walter Camp All-American center Leif Fautanu. The Sun Devils have 23 players in their final year of eligibility, the 20th-highest tally among all FBS schools this season.
13 - There have been 13 instances in 27 games that an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023.
Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games. The 13 games are tied for 12th most in the nation since 2013.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.
9 - Jordyn Tyson has nine-straight games with over 75 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation.
Since the start of that stretch against Kansas last year (FBS Week 6), no player in the country has more than his 1,033 receiving yards or 11 touchdowns or 49 receiving first downs - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games. Perhaps more impressive in the next closest player in yards and touchdowns in that span (Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith with 990 yards and 10 touchdowns), has done so in 13 games compared to Tyson’s nine. Tyson has recorded four consecutive games with over 100 receiving yards dating back to last season.
0 - The Sun Devils have no punted on an opening drive since Nov. 11 , 2023 at UCLA.
In the 17 games since then, ASU has 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. ASU outscored opponents 121-36 in the first half of its last six games dating back to last season.
An ASU victory would ...
- Mark ASU’s fifth regular season non-conference victory in a row
- Give ASU its fourth-straight ROAD victory in a regular season game dating back to last season, which would be its longest since a 7-game streak between the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
- Be the Sun Devils’ first road victory over an SEC team
- Be just the second win over an SEC team in program history
- Bump ASU back to .500 all-time in regular season games played east of the Mississippi (currently 7-8)
- Extend ASU’s regular season winning streak to seven straight games dating back to last season
Milestone watch
- Running back Kanye Udoh is 353 rushing yards away from 2,000 career rushing yards (currently at 1,647)
- Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is 288 receiving yards away from 2,000 career receiving yards (currently at 1,812)
- Tyson surpassed 100 career receptions in his last game (currently at 109)
- Tyson also reached 15 receiving touchdowns in his career in the last game (currently at 16)
- Wide receiver Malik McClain is 5 games played away from 50 career games played (currently at 45)
- Defensive lineman Justin Wodtly is 6 games played away from 50 career games played (currently at 44)
- Linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu is 4 tackles for loss away from 20 career tackles for loss (currently at 16)
- Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott is 1 start away from 25 career starts (currently at 24)
- Defensive back Myles Rowser is 35 tackles away from 250 career tackles (currently at 215)
- Sun Devil defensive backs Myles Rowser and X Alford are 2 pass deflections away from 15 career pass deflections (currently at 13)
- Sun Devil kicker Jesus Gomez is 9 points away from 250 career points scored (currently at 241)
- Defensive ends Clayton Smith and Prince Dorbah are both 1 sack away from 10 career sacks (currently at 9.0)
Making the grade (notable PFF grades)
- Raleek Brown posted Week One’s sixth-best overall offensive grade at 86.5 (min. 20 snaps), a total good for fourth among all FBS running backs
- Kyson Brown recorded a 71.8 grade as a receiver for the week, a tally good for fifth among all Big 12 players, tops among Big 12 running backs and third among all FBS running backs
- Max Iheanachor and Jimeto Obigbo were the Big 12’s fourth- and seventh-highest graded players as pass blockers in Week One (min 20 pass block snaps) with grades of 85.1 and 83.4, respectively. Iheanchor’s mark was good for the 23rd-best grade in the category among all FBS tackles for the week.
- Clayton Smith was the Big 12’s 25th-highest graded defender for the week, ranking seventh among league edge defenders and 45th among all FBS edge defenders with his 76.5 grade.
- Albert Smith recorded the Big 12’s second-best grade as a pass rusher (min. 10 pass rush snaps) with a mark of 90.7. That was the 12th-best grade of ANY FBS defender for the week and 10th among the edge defenders.
- Jordan Crook’s 81.4 tackling grade was 18th in the Big 12 and seventh among the league’s linebackers.
Last time out (Northern Arizona)
- Arizona State is one of only 11 teams nationally that has blocked a punt so far this season.
- Kyson Brown’s 145 all-purpose yards per game are the third-most in the Big 12.
- He is one of only two players nationally to have 70+ rushing and receiving yards in a game so far this season (UCF’s Myles Montgomery).
- Brown accomplished the feat on only 13 touches compared to 24 touches for Montgomery.
- Anthonie Cooper is the only defensive lineman in the Big 12 to have recorded an interception so far this season. He is one of only eight defensive lineman nationally to have secured a pick.
- Sam Leavitt’s 330 total yards of offense were the 14th most by any quarterback in week one. It was the third-highest total of any Big 12 quarterback (Johnson, KSU & Robertson, BAY). It was the most for an ASU in a season opener since Rudy Carpenter’s 428 against Northern Arizona in 2008.
- Leavitt was one of just four quarterbacks in the country to record two passing AND two rushing touchdowns in Week One.
- Leavitt’s 73 rushing yards were the most by a Sun Devil QB in a home opener since Manny Wilkins (112) in 2016 vs. NAU (W, 44-13).
- It was just the sixth time since 1997 that a Sun Devil quarterback passed for over 250 yards and rushed for over 70 yards in a single game. Taylor Kelly accomplished the feat three times in 2012 and 2013 and Manny Wilkins did it twice in 2016.
- Jordyn Tyson’s 141 receiving yards were the most by a Sun Devil in a season opener since Brandon Aiyuk (140) in 2019 vs. Kent State (W, 30-7)
- NAU went 2-for-15 on third downs (13.3%), which was tied for the 13th-lowest conversion %age by a Sun Devil opponent since 1997.
Six degrees of Sun Devil-ation
- ASU safety Kyndrich Breedlove played for Ole Miss in 2021 when Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby, defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, and assistant coaches Matt Holecek and Phil Loadholt were on the Rebels coaching staff.
- ASU defensive lineman Clayton Smith played for Oklahoma in 2022 when Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby, offensive analyst Jon Cooper, and assistant coaches Matt Holecek and Phil Loadholt worked for the Sooners.
- ASU wide receiver Malik McClain played against Lebby, Cooper, Loadholt, and Holecek in the 2022 Cheez-it Bowl when he was on the Florida State team.
- ASU assistant coach Bryan Carrington and Mississippi State defensive coordinator Coleman Hetzler both coached at Texas in 2020.
- ASU defensive back Xavion Alford and defensive lineman Prince Dorbah played for Texas when Mississippi State defensive coordinator Coleman Hetzler was a co-defensive coordinator in 2020
- ASU wide receiver Jaren Hamilton played for Alabama when Mississippi State defensive coordinator Coleman Hetzler worked for Alabama.
- ASU safety Kyndrich Breedlove played for Colorado when Mississippi State assistant coach Vincent Dancy was part of the staff. ASU tight end Chamon Metayer was also on the Colorado roster during that time but transferred to ASU before playing.
Veteran presence
- 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 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 enters 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).
When the Leavitt breaks - Sam Leavitt finished his first year in Tempe as the school record holder for total offense by a freshman with 3,328 yards and second in program history in passing yards by a freshman at 2,885. The 3,328 total yards of offense with eighth in ASU season history.
- He was named the Big 12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year.
- Leavitt was the nation’s second-highest graded freshman player (true or redshirt with 400 snaps) on either side of the football by PFF (88.9), behind only Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (89.8).
- His 88.9 grade for the season is the eighth-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 400 snaps played). Of the seven players ahead of him, six started an NFL game last season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler). His grade was higher than the freshman year grades of NFL starting quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones, Jordan Love, Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels. The grade was good for 12th among all FBS quarterbacks in 2024.
- After having just three touchdown passes in his first four games, he finished with 21 over his final nine games played with just four interceptions.
- Leavitt had eight passes for 50+ yards, 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 (6) 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 set his receivers up for success, finding open players and hitting dudes in stride to the tune of 58.6% of his total yardage coming after the catch - good for third nationally. His 8.1 yards per pass attempt were 25th in the FBS.
Take it or Leavitt
- Sam Leavitt recorded his first career game with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns. In doing so, it was just the third time since 1997 that a Sun Devil quarterback accomplished the feat with Taylor Kelly doing it twice in 2013.
- Leavitt is one of just four quarterbacks to rush for two touchdowns while throwing for two touchdowns in a single game this year.
- Leavitt now has five career games posting 300+ yards of total offense.
- Leavitt has four rushes of 10+ yards this season, tied for the most among Big 12 players.
- The sophomore in second among FBS players with 81 yards on QB scrambles this year. That has come on just three scrambles for an FBS leading 27.0 yards per scramble attempt.
- 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.
- Leavitt’s 258 passing yards in his starting debut against Wyoming were the third-most by a Sun Devil making his debut since 1996, behind only Joey Yellen (292 in 2019) and Jayden Daniels (284 in 2019).
Air Jordyn
- Jordyn Tyson became the first Sun Devil to be named a Preseason First AP All-American entering this season. He was also named a Walter Camp Preseason All-American, and recognized on the Maxwell Award Awatch List, the Biletnikoff Award Watch List and a First Team Preseason All Big-12 selection.
- Tyson earned Third-Team Associated Press All American honors last and is one of 16 returners from those teams in 2025. He is one of five returning AP All Americans returning on offense along with center Jake Slaughter (Florida), wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Eric Rivers (Florida International) and tackle Spencer Fano (Utah).
- Tyson has recorded four consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards dating back to November 16, 2024. He now has six games in which he has eclipsed the century mark in receiving since becoming a Sun Devil.
- He has nine-straight games with over 75 receiving yards - the longest active streak in the nation. Since the start of that stretch against Kansas last year (FBS Week 6), no player in the country has more than his 1,033 receiving yards or 11 touchdowns or 49 receiving first downs - despite Tyson not playing in ASU’s Big 12 Championship or College Football Playoff games.
- Eight of Tyson’s 16 career touchdown receptions have come in the final five minutes of either the first or second halves (with nine total touchdowns in that criteria with a late punt return TD against ASU in 2022).
- The 141 yards against NAU were the fourth-most by a FBS receiver in Week One and just five yards shy of the most in the country. Tyson’s two touchdowns were tied for second-most in the FBS and he was one of 13 players with 2+ receiving touchdowns.
- Seven of his receptions went for first downs, which was the highest total in the nation for week one. The 12 receptions were the second-most by any player in the country and most in the Big 12
- Tyson had a breakout season in 2024, with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before getting injured in the second half of the Nov. 30 Arizona game and missing the postseason. He had five games of 100-yards receiving including 12 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas State on Nov. 16.
- His efforts earned him Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
- In his first six games as a Sun Devil, Tyson compiled 25 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns (61.5 ypg). Over the seven games since, he has accounted for 62 receptions for 873 yards and nine touchdowns (124.7 ypg).
- The ten touchdowns 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.
- Three of his seven touchdown catches came in the fourth quarter of games - tied for fourth among FBS receivers…His 12 third down receiving conversions were tied for 17th in the FBS.
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.
Starting strong
- The Sun Devils have not punted on an opening drive since Nov. 11 , 2023 at UCLA. In the 17 games since then, ASU has 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.
- ASU outscored opponents 121-36 in the first half of its last six games dating back to last season.
- Prior to the Kansas State-Iowa State stretch last year, ASU was 71st in the country in allowing 13.2 points per game in the first half to opponents. Over those four games, ASU allowed just 13 points combined.
- ASU’s 26.7 points per first half between BYU-Iowa State were the most in the nation and the 4.3 points against per first half in those three games were third-lowest.
- All told, ASU’s 18.9 points per first half on the season were 11th in the country while the 10.6 points against per first half were the 30th-best in the country.
Finish strong, too
- The Sun Devils was exceptional in closing out halves last season, scoring 17 touchdowns in the final five minutes of either the first or second halves - a tally good for fifth in the FBS. ASU picked up one such touchdown in the final five minutes of the game against NAU.
- ASU outscored opponents 87-16 in the “middle eight” of games a year ago (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half). The team already has a 10-3 advantage in the category this year.
- 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 this 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 21 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 82 games - 3rd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (19) and Wisconsin (20). The FBS average in that span is 44.30 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 nine total 50+ yard plays in the Dillingham/Ward era.
- ASU has allowed just 13 catches for 50 or more yards in that span, good for the 4th-lowest amount in the FBS in that time (Kentucky, 11/Washington, 11/Penn State, 12). The team has allowed just six 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 didn’t allow a 30+ yard play in the opener against NAU.
- The 34 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 114 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.4 per game/82 games). That is tied for the 2nd-lowest tally in the FBS in that time behind Iowa (91). (Kennesaw State excluded as they joined the FBS after 2018). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays each SEASON, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.
Rule of thirds
- NAU went 2-for-15 on third downs (13.3%) in the opener, which was tied for the 13th-lowest conversion percentage by a Sun Devil opponent since 1997.
- 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%.
- The Sun Devils converted 50-of-68 opportunities on 3rd-and-3 or fewer yards, a 73.5% success rate that was 13th nationally.
- Much of ASU’s success on third down can be attributed to its improvements on first down last season. The team is 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 gave up just 1.7 yards per third down in its opener against NAU, the 16th-best total in the nation.
- 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. NAU had just a 56.3 QBR on third downs in the opener.
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, 3rd 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.
- 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).
- The Sun Devils averaged 3.03 points per drive last season, good for 12th nationally while allowing just 1.99 points per drive on defense - 43rd in the country. The net +1.04 points per drive over opponents advantage was 14th in the country. In 2023, ASU was 130th nationally with a net -1.54 points per drive with the offense scoring just 1.40 points per drive (122nd) while allowing opponents to post 2.95 points per drive (123rd) - the latter compared to a 2.15 mark this season that is 58th.
The 100-yard landlord
- Xavion Alford dubbed himself the @100YardLandlord across his social media platforms and has made sure to become eponymous with the title this season as ASU’s last line of defense in the secondary.
- Alford had the 10th-most snaps in coverage in the FBS (522) and allowed just 9 receptions last season, the 7th-fewest in the FBS despite posting 100 more coverage snaps than any of the six players ahead of him (min. 300 coverage snaps).
- Prior to the Bowl Season, opponents chose to throw his way on just 4.2% of coverage snaps, the 4th-lowest total among all FBS players. His 19 targets on the year are 14th-lowest in the FBS.
- He allowed just 90 yards in coverage prior to Bowl Season - 4th-lowest among all FBS players.
- He allowed just 0.20 yards per coverage snap prior to Bowl Season, the 2nd-lowest total in the FBS.
- Alford forced an incompletion 26.3% of the time when targeted, the 8th-best tally among all FBS players.
- Opponents had just a 34.9 NFL QBR when targeting Alford prior to the Bowl Season, 9th-lowest in the FBS.
- Alford was the 38th-highest graded defensive player in coverage prior to Bowl Season (87.5), 19th among safeties and 4th among Big 12 players. He was the 31st-highest graded safety in the FBS on overall defense (81.0), a total good for ninth among all Big 12 players.
- ASU’s last line of defense, Alford was sure-handed as well with the nation’s 24th-best tackling grade among safeties (82.1).
- He was credited with just 8 missed tackles this year with a 9.7 missed tackle percentage that was 37th among FBS safeties. Alford was second on the Sun Devils with 85 tackles.
No fly zone
- The Sun Devils were 16th in the nation with 69 passes defended last season and 14th with 16 interceptions. The team started the season with five breakups and an interception in the opener.
- Javan Robinson was not credited with a touchdown allowed in ASU’s six-game winning streak at the end of last season and opponents had just a 68.3 NFL rating against him in that stretch that is 10th-lowest in the Big-12.
- Keith Abney’s 11 forced incompletions (according to PFF) were the fourth-most among alll Big 12 players.
- After giving up two touchdowns in the first four games of the year, Abney was credited with just two allowed over the final 10 games of the seaso. Was targeted just once and did not allow a completion on 35 passing plays in a pivotal win over BYU late in the season.
- Abney had three missed tackles in the first four games but had only two over the remaining 10. He allowed a NFL passer rating above 40.0 just once in the final four games.
- A true Sun Devil corner (nickelback excluded) had an interception in four-consecutive games between the Utah and UCF games, the first time ASU had accomplished that feat since 2013.
- Opponents have 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 38 total passing plays over 40 yards - the 5th-fewest in the FBS in that time. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranking second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
In the trenches - ASU had the third-quickest average time to cause a QB pressure in the Big 12 at an average of 2.50 seconds last year. The team did that with largely four-man rushes on the year, blitzing just 24.7% of the time - the 14th-lowest total nationally - while the team brought just four or fewer pass rushers 400 times - 13th-MOST among all FBS teams.
- C.J. Fite’s eight tackles for loss or no gain were tied for the fifth-most among Big 12 interior linemen. His 16 defensive “stops” on run defense were ninth among Big 12 interior players.
- Fite’s average depth of tackl on run plays last season was 1.16 yards from the line of scrimmage, the 19th-best total among FBS interior linemen.
- In 2023, Fite played the fourth-most snaps of any true freshman defender in the Pac-12 and tops among all defensive linemen. He was Top-50 among all true freshmen defenders in the FBS in snaps played and his 350 snaps were third among all true freshmen interior defensive lineman in the FBS for the season.
- Jacob Kongaika’s 0.00 average depth of tackle on runs plays last year was second among Big 12 defensive linemen and 15th among FBS linemen.
- Clayton Smith recorded nine QB hits on the season, tied for sixth in the Big 12 and his seven tackles for loss or no gain with tied for seventh among Big 12 linemen. He was credited with 22 defensive “stops” on the year, good for 17th among all Big 12 defensive linemen.
Where's the beef?
- The Sun Devil offensive line entered the 2025 season with 134 starts to its collective credit across the FBS/FCS level, good for the 12th highest total in the nation coming into the year. Last year the group entered with a combined 156 career starts spread amongst them entering the 2024 season, the fifth-highest tally in the country.
- The experienced group did its part last year in protecting its quarterback and also paving the way for its rushers as the squad was one of the more improved lines in the country.
- ASU’s offensive linemen received a 82.0 pass blocking grade from PFF as a group last season, the 23rd-best tally nationally.
- As a team, ASU was 40th in the country in only allowing 1.50 sacks per game last season after ranking 96th in 2023 with 2.50 allowed per game.
- ASU’s offensive linemen have been charged with just five non-pre-snap penalties this season - the eighth-lowest total among all FBS offensive lines.
- 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.
- The group was 33rd nationally with an average of 2.57 seconds before allowing a QB pressure. ASU was 117th in 2023 with a 2.37 mark before giving up a QB pressure.
- Sam Leavitt has had less than 2.50 seconds to thow the ball on just 45.6% of his dropbacks this 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.
- Ben Coleman was the 21st-highest graded guard as a pass blocker in the FBS last season with his grade of 84.6 (min. 300 pass block snaps).
- Coleman was not credited with allowing a sack on the year, playing the 13th most pass block snaps (451) among the FBS guards to lay such a claim.
Getting defensive
- ASU’s defense continued to build upon a solid base in its second season under defensive coordinator Brian Ward, who was named a candidate for the 2023 Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
- ASU allowed just 339.6 yards per game, good for 38th nationally after ranking 89th a in 2023 (396.8).
- Opponents averaged just 5.23 yards per play - 40th-lowest in the country after being 93rd at 5.95 in 2023. Only 22.2% of opponent plays have gained 7 or more yards, the 23rd-lowest tally in the country after ranking 105th in 2023 at 35.1%.
- Opponents averaged just 1.82 points per drive on drives starting between their own 20- and 40-yard lines, the 41st-lowest total in the country. ASU was 127th in the category in 2023.
- ASU’s defense ranked 21st in overall defensive EPA at -0.070. The teams +0.160 net EPA between offense and defense was 12th nationally.
- The team allowed offenses to pick up just 45.2 of their available yards, the 48th-lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country in 2023 in allowing 56.3% 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.
- 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 47 occasions over 82 games (57.3% of the time) - including 10 of 14 last year. For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9%) from 2013-2017.
- ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 54 of 82 games since 2018 (65.9%) - including 10 of 14 this year (though one one of those came in an OT game). This is notable as it did allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4%) in a span from 2013- 17.
- 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
- The Sun Devils ranked 20th in the FBS in averaging 199.9 rushing yards per game last year. ASU rushed for 201 yards in its opener against NAU.
- Twice last season, ASU rushed for over 300 yards in a game - the first time it had accomplished that feat since 2012 (vs. NAU, vs. Navy).
- ASU averaged a rushing first down or touchdown 31.0% of the time in 2024, good for 23rd nationally.
- The rushing attack was especially efficient in punishing opponents with ASU running backs earning 3.6 yards after contact per rush - 21st in the FBS.
- 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 98.1 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 16th-highest tally in the FBS.
- Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 18.6% of its rushes - good for the 26th-lowest tally in the Power Four. The team has averaged 3.3 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 12th in the Power Four.
- Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 30.9% of its rushes - 10th-most in the Power Four. The team is averaging 5.4 yards per rush in that time, tied for 20 in the P4.
- Since 2020, ASU has recorded a rushing touchdown on 33.8% of its drives (185/548), the 26th-best tally in the FBS in that time.
- Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 63 of 82 games (76.8%).
- 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
- 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, tops in the Big 12 and 19th nationally.
- There have been 13 instances in 27 games that an opponent was held under the century mark on the ground since defensive coordinator Brian Ward took over in 2023. Between the 2018-2022 season, it had happened 13 times in 55 games. The 13 games are tied for 12th most in the nation since 2013
- Javan Robinson’s 79.3 grade on run defense was third among Big 12 corners and 29th among all corners in the nation (min. 250 run defense snaps). He was tied for eighth in the nation in fewest missed tackles on run plays (1) and showed his ability to sniff those plays out with his average depth of tackles being just 1.7 yards heyond the line of scrimmage - the second-shortest DOT among all FBS corners
- In fact, much of ASU’s run defense success can be attibuted to the Sun Devil secondary, which received an overall run defensive grade of 91.3 last season between the corners and safeties - 11th best in the FBS.
- The group recorded an average depth of tackle on run plays of 6.57 yards from the line of scrimmage - the 25th-best total in the FBS.
A hand in the cookie jar
- The Sun Devils had 23 takeaways last season (16 interceptions, 7 fumble recovers), good for 23rd nationally after the program finished with only eight takeaways in 2023.
- The team ranked 6th in the FBS and tops in the Big 12 with a +1.00 turnover margin per game.
- The Sun Devils were 129th in the nation in turnover margin in 2023 at -11, improving that mark to +14 last year and the No. 6 mark in the country. The 25-turnover swing was the largest turnaround by any team in the FBS this season, the 5th-best in the last 10 years and the 25th-best of any program since the 1996 season
- ASU was tied for 5th nationally with just three fumbles lost last year. It recovered seven, good for 55th after ranking 110th in 2023 with just four.
- ASU has recorded four defensive touchdowns last season (2 pick sixes, 2 fumble returns), Top-10 in the FBS.
- ASU has outscored opponents 984-561 in points off takeaways since 2012 and 77-21 this season.
- Iowa State had lost just three fumbles during the entire regular season prior to losing two in the third quarter alone to the Sun Devils in the Big 12 Championship. The Cyclones had entered the contest 17th in the country with a +0.75 turnover margin per game prior to losing three in the third quarter to the Sun Devils.
- Sun Devil true corners (excluded the nickelback) recorded interceptions in four straight games (Keith Abney vs. Utah and at Cincinnati/Javan Robinson at Oklahoma State/Laterrance Welch vs. UCF). It was the first time ASU has had corners accomplish that feat in four straight games since 2013 (Robert Nelson at Stanford/Osahon Irabor vs. USC and Notre Dame/Nelson and Lloyd Carrington vs. Colorado).
- Last season marked the first since 2020 (at USC 4 TOs; at Arizona 7 TOs) that the Sun Devils forced three or more turnovers twice in a three-game span (3 vs. Wyoming, 3 at Texas State).
- The Sun Devils picked off Utah’s Cam Rising three times, matching the veteran’s career high for a game. Rising had 17 interceptions in his career (on over 750 career passes), of which the Sun Devils are responsible for six of them (35.3 percent). The three interceptions in the game were the most for an ASU team since having three against Stanford on Oct. 8, 2021.
- ASU was one of just five teams in the country with a fumble recovery in each of its first three games.
- Taking out ASU’s COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, the Sun Devils had a streak of at least one pick six in 23 consecutive seasons (2000-2022) come to a close last season - ending what was the longest streak in the FBS.
- ASU immediately started a new streak with Zyrus Fiaseu’s 29-yard return in the opener of 2024. ASU would also pick up a scoop-and-score from Justin Wodtly later in the contest on a 6-yard fumble return, giving ASU an interception AND fumble return for a touchdown in the same game for the first time since UCLA in 2008.
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 is now 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