TEMPE - Sun Devil Football will conclude the regular season this weekend as it hosts rival Arizona at Mountain America Stadium in the 99th edition of the Territorial Cup on Friday, Nov. 28. Scheduled for a 7 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 Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).
ON THE WILDCATS/TERRITORIAL CUP
- This will be the 99th Duel in the Desert, with Arizona leading the all-time series 51-45*-1 (Arizona State’s 2021 victory was later vacated, dropping ASU from 46 wins to 45). A majority of those Wildcat wins came prior to Arizona State becoming a state university, however. Since becoming a university in 1958, the Sun Devils lead the series, 37-28-1 - and 44-34-1 since the series resumed following World War II (the Wildcats led 17-2 up until the pause).
- The Sun Devils have a 10-5 advantage in the last 15 contests and have won six of the last eight, including last year in Tucson.
- The visiting team has won three of the last five in the series, including each of the last two.
- The winner of the game will receive (or retain) the Territorial Cup Trophy, and the game is recognized by the NCAA as the nation’s oldest rivalry trophy game.
- Despite that long-standing rivalry, the typical last game of the year for both programs has often simply been a matter of bragging rights with very little in the way of high stakes involved. In fact, this years contest marks the just the second time since both teams joined the Pac-12 in 1978 that both squads enter the
game with eight or more victories to their credit - joining the 2014 contest that would eventually decide the Pac-12 South Champion. - Arizona enters on a four-game winning streak to ASU’s three-game stretch. Arizona has scored 25+ in six of its last seven games - notable as ASU has held teams under 25 points in 10-of-11 games this year.
- The Wildcats have allowed just 23 second-half points over its last four games as the Sun Devils are coming off a game where it scored 21 points in the fourth quarter alone against Colorado.
KICKING OFF - ASU now has 38 fourth down conversions since the start of last year - sixth in the FBS - resulting in 22 touchdowns and four field goals on drives that included one such conversion. ASU’s 56 fourth-down conversions since 2023 when Kenny Dillingham took the reins are the ninth-most in the FBS. Arizona State has gone for it on fourth down 105 times under Dillingham, the fifth-most in the FBS.
- ASU is 10-1 when leading after the first quarter under Kenny Dillingham and has won 16 straight games when leading at halftime - the longest active streak in the Big 12. Dillingham is 9-3 in November as head coach.
- Keyshaun Elliott and Auburn’s Xavier Atkins are the only two players in the FBS with 80+ tackles, 13+ tackles for loss and 7+ sacks.
- Arizona State is the only FBS team this season to have two different players rush for over 200 yards in a single game.
- Keith Abney is one of just 18 FBS corners with 300+ snaps (136 total) played in coverage and no touchdowns credited against him. His 406 snaps in coverage without allowing a touchdown are the most in the country among corners without giving up a score.
- Two of Derek Eusebio’s three career touchdown receptions have gone for 64 (last year at Arizona) and 68 yards (at Colorado). He also had a 61-yard reception in a pivotal moment of the Baylor game earlier this season. He is just the eighth Sun Devil since the 1996 season to record three receptions of 60+ yards in their careers. He is one of just six FBS players to have three or more catches of 60+ yards in ROAD games over the last two seasons (Kansas State’s Jayce Brown, Hawaii’s Jackson Harris (4), Texas State’s Beau Sparks), Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling, North Texas’ Wyatt Young (4)).
- he Sun Devils have shut out a team in the fourth quarter for the third time in the last four games. It had held opponents scoreless in the fourth just once in its first seven games.
- Kanyon Floyd 30th FBS punter since the 1996 season to complete three or more passes in their career (tied for 12th among all punters in that time).
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes) - The Sun Devil defense deserves credit for its part in ASU’s late rallies, posting a -.213
EPA when trailing in the fourth quarter of games over the last two seasons that is 16th
best nationally. - When trailing in the fourth quarter of games over the last two seasons, ASU has
turned the ball over just once in its comeback attempts - on the final drive at Mississippi
State this season - which is tied for the fourth-lowest total in the FBS. - Keyshaun Elliott and Auburn’s Xavier Atkins are the only two players in the FBS with
80+ tackles, 13+ tackles for loss and 7+ sacks. - Out of 136 FBS corners with at least 300 coverage snaps played, Keith Abney is one
of just 18 to have not be credited with a touchdown allowed in coverage thus year. - The Sun Devils are 16-6 under Dillingham when leading in time of possession com-
pared to a 6-9 mark when they don’t. - The Sun Devils have shut out a team in the fourth quarter three times in the last four
games. It had held opponents scoreless in the fourth just once in its first seven games. - ASU ranks 26th in the FBS in scoring percentage in the fourth quarter of games this
year at 43.6 percent on 17-of-39 drives. - Derek Eusebio is one of just six active FBS players that have record 3+ 60-yard re-
ceptions over the last two seasons. - The Sun Devils are 10-1 over the last two seasons in games decided by seven or fewer
points - the most such victories in the FBS. - Opponents have scored on just 6-of-21 drives after an ASU OFFENSIVE turnover
in the last two seasons, a 28.6 conversion percentage that is fourth-lowest in the FBS.
By The Numbers
62
ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 63
of 92 games since 2018 (68.5 percent). That total
is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous
games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU has
accomplished this 29 times in 37 games under Kenny
Dillingham and Brian Ward. Since 2018, ASU has held
opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards
on 55 occasions over 92 games (59.8 percent of the time).
For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in
the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017. The
team has accomplished the feat 26 times in 37 games under
Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
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Derek Eusebio recorded his second consecutive game
with a touchdown reception against Colorado - a 68-yard
quick slant that the former walk-on took to the house. Two of
Eusebio’s three career touchdown receptions have gone for
64 (last year at Arizona) and 68 yards. He also had a 61-yard
reception in a pivotal moment of the Baylor game earlier this
season. He is just the eighth Sun Devil since the 1996
season to record three receptions of 60+ yards in
their careers. He is one of just six FBS players to have
three or more catches of 60+ yards in ROAD games
over the last two seasons, joining Kansas State’s Jayce
Brown, Hawaii’s Jackson Harris (4), Texas State’s Beau
Sparks, Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling, and North Texas’ Wyatt
Young (4).
45
The Sun Devils have scored 45 points while trailing
in non-garbage time in the fourth quarter of games
- 15th most in the FBS. Arizona State has scored on
8-of-14 fourth quarter drives when trailing this season, a 57.1
conversion rate that is 15th-best in the FBS. Those eight
scoring drives are tied for seventh-most in the FBS. Since
the start of last season, ASU has scored on 15-of-26 fourth
quarter drives while trailing in non-garbage time - a 57.7 rate
that is sixth nationally while the 15 total scoring drives are
12th. When trailing in the fourth quarter of games over the
last two seasons, ASU has turned the ball over just once
in its comeback attempts - on the final drive at Mississippi
State this season - which is tied for the fourth-lowest total
in the FBS.
10
Arizona State is 10-1 over the last two seasons in
games decided by seven or fewer points - the most
such victories in the FBS. ASU’s 10 such victories in a
two-year span are tied for the most over a two-season span
in Big 12 history and tied for the eighth-most for any FBS
team since the 1996 season. ASU’s 10-1 record over the last
two seasons in games decided by seven or fewer points is
the fourth-best win percentage in such games over a two-
year stretch (90.9) by an FBS team since the 1996 season
(min. 10 such games). Arizona State has trailed at some
point in the fourth quarter in four of its eight victories this
season and in seven games total over the last two seasons.
Jesus Gomez has kicked a game-winning field goal in the
final three minutes of regulation in three victories this season.
9
Arizona State is one of just five FBS teams this
season with nine or fewer points allowed off offensive
turnovers (9). Colorado managed just three points off four
ASU turnovers as ASU won its first game when turning the
ball over four times since defeating Oregon State, 35-20,
on Oct. 1, 2011. It was the first time winning a ROAD game
with four-plus turnovers since Oct. 10, 2009 at Washington
State. Arizona State has allowed just 30 total points off of
its 22 turnovers over the last two seasons and outscored
opponents off turnovers 43-9 this season and 77-21 last
season. Opponents have scored on just 15.4 percent (2-of-
13) of ASU’s offensive turnovers this year. Opponents have
scored on just 6-of-21 drives after an OFFENSIVE turnover
against the Sun Devils in the last two seasons, a 28.6
conversion percentage that is fourth-lowest in the FBS.
0
Keith Abney is one of just 18 FBS corners with
300+ snaps (136 total) played in coverage and no
touchdowns credited against him. His 406 snaps in
coverage without allowing a touchdown are the most in the
country among corners without giving up a score.Despite
being the nation’s most targeted corner (77 targets), Abney
has allowed just a 39.0 completion percentage this season
overall, lowest among Big 12 corners and eighth lowest in
the FBS (min. 250 pass coverage snaps). Abney is allowing
just 4.0 yards per TARGET this season (not reception), which
is seventh-lowest among FBS corners and tops in the Big 12.
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
• Give ASU consecutive nine win seasons for the first time since 2013-14.
• Keep the Sun Devils mathematically alive in the hunt for a spot in Big 12
Championship Game barring results from Saturday’s games.
• Give ASU two-straight wins in the series and victories in seven of the last nine,
bringing the overall series to 51-46-1 in the process.
• Give Arizona State a 4-0 in games broadcast on the national FOX network
this season and 6-0 in its games played on FOX over the last two seasons.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is 240 receiving yards away from 2,500 career
receiving yards (currently at 2,260). Tyson is three touchdown receptions
away from 25 career TD catches (currently at 22). Tyson is one total touch-
down shy of 25 career total touchdowns (currently at 24; 1 rushing, 1 punt
return, 22 receiving).
• Defensive lineman Prince Dorbah is two sacks away from 15 career sacks
(currently at 13.0). Dorbah is 3.5 tackles for loss away from 25 career TFLs
(currently at 21.5).
• Jeff Sims needs 135 rushing yards (currently at 1865) to reach 2,000 career
rushing yards. In doing so he would become just the 44th quarterback since
1996 to accomplish the feat at a Power Four school(s).
• Keyshaun Elliott needs eight tackles (currently at 292) to reach 300 for this
career.
MAKING THE GRADE (NOTABLE PFF GRADES)
• Raleek Brown posted the nation’s 13th-best overall offensive grade among
running backs (78.6) and 12th-best rushing grade 79.6) for Week 13.
• Brown is now the nation’s No. 9 ranking running back on overall offense (80.1)
and the No. 19 running back on rushing plays (87.0).
• Maki Stewart, despite being a true freshman, posted the Big 12’s top grade as
a pass blocker for the week (88.0), which was good for 16th among ALL FBS
players and seventh among guards.
• Max Iheanachor was the FBS’s No. 16 graded tackle on overall offense and
top-graded tackle in the Big 12 for Week 13 (75.1). His 87.7 pass block grade
was second in the Big 12 and 19th among all FBS players (ninth among
tackles. His 73.1 run blocking score was tops among Big 12 tackles and 16th
among FBS tackles.
• Iheanachor is the FBS’s 15th-highest graded tackle as a run blocker this
season (67.1) and 36th-highest graded pass blocker (78.2).
• Keith Abney is the FBS’s No. 11 graded corner on overall defense (85.3) and
No. 34th among all players regardless of position. He has the No. 14 grade in
coverage among corners (84.0/33rd among all FBS players) and the No. 24
run defense grade among corners (79.6).
• Abney’s 90.3 tackling grade is ninth among all FBS players and third among
corners. Teammate Javan Robinson (87.2) ranks eighth and 24th in those
categories himself.
LAST TIME OUT - COLORADO
- Raleek Brown’s 255 rushing yards broke Ben Malone’s long-standing 1973 road record of 251 yards at Oregon State and helped pace ASU to a 42-17 victory in Boulder last week. Brown went over 1,000 yards for the season - the 11th time in the last 15 seasons producing one.
- ASU’s 355 rushing yards were its eighth-most in a single game since 1996 and fourth most in a road game. It was the 11th-most by an FBS team this season on the road. It was the first time three different running backs rushed for a touchdown in a single game since the 70-7 Arizona victory in 2020 (Rachaad White, Daniyel Ngata, Jackson He).
- The Sun Devil defense limited Colorado (3-8, 1-7) to just three points off of ASU’s four giveaways and held the Buffs to just 300 total yards of offense. Arizona State recorded 11 tackles for loss and four sacks while holding its fifth straight opponent under 25 points. Colorado had five passes over 15 yards and three rushes over 10 yards. Those eight explosive plays accounted for 202 of Colorado’s 300 total yards. On Colorado 61 other plays, the Buffs averaged just 1.61 yards per play.
- The Sun Devils scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to turn what was a one-possession game into a convincing victory - ASU’s first Big 12 win by more than one score this season. The decisive final frame saw the Sun Devils record 205 total yards of offense - ALL of which came on the ground.
- Saturday marked the first time ASU had a 60+ yard rushing touchdown and 60+ yard passing touchdown in a game since the 70-7 victory over Arizona in 2020 and just the third game where ASU had one of each, period, since the 1996 season (2007 against Stanford).
- The victory gave ASU consecutive eight-win seasons for the first time since 2013-14. It also gave ASU a winning record in road games in consecutive seasons (3-2 in 2025 and 4-2 in 2024) for the first time since 2013 and 2014 (3-2 and 4-2) - just the fourth time accomplishing the feat in consecutive years since joining a Power Conference in 1978 (1981-82, 1996-97, 2013-14).
- The Sun Devils won their first game when turning the ball over four times since defeating Oregon State, 35-20, on Oct. 1, 2011. It was the first time winning a ROAD game with four-plus turnovers since Oct. 10, 2009 at Washington State.
- It was the first time three different running backs rushed for a touchdown in a single game since the 70-7 Arizona victory in 2020 (Rachaad White, Daniyel Ngata, Jackson He).
SIX DEGREES OF SUN DEVIL-ATION
- Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales was the defensive coordinator for the Sun Devils from 2018-19. ASU Ian Shewell DL and Arizona WR Luke Wysong were teammates under Gonzales at New Mexico in 2022-23.
- ASU assistant head coach Charlie Ragle coached at Arizona from 2012-16
- ASU DL Jacob Kongaika played at Arizona from 2022-23. Kongaika, ASU OL Joey Su’a and Arizona LB Leviticus went to Mater Dei High School from 2019-22.
- Arizona DB Treydan Stukes and ASU DL Anthonie Cooper were teammates at
Millennium High School from 2017-20 - ASU OL Jimeto Obigbo and Arizona LB Max Harris and RB Ismail Mahdi were
teammates at Texas State in 2024. Obigbo and Harris were also together at the
University of Incarnate Wood in 2022 - Arizona WR Kris Hutson played at Oregon in 2023 along with ASU MyKeil Gardner DL in 2023
- ASU S Adrian Wilson and DL Rashad McKenzie went to Washington State with Arizona WR Kris Hutson in 2024. McKenzie and Arizona OL Rhino Tapa’atoutai played at Bishop Academy in 2021
- ASU QB Braedyn Locke and ASU WR Noble Johnson played together at Rockhill High School in 2020-22
- ASU WR Derek Eusebio and Arizona LB Riley Wilson played at Prestonwood High School together in 2020 ASU OL Josh Atkins and Wilson were at Hawaii in 2022.
- Arizona DB Devin Dunn and ASU LB Tate Romney went to Chandler High School in 2019.
- Arizona DB Aiden Miller and LB Jacob Buggie played at Brophy College Prep in 2021 with ASU DL Zac Swanson.
- Arizona DL Christian Madoski and OL Alexander Doost were teammates with ASU LS Tyler Wigglesworth at Mountain Ridge High School in 2021-22.
- Arizona OL Keona Peat went to Arizona State his freshman year in 2023. ASU
Adama Fall DB was on the Arizona roster from 2020-22 but didn’t see any action.
HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS
- The Sun Devils are 10-1 over the last two seasons in games decided by seven or fewer points - the most such victories in the FBS.
- ASU’s 10 such victories in a two-year span are tied for the most over a two-season span in Big 12 history and tied for the eighth-most for any FBS team since the 1996 season.
- ASU’s 10-1 record over the last two seasons in games decided by seven or fewer points is the fourth-best win percentage in such games over a two-year stretch (90.9) by an FBS team since the 1996 season (min. 10 such games).
- The Sun Devils have won seven games in the past two seasons in which they were trailing or tied at some point in the fourth quarter - including four this year (Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia).
- The Sun Devils have scored 45 points while trailing in non-garbage time in the fourth quarter of games - 15th most in the FBS - and has scored on 8-of-14 fourth quarter drives when trailing this season, a 57.1 conversion rate that is 15th-best in the FBS. Those eight scoring drives are tied for seventh-most in the FBS.
- Since the start of last season, ASU has scored on 15-of-26 fourth quarter drives while trailing in non-garbage time - a 57.7 rate that is sixth nationally while the 15 total scoring drives are 12th.
- When trailing in the fourth quarter of games over the last two seasons, ASU has turned the ball over just once in its comeback attempts - on the final drive at
Mississippi State this season - which is tied for the fourth-lowest total in the FBS. - ASU’s .251 EPA over the last two seasons while trailing in the fourth quarter is 7th best in the FBS.
- The Sun Devil defense deserves credit as well for allowing the comebacks, posting a -.213 EPA when trailing in the fourth quarter of games over the last two seasons that is 16th best nationally. That number is -.326 per play this season, 18th in the FBS.
- Opponents are averaging just 3.0 yards per play when ASU is trailing in the fourth quarter in non-garbage time - the 12th-lowest tally in the FBS.
- Opponents have just six first downs (6-of-35 plays) in the fourth quarter of non-garbage time games when leading over ASU - a 17.1 conversion rate that is 15th-worst in the FBS. No team has added to its lead in non-garbage time to put a game away against the Sun Devils this season.
- The Sun Devils have five fourth down conversions in the fourth quarter of one-score games this season - tied for the sixth-most in the FBS. The team’s 11 third OR fourth down conversions in the fourth quarter of one-score games are 13th in the FBS.
- Jesus Gomez has kicked a game-winning field goal in the final three minutes of regulation in three victories this season. He is now tied with Ethan Sanchez of
Houston (coincidentally this season as well) for the most such game-winners in the final three minutes of regulation/OT in Big 12 history. - Since Kenny Dillingham took the reins in 2023, 14 of the 22 Sun Devil victories in that time have been by 10 points or less.
AIR JORDYN
- Jordyn Tyson had recorded a touchdown in eight consecutive games dating back to last season prior to sustaining a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a month in the second half of the ASU season. That was the longest active streak in the FBS and also tied for the third-longest streak for an ASU player since at least 1996 behind Marion Grice (10) and Cam Marshall (9).
- Tyson was the first Sun Devil with 8+ receiving TDs through the team’s first seven games since Derek Hagan in 2004 (also 8).
- Despite missing three games, Tyson’s 8 receiving touchdowns this season are tied for the 15th-most in the FBS and the nine total touchdowns (8 receiving, 1 rushing) are still sixth in the Big 12 in the FBS.
- Prior to missing the last month,Tyson was second among all receivers in receiving yards (1,729) and receiving touchdowns (18) since the start of last season.
- Nine of Tyson’s 22 career touchdown receptions have come in the final five minutes of either the first or second halves (with 10 total touchdowns in that criteria with a late punt return TD against ASU in 2022). Those nine touchdown receptions are the fourth-most of any FBS player in the last decade (since 2015) behind only SMU’s James Proche (14), LSU’s Kyren Lacy (10), and Alabama’s Devonta Smith (10).
- Tyson has recorded 10 touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games in his career (9 receiving, 1 punt return) - the most among active FBS players. It is the 10th-most of any player in the last decade (in FBS games played only).
- Prior to missing the Houston game, Tyson’s 34 receiving first downs/touchdowns (59.6 percent on 57 catches) this season were tied for first in the FBS.
- Tyson has found his success despite facing press coverage on 133 of his
317 receiving snaps this season - still 29th most in the FBS despite missing a
month.. His 510 yards out of press coverage are 13th-most in the FBS and his five touchdowns are 23rd. His 24 receiving first downs against press coverage are still 12th among FBS receivers. - Tyson has been nigh-uncoverable in man coverage this season prior to the injury, putting up a 89.8 grade on man coverages this season - the highest grade among all FBS players (min. 50 man coverage snaps).
- Tyson’s 24 catches against man coverage are fifth in the FBS and his 292
receiving yards against man are 10th. His five touchdowns vs. man are sixth, as are his 16 receiving 1st downs/touchdowns against man.
AGENT ZERO
- Tyson emphasized wide receivers coach Hines Ward’s “No Block, No Rock”
mantra as he was fifth among FBS receivers with 298 run-blocking snaps last
season prior to his injury. His 214 run block snaps this year prior to injury this year were seventh among FBS receivers and fourth among Power Four receivers. - Tyson has 100 or more receiving yards against two Top-25 teams this season (No. 7 Texas Tech and No. 25 TCU ).
- Tyson (who wears No. 0) became the first Sun Devil to be named a Preseason
First AP All-American entering this season. He was also named a Walter Camp
Preseason All-American, and recognized on the Maxwell Award Awatch List, the
Biletnikoff Award Watch List and a First Team Preseason All Big-12 selection. - Tyson earned Third-Team Associated Press All American honors last and is
one of 16 returners from those teams in 2025. He is one of five returning AP All
Americans returning on offense along with center Jake Slaughter (Florida), wide
receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Eric Rivers (Florida International) and
tackle Spencer Fano (Utah). - Tyson has now eclipsed over 2,000 yards in his NCAA career, checking in at 2,199 yards between his time at ASU and Colorado - which was tied for the 10th-highest total among active players at the FBS level and the most career receiving yards of any player that has played in 35 games or less prior to jis injury. He is averaging 4.97 catches per game in his career, the fourth-highest total among active FBS players prior to injury. He is fourth among active players at the FBS level in receiving touchdowns (22) and one of only two players (Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith) with 22+ receiving touchdowns in 31 games or less.
- Tyson has nine games in which he has eclipsed the century mark in receiving
since becoming a Sun Devil. ASU is 6-0 when Tyson catches a touchdown and
has over 100 yards in his time at ASU. - Tyson had a breakout season in 2024, with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10
touchdowns before getting injured in the second half of the Nov. 30 Arizona game and missing the postseason. He had five games of 100-yards receiving including 12 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas State on Nov. 16. - His efforts earned him Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
- The ten touchdowns last season tied him for sixth all-time in Sun Devil history, one of just 11 Sun Devils total to reach double digits in a season, and the most since Jaelen Strong had 10 in 2014.
VETERAN PRESENCE
- The Sun Devils return 16 players in 2025 that started at least six games a year ago. The 16 returning starters were tied for the most among all FBS teams
heading into this season. The total is notable as the Sun Devils had the second-
most newcomers on the roster in the FBS (78) in 2022 and the ninth-most in
2023 (60). Arizona State had just 17 returning starters COMBINED entering the
2023 and 2024 seasons. - Eight Sun Devils started all 14 games last year, and seven of them return. C.J. Fite, Josh Atkins, Ben Coleman, Max Iheanachor, Javan Robinson, Myles “Ghost” Rowser and Keith Abney II were 14-game starters. Center and second-team Walter Camp All-American Leif Fautanu is the only 14-game starter who doesn’t return in 2025.
- Unfortunately, the injury bug has plagued many of the team’s returners with five members of ASU’s Pat Tillman Leadership committee being sidelined with long-term injuries - including four members of the six-person crew that the Sun Devils brought to Big 12 Media Days with them earlier this year (Leavitt, Tyson, Coleman, Alford)
- 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).
LIVING IN A SIMS-ULATION
- Jeff Sims posted his second-straight game with at least 175 passing yards (207)
and 75 rushing yards (81) in the WVU win, becoming the first Sun Devil since at
least 1996 to accomplish the feat in consecutive games. - Sims is one of just three Power Four quarterbacks (Georgia Tech’s Haynes King,
Arkansas’ Taylen Green) to post 175+ passing yards and 75+ rushing yards in
consecutive games against Power Four opponents this season. - Sims’ 228 rushing yards at Iowa State were the most for an ASU quarterback in a single game in program history, topping Mark Malone’s 1978 previous school record of 139 yards against USC.
- His effort earned him AP National Player of the Week honors as well as Big 12
Offensive Player of the Week recognition. He followed that up with his second-
straight Big 12 Player of the Week nod following the WVU game. - Sims 5.4 yards per rush (on non-sack plays) this season are 25th among FBS
quarterbacks (min. 50 carries). Only 24.6 percent of his rushes have been
regarded as a “stuff”, 33rd-fewest among FBS QBs. - Sims is averaging 3.6 yards after contact per rushing attempt, tied for 16th-best
among FBS quarterbacks. 67.7 percent of his non-sack yardage this season has
come after contact, 18th best in the FBS. - The Iowa State contest was just the seventh 100-yard rushing game for an ASU quarterback in program history. Notably, the six previous instances came in Sun Devil home games played in Tempe.
- Sims’ 88-yard touchdown run was the second-longest rush for an ASU
quarterback in program history behind Malone’s 97-yard rush against Utah State in 1979. - It was the longest run for a Sun Devil since Rachaad White’s 93-yard touchdown run at Arizona in 2020.
- He became just the 40th FBS quarterback since 1996 to rush for 225 or more
yards in a game. Of those 40, 16 were quarterbacks operating a triple option
offense. Of those 40, only 13 occurrences occurred on the road (5 triple option
offenses). Only seven of those road instances also happened against a FBS
teams, - Sims’ 88-yard touchdown run was tied for the 16th-longest for a quarterback
since 1996. It was tied for the fifth-longest against a Power Five school (at the time of the contest). - The 228 rushing yards by Sims are the 8th most in program history regardless of position, as he joins an exclusive list of some of the program’s legendary players. He is just the sixth player in program history to go over 220 yards on 30 carries or less. It was the 23rd 200-yard rushing performance in program history.
- Sims won his first game as a starting quarterback since defeating Duke in
overtime on Oct. 8, 2022 in the process.
SPRUNG A LEEK
- Raleek Brown has had the opportunity to show Sun Devil fans how electric he
can be while healthy this season, currently second the Big 12 and 15th nationally
with 98.0 rushing yards per game and 11th in the FBS with 1,078 total yards on the ground. - Brown is the FBS’ 19th-highest graded running back on rushing plays this season
(87.0) and the third-highest graded back in the Big 12. His 80.1 overall offensive
grade is ninth among all FBS running backs and second among Big 12 backs. - His 6.23 yards per carry are 17th in the FBS and his 124.82 all-purpose yards per game are seventh in the FBS and tops in the conference.
- The elusive back has forced 51 missed tackles on the year on run plays, the
12th-most among FBS backs - His 30 runs of 10 or more yards this season are tied for 10th among FBS players.
- Brown’s 45 targets this season are fourth among FBS running backs while his
33 receptions are 11th. His 284 yards after the catch (including yards out of the
backfield) are 14th among 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 (with his 11.6 average at Colorado right behind that). He is the only player in that time to reach 140 rushing yards on 12 or fewer carries. - His 75-yard touchdown run was the longest run AND touchdown run for an ASU player AT HOME since Kalen Ballage vs. Texas Tech in 2016.
- His 88-yard touchdown at Colorado was the longest for a running back since
Rachaad White’s 93-yard touchdown at Arizona in 2020.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
- Raleek Brown rushed for a Sun Devil football road record 255 yards on against Colorado, unseating Ben Malone’s 52-year-old record of 251 yards at Oregon State in 1973. It was the third-highest rushing total for a Sun Devil in a single game, period, behind Eno Benjamin’s 312 yards vs. Oregon State in 2018 and Cam Skattebo’s 262 vs. Mississippi State last season.
- Only twice this season had a player rushed for over 250 yards on the road -
coincidentally both occurring on the same day between Brown and Kansas State’s Joe Jackson at Utah (293). - It was just the sixth time this season overall that a player rushed for over 250 yards in a game. It had only happened 11 times in the last two seasons, with ASU owning one of the other marks with Cam Skattebo’s Mississippi State effort last year.
- Brown had a touchdown reception for the second consecutive game. It was the first time a Sun Devil running back had a receiving touchdown in back-to-back games since Xazavian Valladay in 2022 (Oct. 1 and Oct. 8) and just the 12th time it has happened since the 1996 season.
- Brown notched 108 rushing yards in the first half alone, and 141 all-purpose yards in the half. It was the first time a Sun Devil had 100+ rushing yards at halftime since Cam Skattebo’s 140 against Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship last season. It is the third time ASU has had a running back accomplish that feat in the past two seasons alone. Previously, ASU had not had a running back reach the mark since Rachaad White in 2021 and had done so just four times TOTAL between 2012 to 2023 (Eno Benjamin 2x in 2018, Rachaad White 1x in 2020 and 2021). The last time before Benjamin’s first in 2018 was Cam Marshall in November of 2011.
CHAMON-ENAL
- Chamon Metayer’s four touchdowns this season are tied for 18th among FBS tight ends.
- Quarterbacks have a 127.0 NFL QBR when targeting Metayer this year, good for 16th among FBS tight ends.
- Metayer has an 83.5 run blocking grade in the month of November, which is the best among any FBS tight end with 50+ run block snaps thus month.
- He was the first tight end to have a touchdown reception in three-straight games for the Sun Devils since Kody Kohl in 2014.
- Metayer is 20th among FBS tight ends with 20 receiving first downs this season.
- His 379 yards are 30th among FBS tight ends and his 222 yards after the catch are 17th among FBS tight ends. His seven missed tackles forced are 10th.
- He is only the fourth Sun Devil tight end since 1996 to have two seasons with 30 or more catches. He is joined by Jalin Conyers, Zach Miller (3x), and Todd Heap on the list.
- Metayer’s nine touchdowns as a Sun Devil are tied for the fourth most for an ASUtight end since 1996 (Chris Coyle).
FINISH THEM
- Arizona State has won 16 straight games when leading at halftime, the longest active streak among Big 12 teams.
- ASU has scored on 43.2 percent of its non-garbage time drives that have finished at any point in the final five minutes of the first or second halves this season (16-of-37) - 31st in the FBS.. The 16 scoring drives are tied for the second-most in the FBS.
- Removing garbage time, ASU has a 41.6 score percentage in the final five minutes of a half (32-of-77) combined since the start of last season - 30th in the FBS. The 32 scoring drives are fifth in the country. For perspective, in the previous three seasons from 2021-23, ASU managed just 28 TOTAL scoring drives in the final five minutes of a half (28-97) - a 28.9 percent score percentage that was 102nd in the FBS.
- ASU’s 91 points in the fourth quarter of games this year is 38th nationally and ASU ranks 26th in the FBS in scoring percentage - 43.6 on 17-of-39 drives - in the fourth quarter
- The Sun Devils have a 32.6 percent (16-of-49) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final five minutes of the first half dating back to the start of last season, the 19th-best percentage in the nation (does not include pick six against UCF last year, which makes it 16 total touchdowns). The 16 offensive touchdowns are eighth- most in the FBS in that time. For perspective, in the previous five seasons (2019-23), ASU scored just 17 TOTAL touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first half - at a 17.7 rate (17-of-96) that was 112th in the FBS.
- Conversely, ASU has allowed just four touchdown drives in the final five minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 (at Cincinnati last year, at Baylor, at Utah, at Iowa State this year) and held opponents to a 4-for-44 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (9.1 percent) that is fourth-best in the nation (drives that end at any point in the final five minutes of the half).
- Opponents have just a 25.5 first down conversion rate in the fourth quarter of
games this season (47-of-184), the 26th-lowest total in the FBS. - Despite some nightmarish last quarter lapses on defense, opponents are
averaging just 4.9 yards per fourth quarter play - the 35th-lowest tally nationally. - Utah’s touchdown at the exact 11:00 mark in the third quarter this season marked the first time ASU had allowed a touchdown in the first four minutes of a second half in the last season-plus. Colorado added the second-such instance in Boulder.
- ASU has a 137-57 advantage since the start of last season in the “middle eight” of games (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half). ASU outscored opponents 87-16 in the category last season.
KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU
- ASU has allowed just 26 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 92 games - tied for fourth-fewest in the FBS. The FBS average in that span is 50.35 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 14 total 50+ yard plays in the Dillingham/Ward era, tied for 23rd-lowest since 2023.
- ASU has allowed just 17 catches for 50 or more yards since 2018, tied for sixth- lowest in the FBS in that time.
- The team has allowed just 10 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’s 59 total plays allowed of 30+ yards in two-plus seasons under defensive coordinator Brian Ward are tied for the 24th-lowest total in the FBS.
- Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 145 plays OVER 30 yards (1.6 per game/92
games). That is the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS in that time. (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.
DEEP DIVE
- The Sun Devils rank 24th nationally with a net NET difference between offense and defensive EPA of +.205.
- ASU is picking up 49.7 percent of its available yards compared to a 43.1 mark for opponents - a 6.6 percent net difference that is 41st in the FBS.
» The Sun Devils ranked 6th nationally in picking up 60.0 percent of the yards
available on offense last year while limiting opponents to picking up just 4.2
percent of theirs. The net 14.8 percent difference was the 13th-best total in the
FBS. For perspective, in 2023 the net percentage was -20.1 percent (36.2 vs. 56.3) - the 131st WORST total in the country.
» ASU currently ranks 44th with 46.8 percent of its drives ending with a touchdown or field goal attempt with a net 11.4 percent difference compared to the opponents that ranks 36th in the country (*against FBS competition only).
» Reaching its own 40-yard line has been the key for the ASU offense this season. On drives where the Sun Devils start within 39 yards of its own end zone but reach the 40-yard line, the Sun Devils are scoring a touchdown or recording a field goal attempt 69.3 percent of the time - 28th-best nationally. The team ghas been efficient in driving down the field. averaging 1.93 points per drive when starting
inside its own 20-yard line - 36th in the FBS.
» Last season, 54.1 percent of Sun Devil offensive drives resulted in ASU scoring a touchdown or getting in range for a field goal attempt - good for 11th nationally. Only 40.7 percent of such opponent drives did the same, a net +13.4 percent difference that was the 21st-best in the nation. ASU ranked dead last (133rd) in the category in 2023 with a net -29.0 percent tally as only 28 percent of its drives resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt (124th) compared to a 57 percent success rate for opponents (132nd).
IN THE TRENCHES
- Prince Dorbah’s 0.25 average depth of tackle on run plays this season is the best among Big 12 linemen and 19th among ALL FBS linemen (min. 100 run defense snaps).
- Clayton Smith is 12th among Big 12 linemen with 30 quarterback pressures.
- Prince Dorbah’s 77.0 grade as a pass rusher is seventh among Big 12 linemen
(min. 100 pass rush snaps). - Justin Wodtly’s 12 pressures in the month of November are tied for fourth among Big 12 linemen and his four sacks are most in the league for the month (eighth among all FBS linemen).
- Jacob Kongaika’s 14 QB pressures this season are ninth among Big 12 interior
linemen. - Dorbah’s 4.0 tackles for loss in the TCU victory are tied for the second-most for any FBS player this season and he is the only Big 12 player to do so.
- He was first Big 12 player with 4.0 tackles for loss in a game since Amier
Washington (TTU) in their 2023 bowl game and the first Big 12 player to do it
against a conference opponent since Felix Anudike-Uzomah (KSU) against TCU
on Oct. 30, 2021 (also 4.0).
» PFF tabbed him as the highest graded defender in the entire country for the week with a 95.2 overall defensive mark (min. 25 snaps). It is the fifth-best single week grade for any defensive player in the FBS this season.
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. - Overall in 2025, ASU has a team pass blocking grade of 73.5 according to PFF, good for 37th in the FBS.
- The Sun Devils have allowed just two sacks in their last three contests - which
is tied for the seventh lowest total in the FBS in the month of November. The
five sack yards allowed for the month are fourth-lowest in the country. ASU had
allowed 25 sacks in the first eight games of the season (3.1 per game) prior to the 0.67 over the last three games. - The team’s 75.0 overall pass blocking grade for the year is 31st in the FBS.
- The team has given quarterbacks 3.37 seconds to throw per play this year,
20th-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. - Max Iheanachor (15) ranks 18th among right tackles in the FBS in fewest
pressures allowed. Iheanachor’s 76.4 pass blocking grade this season is 13th
among all FBS right tackles (min. 300 pass block snaps). His 98.4 pass block
efficiency rating is sixth among all FBS right tackles. - He has not been credited sole credit for a sack allowed this season, one of just 13 right tackles in the FBS to lay such a claim.
- The youth of the group has started to show its promise as well in recent weeks.
- Make Stewart has the highest overall offensive grade of any true freshman
offensive lineman in the FBS for the month of Novemeber at 71.6 while his 75.0
pass blocking grade is fifth among FBS true freshmen linemen for the month.
-- Against West Virginia, Stewart was the only true freshman Big 12 lineman to play 50+ snaps for the week (62) and one of just 15 such players nationally - Stewart recorded the No. 3 overall offensive grade among true freshman linemen in the FBS (71.8), a total still good for fourth in the FBS with redshirt freshmen included.
- In doing so, he became just the seventh Sun Devil true freshman offensive lineman to play 50+ snaps in a game since the 2010 season while his 71.8 grade is the third best of the 35 total such games played by those seven players
- 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.
MIDDLE OF THE LINEUP
- With the Sun Devils utilizing a 4-2-5 lineup on defense, the two linebackers on the field at any given time can easily get lost in the grand scheme of things but that room has been exception for the Sun Devils this season.
- Keyshaun Elliott and Jordan Crook lead the team with 89 and 81 tackles
respectively - representing 25.4 percent of the team’s overall non-special teams
tackles (170 of 669) this season. - Elliott’s 8.1 tackles per game are 45th in the FBS and seventh in the Big 12. Elliott’s 292 career tackles are the 13th-most among active FBS players.
- Elliott is the first Sun Devil linebacker to record 13.0 tackles for loss since Salamo Fiso’s 20.0 in 2015. His seven sacks are the most for a Sun Devil linebacker since Chris Young had 7.5 in 2013.
- Elliott and Auburn’s Xavier Atkins are the only two players in the FBS with 80+
tackles, 13+ tackles for loss and 7+ sacks. - Crook ranks fourth among Big 12 linebackers on run defense with a 83.1 grade - 21st among all FBS linebackers. His 10.7 run-stop percentage is fifth (27 “stops” on 252 run snaps) in the Big 12 among linebackers and 33rd among FBS LBs.
- Elliott has posted a 9.2 run stop percentage (24 stops on 261 snaps) that is 10th among Big 12 linebackers.
- Elliott’s 13 tackles for loss or no gain on run plays this season are second in the Big 12 among linebackers and sixth 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. He made first contact on a play nine times according to PFF, the second-highest total in the Big 12 and tied for 14th-most in the country.
- The 3.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Sun Devil since Tyler Johnson had 3.5 against Stanford on Oct. 8, 2021.
- Crook added his second Big-12 Defensive Player of the Week honor for the WVU game. He was tied for first among Big 12 players with six defensive “stops” for the weekend, good for ninth among all FBS players. Crook recorded the Big 12’s third-highest tackling grade for the week (84.4) - good for No. 33 in the FBS and 12th among linebackers - and was not credited with a missed tackle. He was one of just 19 FBS players credited by PFF with 10+ tackles and no missed tackles. Crook was credited with 14 tackles, the most by a Sun Devil since Kyle Soelle also had 14 at Stanford on October 22, 2022.
- Despite there only ever being two linebackers on the field at a given time, ASU’s 59 tackles on pass plays this season are 17th among linebacker groups nationally.
- When the linebackers have been targeted in coverage, ASU has allowed just a
67.3 completion percentage - the third-lowest of any linebacker group in the FBS. - The team is one of just 29 in the FBS were linebackers are responsible for three or more of a teams interceptions.
Getting Defensive:
- The Sun Devils are giving up just 339.5 yards per game this season, good for 42nd in the FBS. ASU allowed just 339.6 yards per game last season, good for 38th nationally after ranking 89th a in 2023 (396.8).
- ASU’s yardage tally is especially notable as the team has faced four teams currently ranked in the FBS’s Top-20 in total offense yards per game (Texas Tech, Texas State, Utah, Baylor).
- ASU has avoided letting teams get going when pinned deep as opponents are
scoring just .35 points per drive on drives starting inside their own 20-yard line
against ASU, the ninth-lowest total nationally. - ASU’s -0.107 EPA per play this season ranks 25th in the FBS. Last year, ASU’s
defense ranked 21st in overall defensive EPA at -0.070. The team’s +0.160 net
EPA between offense and defense was 12th nationally. - Only 76.9 percent (30 of 39) of opponent non-garbage time drives that have
reached the ASU red zone this season have resulted in points for the opponent -
the 17th-lowest tally in the FBS. Team’s have scored a touchdown or recorded a
field goal just 83.3 percent of the time when reaching ASU’s red zone - the ninth
lowest total in the FBS. - Opponents have had a field goal attempt or scored a touchdown just 73.6 percent of the time when reaching the ASU 40-yard line - the 12th lowest total in the FBS.
- ASU is currently allowing opponents to pick up just 43.1 percent of the yards
available to them, good for 34th nationally. The team allowed offenses to pick up just 45.2 of their available yards last season, the 48th-lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country in 2023 in allowing 56.3 percent of available yards. - Opponents are picking up just 61.1 percent of their available yards up to their
own 40-yard line this season - the 28th-lowest total in the country - and just 53.6 percent of the yards to the ASU 40, which is also 28th. Last season, ASU was much improved in keeping opponents from getting across the 50, allowing other teams to pick up just 67.6 percent of their available yards up to their own 40-yard line - the 62nd-lowest total in the FBS while also allowing only 58.5 percent of opponent yards up to the ASU 40 - 51st nationally. ASU ranked 121st and 126 in those categories in 2023. - Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 55 occasions over 92 games (59.7 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017. The team has accomplished the feat 26 times in 36 games under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
- ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 63 of 92 games since 2018 (68.5 percent). This is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17. ASU has accomplished this 28 times in 36 games under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward.
- ASU has held its eight of its nine 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, TCU 24/41.7, TTU 22/47.5, Houston 24/29.4, Iowa State (19/29.0, WVU 23/23.4, CU 17/22.0) 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).
- The Sun Devils have faced four teams that entered the contest averaging over 500.0 yards of total offense per game and held those teams to an average of 301.25 yards (Texas State/Baylor/TCU/Texas Tech).
GOLD RUSH
- ASU enters the weekend ranked 24th in the country in averaging 197.0 rushing
yards per game. The Sun Devils ranked 20th in the FBS in averaging 199.9 rushing yards per game last year. - ASU is the only team in the country that has had two different players rush for over 200 yards in a game this year.
- The team has rushed for 200 or more yards 15 times under Kenny Dillingham,
compiling a 12-3 record when it does. - ASU is posting a first down or touchdown when it rushes the ball 29.0 percent of the time this year, good for the Top-50 nationally. ASU averaged a rushing first down or touchdown 31.0 percent of the time in 2024, good for 23rd nationally.
- The team ranks 23rd this season in averaging 3.5 yards after contact per rush. The running backs were especially efficient in punishing opponents last year as well, earning 3.6 yards after contact per rush - 21st in the FBS.
- The Sun Devils have forced 105 missed tackles on running plays this year, good for 14th 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 95.1 from PFF since the start of 2023, good for 13th-best nationally.
- The team’s 0.30 missed tackles forced per rush since 2023 are second in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.3 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 24th in the FBS. The team’s 30.6 first down/touchdown percentage since 2023 is 26th in the FBS.
- ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 27 of the team’s 37 games under Kenny
Dillingham. - The Sun Devils have produced a 1,000-yard rusher 11 times in the last 15
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. - ASU’s 355 rushing yards at Colorado were its eighth-most in a single game since 1996 and fourth-most in a road game. At the time, was the 11th-most by an FBS team this season on the road. The Sun Devils recorded 205 total yards of offense in the fourth quarter of the game - ALL OF WHICH came by way of the run (on 17 rushes). ASU ran the ball on its final 19 plays of the game. It was the first time three different running backs rushed for a touchdown in a single game since the 70-7 Arizona victory in 2020 (Rachaad White, Daniyel Ngata, Jackson He).
BUT ALSO NO RUSH - ASU ranks 29th nationally in allowing just 119.3 rush yards per game this season.
- The Sun Devils held opponents to just 112.9 rushing yards per game last year, the 21st-best total in the country and tops in the Big 12. That came despite ASU playing four of the Top-15 teams in the nation last season in rushing offense (5. UCF/11. Kansas State/13. Kansas./15. Texas State). No other team in the Top-30 faced more than two such opponents in the regular season. ASU was 36th in the FBS in allowing just 133.5 rush yards per game to opponents in 2023.
- ASU has now held opponents to 140 or fewer yards in 26 of 37 games (70.3
percent) in the Kenny Dillingham era. - The Sun Devils have held opponents under 100 rushing yards 17 times in the
37 games in the Dillingham/Ward era. Between the 2018-22 seasons, it had
happened just 13 total times in 55 games. - ASU has held seven of its last 14 opponents dating back to last season under 100 rushing yards.
A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR - The Sun Devils have 13 takeaways this season (7 interceptions, 6 fumble
recoveries). - 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. - Arizona State is one of just five FBS teams this season with nine or fewer points allowed off offensive turnovers.
- Colorado managed just three points off four ASU turnovers and the Sun Devils won their first game when turning the ball over four times since defeating Oregon State, 35-20, on Oct. 1, 2011. It was the first time winning a ROAD game with four-plus turnovers since Oct. 10, 2009 at Washington State.
- Arizona State has allowed just 30 total points off of its 22 turnovers over the
last two seasons and outscored opponents off turnovers 43-9 this season and
77-21 last season. Opponents have scored on just 15.4 percent (2-of-13) of ASU’s offensive turnovers this year. - Opponents have scored on just 6-of-21 drives after an OFFENSIVE turnover
against the Sun Devils in the last two seasons, a 28.6 conversion percentage that is fourth-lowest in the FBS. - The Sun Devils have not committed multiple turnovers in 29 different games under coach Kenny Dillingham, tied for 10th-most in the FBS since 2023.» When trailing in the fourth quarter of games over the last two seasons, ASU has
turned the ball over just once in its comeback attempts - on the final drive at
Mississippi State this season - which is tied for the fourth-lowest total in the FBS. - 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.
SWEET BABY JESUS
- Sun Devil Football kicker Jesus Gomez has already surpassed ASU’s total
field goals kicked for the entire SEASON a year ago with his 21 made kicks this
season - the sixth-most in the FBS. ASU made 11 field goals in the entirety of last season. - Gomez became just the eighth Sun Devil since 1996 to record 20+ field goals in a season. His currently mark of 21 is 10th in single season program history.
- His 91 points this season are 21st among FBS kickers this season.
- Gomez is third among active FBS players with 67 field goals made in his career and eighth in total points scored with 324.
- He was the first kicker in the FBS this season to make four field goals against a Top-25 or Top-10 team (vs. #7 Texas Tech) and one of just two players in the FBS to have two games with four or more field goals this season.
- Gomez became just the fifth FBS player since 2015 to make game-winning field goals in the final two minutes of regulation in back-to-back games and the first Big 12 player since Oklahoma State’s Ben Grogan in 2015 with his fields goals at Baylor and vs. TCU. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Kent State’s Matthew Tricket in Nov. of 2023.
- Jesus Gomez has kicked a game-winning field goal in the final three minutes
of regulation in three victories this season. He is tied with Ethan Sanchez of
Houston (coincidentally this season as well) for the most such game-winners in
the final three minutes of regulation/OT in Big 12 history. - 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’s four field goals were the
most by a Sun Devil since Carter Brown had four against NAU on Sept. 1, 2022. It was his seventh career game in which he has made three of more field goals. - Gomez’s game-winner was ASU’s first walk-off field goal since Sept. 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.
- He is one of only nine kickers to make four field goals in a game this season, which are tied for the third-most in a contest in the FBS this year.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN
- ASU has controlled the ball for over 32 minutes in 18 of 37 games (48.6 percent) under Kenny Dillingham. It had reached the 32-minute mark just 17 times in 55 games from 2018-22 (30.9 percent)
- The Sun Devils are 16-6 under Dillingham when leading in time of possession
compared to a 6-9 mark when they don’t.
KENNY THE GIANT SLAYER
- Kenny Dillingham won his sixth game against an AP Top-25 team in the last two seasons and moved to 6-6 in his career in such games with the victory over #7 Texas Tech.
- He is the only active coach in the Big 12 with at least a .500 record against ranked opponents.
- The Sun Devils have won six-straight games over Big 12 teams ranked in the
Top-25 (2-0 this season), which is tied for the sixth-longest streak in Big 12
history. - ASU’s 6-1 record against Top-25 teams since the start of last year is tied for the second best in the FBS with Alabama behind only Ohio State (8-1).
MOUNTAIN AMERICA STADIUM, HOME OF THE ASU SUN DEVILS
- Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics have announced a multi-year
naming rights partnership in 2023 with Mountain America Credit Union to form
one of the most dynamic naming rights deals in college athletics. - The 15-year partnership with Sun Devil Athletics – the most important deal in
athletics department history - includes ASU’s football stadium, which will now be called Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils. - Both Mountain America and ASU are committed to giving back to the
community, and this partnership will provide support to the community and
student-athletes in a variety of ways: Football Field Goals: Mountain America
will donate $250 to the Sun Devil Club for every field goal made to enhance
ASU’s student-athlete experience, Shoe Donation Program: ASU and Mountain
America will develop a shoe donation program, providing brand-new shoes
to community members in need, Scholarships: Each year, Mountain America
will provide $20,000 to ASU student-athletes, with $10,000 going to women’s
sports and $10,000 to men’s sports, Financial Education Programs: Mountain
America will offer special student-athlete financial education programs,
including personal coaching sessions, Internship Program: Mountain America
will also provide an internship program for student-athletes to help students
develop the skills and experience needed for future endeavors.
SMART DEVILS
ASU will compete with 16 young men this season that have already earned their
undergraduate degrees:
• Xavion Alford, BA Liberal Studies, 2024
• Coben Bourguet, BSE Engineering Management, 2024
• Ben Coleman, MA Communication, 2024
• Anthonie Cooper, BA Interdisciplinary Studies (Communication/Nutrition and
Healthy Living), 2022
• Prince Dorbah, BS Communication, 2024
• Adama Fall, BA Liberal Studies, 2024
• Zyrus Fiaseu, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Cameron Harpole, BA Communication, 2025
• Max Iheanachor, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Chamon Metayer, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Elijah O’Neal, BA Liberal Studies, 2024
• Kyle Scott, BS Psychology, 2025
• Ian Shewell, BS Clinical Exercise Science, 2025
• Jeff Sims, BA Liberal Studies, Graduated SP24 (Nebraska)
• Clayton Smith, BA Liberal Studies, 2025
• Justin Wodtly, BA Liberal Studies, 2025