PROVO — Sun Devil Football travels to face #8 BYU on Saturday, Oct. 31 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. Arizona time on FOX. Arizona State is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 after defeating Kansas State 28-17. BYU is 6-1 and 3-1 following a 39-31 double-overtime loss at UCF.
The Cougars
- Arizona State leads the all-time series against BYU 21-8 after a 28-23 victory in Tempe on Nov. 23, 2024. This will be ASU’s first visit to Provo since a 27-17 loss on Sept. 18, 2021.
- BYU is #8 in the Oct. 25 AP poll and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll. The Cougars opened 6-0, including a 28-24 home win over then-#2 Notre Dame, before their first defeat at UCF. BYU has won all four home games this season.
- Bear Bachmeier has completed 116-of-184 passes (63.0 percent) for 1,514 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 321 yards and seven touchdowns. Legend Glasker leads BYU with 28 catches for 498 yards and four touchdowns; Kyler Kasper has 26 catches for 373 yards and four scores.
- The Cougars average 33.1 points and 414.3 total yards per game, including 193.7 rushing and 220.6 passing. BYU converts 54.7 percent of its third downs (47-of-86). LJ Martin has 344 rushing yards and three touchdowns in four appearances.
- BYU allows 18.6 points and 301.6 yards per game. Its rushing defense is 17th
nationally at 98.1 yards per game, and its total defense is 23rd. Opponents complete 60.1 percent of their passes and average 203.4 passing yards. The Cougars have six interceptions and a +2 turnover margin.
Ranked team notables
- The Sun Devils had a six-game winning streak against AP-ranked Big 12 teams ended with the program’s road loss at Texas Tech two weekends ago. That was the sixth-longest streak in Big 12 Football history.
- A win would bring head coach Kenny Dillingham back to 7-8 in games against AP-ranked opponents in his career.
- The Sun Devils had won six-straight regular season games against AP-ranked teams entering the season before dropping their Week 2 contest at #10 Texas A&M.
- Saturday marks the third Top-10 opponent for the Sun Devils this season - all coming on the road.
- ASU’s last win over a Top-10 team came against Texas Tech at home last season, which was ranked No. 7 overall at the time. The Sun Devils are, however, seeking their first Top-10 win ON THE ROAD since defeating #7 UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Oct. 3, 2015.
Over the air
- Saturday’s game at BYU airs nationally on FOX at 12:30 p.m. Arizona time (1:30 p.m. Mountain; 3:30 p.m. Eastern). The broadcast crew had not been announced in the verified sources as of Oct. 25.
- The Sun Devil Radio Network broadcast will air on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
- Long-time Voice of the Sun Devils Tim Healey will provide the action alongside Rose Bowl-winning former quarterback-now-analyst Jeff van Raaphorst, with Kevin Turner providing insights from the sidelines. Turner joins Jeff Munn and recently graduated Sun Devil lineman Ben Coleman on the pre-game show, with Munn and Coleman hosting the halftime and postgame shows as well.
An ASU victory would …
- Improve ASU to 22-8 in its all-time series against BYU and give the Sun Devils consecutive victories over the Cougars following the 28-23 win in 2024. Improve Arizona State to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play.
- Give ASU its first true road victory of the 2026 season.
- Improve ASU to 7-8 in games against AP-ranked foes under head coach
Kenny Dillingham. - Be ASU’s first win over an AP Top-10 opponent on the road since defeating #7 UCLA on October 3, 2015.
- Give the Sun Devils back-to-back wins since winning three-straight against Iowa State, West Virginia and Colorado last season.
- End BYU’s eight-game winning streak on games played on Halloween. The Sun Devils are 7-6 all-time on Halloween, with the last coming in a 55-21 victory over Washington State in 2013.
- Hand BYU consecutive losses for the first time since losing to Kansas and Arizona State in consecutive weeks late in 2024.
- Snap BYU’s 11-game home winning streak dating back to that Kansas loss in 2024.
Sparky the Sun Devil gets the crowd excited for action ahead of Arizona State's season-opening game against Morgan State on Sept. 3, 2026.
Schedule odds and ends (mostly odds)
- Arizona State’s road schedule features two teams that participated in the College Football Playoff this past season (Texas A&M and Texas Tech) and one that was among the first two teams left out of the CFP (BYU).
- With two road games and a bye following the Morgan State tilt, 2026 marks the first time since the 1991 season that ASU will play just a single home game before the month of October (ignoring the unique circumstances of the COVID-altered 2020 season in which ASU didn’t have a home opener until December). The 1982 season was the last time it occurred before it became more commonplace, pre-1975, when the season typically did not start until the second or third week of September.
- ASU played the inaugural Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium on Sept. 19, in the first college football game played on British soil and defeated Kansas 24-17.
- All told, Sun Devil Football will post over 17,000 round-trip miles over the course of the coming season. For perspective, ASU logged about 9,000 air miles during the 2025 campaign.
- In fact, ASU will be making two of its longest road trips of all time this season alone. The approximate 5,200 miles between Phoenix and London represents the second-longest trip in history, behind only the 1990 Coca-Cola Classic in Tokyo. The Sun Devils have played seven games all told in Honolulu, Hawai’i (four regular-season games at Hawai’i and three appearances in the Aloha/Hawai’i Bowl, ~2,900 miles). Arizona State took on Miami (FL) in a road tilt in 1997 (~1970 miles), and then ASU’s contest at UCF this season (~1,850 miles) is next on the list.
- ASU will be playing games in Orlando and College Station for the first time in program history. ASU previously played Texas A&M in a neutral-site game in Houston in 2015, and both contests in program history against UCF have taken place in Tempe.
- The Sun Devils will play games on nine consecutive weekends following their Bye Weekend on Sept. 26. That will be the most since ASU closed out 11 straight weekends in the 2009 season. The 2003 season started with 11 consecutive weekends of action prior to a bye week ahead of the Territorial Cup. There were also nine-game stretches in the middle of the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
By the numbers
17K
All told, Sun Devil Football will post over 17,000 round-trip miles over the course of the 2026 season. For perspective, ASU logged only about 9,000 air miles during the 2025 campaign. In fact, ASU will be making two of its longest road trips of all time this season alone. The approximate 5,200 miles between Phoenix and London represents the second-longest trip in history, behind only the 1990 Coca-Cola Classic in Tokyo.
The Sun Devils have played seven games all told in Honolulu, Hawai’i (four regular-season games at Hawai’i and three appearances in the Aloha/Hawai’i Bowl, ~2,900 miles). Arizona State took on Miami (FL) in a road tilt in 1997 (~1970 miles), and then ASU’s contest at UCF this season (~1,850 miles) is next on the list.
ASU left the continental United States to play football for the first time since the 2006 Hawai‘i Bowl when it crossed the Atlantic to historic Wembley Stadium to take part in the first-of-its-kind FBS contest in the inaugural Union Jack Classic on Sept. 19 in London. It was just the second time ASU traveled internationally for a game outside of the 1990 Coca-Cola Classic in Tokyo against Houston. (As of Oct. 19)
39
Removing garbage time, ASU has 39 scoring drives in the final five minutes of either the first or second half over the last two-plus seasons - the 13th-most in the nation in that time. It has a 38.6 score percentage in those final five minutes, good for 49th 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. The Sun Devils have a 30.3 percent (20-of-66) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final five minutes of the first half dating back to the start of 2024 (does not include pick six against UCF in 2024, which makes it 21 total touchdowns) - good for 23rd in the nation, percentage-wise. 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.
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Jalen Thompson’s 30 quarterback pressures this season are tied for second in the Big 12 and 19th in the country. ASU’s team leader for the entire season last year had just 29, for perspective. Thompson has been credited by PFF with a “win” on his pass rush snaps 21.6 percent of the time - leading the Big 12 and eighth in the FBS. Thompson currently has the fifth-best pass rush score in the
Big 12 at 86.9 (min. 100 pass rush snaps) - the 21st-best grade in the country. His overall defensive grade of 81.2 is 24th among FBS edge defenders. Thompson, a veteran from Michigan State, brought over 1,000 defensive snaps with him this season. His 19 plays last year where he was credited with beating his defender but denied an opportunity at a QB pressure last season were tied for the eighth-most in the Big Ten.
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First-half dominance has been a cornerstone of ASU’s success in Kenny Dillingham’s time at Arizona State, as the Sun Devils are 25-4 when leading at halftime (4-0 this season) in his tenure compared to a 1-16 mark when trailing. ASU has allowed just seven touchdown drives in the final five minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 and held opponents to an 11.7 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (7-for-60) (drives that end at any point in the final five minutes of the half) - the 14th-lowest total in the country. Through Oct. 25, ASU has a 185-100 advantage since the start of 2024 in points scored in the “middle eight” of games (points scored in the last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).
8
Reed Harris has 800 yards, 47 catches and eight touchdown receptions through seven games. His 800 yards are an ASU record through seven, ahead of Jaelen Strong’s 744 in 2014 and Shaun McDonald’s 737 in 2002; eight touchdowns are tied for second, behind McDonald’s nine in 2001. Harris has four 100-yard games: Morgan State, Texas A&M, Baylor and Kansas State. Through six games, his 653 yards ranked fourth in ASU history and were the most since Strong’s 689 in 2014; his eight touchdowns tied McDonald’s 2001 and 2002 starts for the school lead. Harris had seven catches for 63 yards and a touchdown at Texas Tech, his fifth game with a TD catch. He had five TDs at Boston College in
2025 and nine total in 29 games there.
1
Jessiah McGrew has allowed just one first down in coverage this season, tied for the lowest total in the FBS. His three receptions allowed are tied for second-lowest among Big 12 safeties and sixth-lowest among ALL FBS safeties while his 21 yards allowed in coverage are second-lowest in the nation. (min. 200 coverage snaps). His 33.3 forced incompletion percentage is fourth among
all FBS safeties and first in the Big 12. Opponents have had just a 42.4 NFL QB rating when targeting McGrew (14th-lowest in FBS) while completing just 33.3 percent of their attempts (third-lowest in FBS). McGrew was the nation’s 27th-highest graded safety in coverage (83.6) at FIU last year and his 19.4 forced incompletion percentage when targeted was 22nd among FBS safeties while his
12.9 percent interception rate was 18th.
10 things
- ASU’s 14.5 percent forced-incompletion rate ranks fourth nationally, and the Sun Devils have 40 passes defended through seven games (15th nationally).
- Jalen Thompson’s 30 quarterback pressures this season are tied for second in the Big 12 and 19th in the country. ASU’s team leader for the entire season last year had just 29, for perspective.
- Opponents have scored a touchdown on 14-of-27 trips into ASU’s red zone (51.85 percent), 35th-lowest nationally. Opponents have scored on 22-of-27 trips overall (81.48 percent).
- Arizona State has 39 scoring drives in the final five minutes of a half in non-garbage time since the start of 2024, which is the 13th-most in the FBS in that time
- Despite blitzing just 55 times this season (fifth-fewest in FBS), the Sun Devils have forced a QB pressure on 33.8 percent of their pass rush snaps, ranking 50th nationally after being 116th last year at 29.0 percent.
- Jessiah McGrew has allowed just 21 yards in coverage for the Sun Devils this year, the second-lowest total among FBS safeties (min. 200 coverage snaps)
- ASU has 1,001 yards after the catch (26th nationally), averages 6.7 YAC per reception (17th) and has 572 receiving yards after contact (third). Reed Harris has 157 after-contact yards (eighth) and Omarion Miller has 143 (15th).
- The Sun Devils have attempted 129 fourth-down conversions under Kenny Dillingham since 2023 - including 19 through seven games in 2026 - the sixth-most in the nation in that time.
- Arizona State remains 11-2 (.846) since 2024 in games decided by seven or fewer points. Its 11 wins ranked tied for second nationally and its winning percentage fourth. (As of Oct. 23)
- Arizona State holds a 185-100 scoring advantage in the middle eight minutes of games since 2024 after Texas Tech scored 10 points in the final four minutes of the first half. Neither team scored in that window against Kansas State.
Linebacker Owen Long recorded a season-high 14 tackles against Baylor.
Opening statement
- Arizona State enters BYU week at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 after defeating Kansas State 28-17 on Oct. 24. Cardae Mack rushed for a career-
high 159 yards and four touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter. Reed Harris caught six passes for 147 yards, his fourth 100-yard game this season. Martell Hughes set a career high with 14 tackles, Owen Long added 10 and Julian Hugo recorded his fourth sack. ASU held K-State to 278 total yards and 84 rushing yards. - The victory helped the Sun Devils avoid losing consecutive regular season
games for the first time since the final two games of the 2023 campaign and
kept the ASU from dropping below .500 in the second half of the season for
the first time since that same ‘23 season. - Mack’s 159 yards and four rushing touchdowns against Kansas State were
both the most allowed by K-State this season. - Harris’ 147 receiving yards were the most allowed by Kansas State to an
individual opponent this season. - The Sun Devils recorded three sacks for 22 yards in the contest - notable as
Kansas State came into the game ranked fifth in the country in fewest sacks
allowed (3) and first nationally in fewest lost yards from sacks (6). - Kansas State came into the game ranked second in the nation converting on
59% (51-of-86) of its third-down attempts. The Sun Devils held the Wildcats’
offense to just 4-of-15 (26.6%) on third downs today. Opponents had had four straight games with 35%+ completion rate against ASU, including a 9-of-15 effort by Baylor in the last Big 12 home game. Kansas State went 0-for-4 on fourth down conversions. Arizona State opponents are now 5-of-15 (33.3%) on fourth down this season. - Kansas State came into the game ranked 16th nationally in total offense,
averaging 464.7 yards per game. The Sun Devils held them to only 278 total yards, their lowest total of the season and lowest since only having 193 against Arizona in the fourth game of last season. - ASU’s 10 tackles for loss were a new season high and the most a Kansas State opponent has had this season (previous high was five by Houston). Through six games, Kansas State opponents had broken up only 11 total passes. ASU broke up nine passes alone in their victory over the Wildcats.
- Kansas State came into the game ranked sixth nationally in rushing offense
with 239.8 yards per game before being held to just 84 total on Saturday. Its
previous low this season was 117 against Houston. The Wildcats had posted
14 consecutive games with over a 100 rushing yards dating back to last season. The game marked only the third time in the last three seasons that K-State had been held under 100 rushing yards. K-State running back Joe Jackson was coming off a 27-carry, 159-yard, one touchdown game in the Wildcats’ win over Kansas last week. He had nine carries for 17 yards against the Sun Devils. The Wildcats were second in rushing yards per carry (6.23) and tied for sixth nationally in runs of 20 or more yards (15) coming into the game. Against the Sun Devils, they averaged only 2.6 yards per rush and had only one rush of 20+ yards. - Kansas State came into the game 4-0 when leading the game heading into
the fourth quarter. Arizona State handed them their first loss in this scenario,
outscoring the Wildcats 14-0 in the final frame.
Reed Harris has 11 receptions for over 20 yards through ASU’s first four games - good for third in the FBS and first in the Big 12.
Reed all about him
- Reed Harris has 800 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 47 catches
through seven games, including 147 yards at Kansas State. Harris’ eight receiving touchdowns already exceed his single-season career high of five at
Boston College in 2025. In fact, he had just nine receiving touchdowns TOTAL
over 29 games with the Eagles. - The 800 receiving yards are the most in ASU school history through seven
games (ahead of Jaelen Strong’s 744 in 2014 and Shaun McDonald’s 737 in 2002). The eight touchdowns are tied for second-most through seven games behind McDonald’s nine in 2001. - Harris ranks 5th nationally and 1st in the Big 12 with 114.3 receiving yards per
game, 5th with 800 receiving yards and tied for 6th with eight touchdown
receptions. He averages 17.02 yards per catch (8th among players with at least 35 catches nationally) and 6.7 receptions per game (tied for 14th nationally). - His 14 catches of at least 20 yards are tied for fifth nationally and first in the
Big 12. He is tied for third in the nation with 21 explosive plays (receptions over 15 yards). Harris’ 89.1 receiving grade is 12th in the nation and first in the Big 12 while he has an 88.6 overall offensive grade that leads the Big 12 wide receivers and is eighth among all FBS receivers and 34th among all FBS players, regardless of position. - His 36 receptions for a first down/touchdown are tied for third in the country,
while his 264 yards after the catch are 23rd in the country. His 157 yards after
contact are eighth nationally.
Return of the Mack
- rue freshman Cardae Mack is just the 17th Power Conference true freshman running back since 2016 to have multiple 150+-yard rushing games in the regular season. That list includes current NFL running backs Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Braelon Allen, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, J.K. Dobbins, Justice Hill and AJ Dillon.
- Mack’s 89.3 rushing grade this season is 10th in the nation (min. 50 attempts). Mack is forcing .38 missed tackles per rush attempt this season, sixth-most in the country (min. 50 attempts).
- Mack is recording a first down or touchdown 38.2 percent of the time he
rushes the ball, also good for sixth nationally. - Mack’s 159 rushing yards in the K-State game were the most by a Sun Devil true freshman back since Keegan Herring had 197 yards against Northwestern on Sept. 17, 2005.
- Mack’s 14-explosive runs (runs over 10 yards) already have him 42nd in the
nation - notable as he has done so on just 55 attempts. The fewest amount of
attempts for a player ranked ahead of Mack in the category is 83. - Mack has 313 rushing yards in his last two home games at Mountain America
Stadium with six rushing touchdowns. Mack has now scored in three consecutive games for the Sun Devils (2 rushing vs. Hawai’i, 1 receiving at
Texas Tech and four rushing vs. K-State).
Cardae Diem
- With his 159-yard, four-touchdown effort against Kansas State, true freshman Cardae Mack became the first ASU running back to score four rushing
touchdowns in a game since Kalen Ballage’s NCAA record-tying seven against Texas Tech on Sept. 10, 2016. - Mack became the first Sun Devil freshman to record four rushing touchdowns since Leon Burton’s had five on Oct. 1, 1955 against San Diego
Navy. - It was the first time a true freshman has accounted for four total Demario
Richard had four total (two rushing, two receiving) in the 2014 Sun Bowl. - He became the first Power Four running back to accomplish the feat since
Florida’s Jadan Baugh on Oct. 19, 2024. - He is just the seventh FBS Power Conference running back in the last decade (since the start of 2016) to reach the four-rushing touchdown milestone, joining Baugh (Florida, 2024), Evan Hull (Northwestern, 2019), Jermar Jefferson (Oregon State, 2x, 2018), AJ Dillon (Boston College, 2016), Damarea Crockett (Missouri, 2016) and Benny Snell, Jr. (Kentucky, 2016). Only four of those other games came against another Power Conference team.
Who's this guy?
- There is no shortage of new faces on the Sun Devil roster in 2026, featuring 30 collegiate transfers from all levels and 18 incoming freshmen - with the 48 combined newcomers making up 44.9% of the team’s current 107-man roster.
- All those new faces put ASU in a vastly different position than it found itself in at the beginning of last season, when the Sun Devils entered the year with 16 players who had started at least six games during the 2024 College Football Playoff run, a total that was tied for the most in the nation.
- The 2026 roster, however, features just three such players — DL C.J. Fite (13), DB Boogie Wilson (10) and OL Wade Helton (7). And of that trio, only Fite started on Opening Day last season, with Wilson and Helton filling in later in the year to replace injured starters.
- The longest active streak of consecutive ASU starts belongs to C.J. Fite with 34, followed by Maki Stewart with 10 and Jalen Klemm and Martell Hughes with eight each.
- Roman Pitre has started all seven games in 2026. Reed Harris, Omarion Miller, Owen Long, Ashton Stamps, Montana Warren, Rodney Bimage Jr., Jalen Thompson and Adrian “Boogie” Wilson each have seven consecutive ASU starts.
- Another example of the fresh look for the 2026 edition of the Sun Devils comes along the offensive line. Last year, the ASU group at that position entered the season with 134 combined starts to its collective credit (12th most in the nation) while the 2024 team had 156 collective starts (fifth-most). The 2026 group entered with just 33 — 14 of them from Luke Baklenko, who did not start a game at Oklahoma last season.
- In fact, the entire Sun Devil roster featured just 118 combined starts coming
into the season - a smidge over one start per player on the team.
Hold on to your butts
- The Sun Devils remain 11-2 (.846) since the start of 2024 in games decided
by seven or fewer points. The 11 wins are tied for second-most nationally behind Arkansas State (13) and Duke (12). - ASU’s winning percentage in that span of .846 ranks fourth among FBS teams with at least five such close games played. ASU’s 10 such victories in a two-year span from 2024-25 were 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. Since Kenny Dillingham took the reins in 2023, 15 of the 25 Sun Devil victories in that time have been by 10 points or less.
- The Big 12 had 30 conference games decided by eight points or fewer last season. ASU was in six of them, and went 5-1. Thirteen games were decided by three points or fewer, and ASU was 3-0 with wins over Baylor and TCU (both 27-24) and West Virginia. 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 last year (Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia). Since the start of the 2024, ASU has scored on 17-of-37 fourth quarter drives while trailing in non-garbage time - a 46.6 rate that is 25th nationally.
- Last season, the Sun Devils scored 51 points while trailing in non-garbage
time in the fourth quarter of games - 15th-most in the FBS - and scored on 9-of-19 fourth quarter drives when trailing, a 47.4 conversion rate that was 35th-best in the FBS. Those nine scoring drives were tied for eighth-most in the FBS. - The Sun Devil defense deserves credit as well for allowing a chance at comebacks, posting a -.083 EPA when trailing in the fourth quarter of non-garbage time of games over the last two-plus seasons that is 33rd-best nationally.
- Opponents are averaging just 4.2 yards per play when ASU is trailing in the fourth quarter in non-garbage time over the last two-plus seasons - the 12th-lowest tally in the FBS.
- Over the last two-plus seasons with ASU trailing in the fourth quarter of non-garbage time, opponents have picked up a first down just 30 times on 131 opportunities - a 22.9 conversion rate that is 18th-lowest in the FBS.
- Only three times over the last two-plus seasons has a team added to its lead when the Sun Devils were within eight points in the fourth quarter - at Texas Tech in 2024, at Arizona last season and at Texas A&M this year. (as of Oct. 23)
Setting the tone
- ASU is 25-4 when leading or tied at halftime under Kenny Dillingham, including 4-0 this season, compared to 1-16 when trailing. ASU is 0-3 when
trailing at halftime in 2026. The Sun Devils led Kansas State 14-10 at the break and outscored the Wildcats 14-0 in the fourth quarter. - Removing garbage time, ASU has 39 scoring drives in the final five minutes
of either the first or second half over the last two-plus seasons - the 13th-most in the nation in that time. It has a 38.6 score percentage in those final five minutes, good for 49th 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. - The Sun Devils have a 30.3 percent (20-of-66) offensive touchdown drive rate in the final five minutes of the first half dating back to the start of 2024 (does not include pick six against UCF in 2024, which makes it 21 total touchdowns) - good for 23rd in the nation, percentage-wise. 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 seven touchdown drives in the final five minutes of the first half dating back to 2024 and held opponents to an 11.5 touchdown drive percentage in that stretch (7-for-61) (drives that end at any point in the final five minutes of the half) - the 14th-lowest total in the country. ASU has a 185-100 advantage since the start of 2024 in points scored in the “middle eight” of games (points scored in the last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).
Keep them in front of you
- ASU has allowed 19 plays of 50 or more yards to opposing offenses in the Dillingham/Ward era, which is the 36th-lowest tally in the country in that
time. - ASU has allowed 31 plays of 50 or more yards since 2018, which is tied for
sixth-lowest nationally. From 2014-17, ASU allowed a nation-leading 55 such plays, 13 more than any other FBS team. - ASU has allowed 18 catches of 50 or more yards since 2018 and 11 in the
Dillingham/Ward era. The 18 catches rank sixth-lowest in the FBS. - ASU has allowed 77 plays of 30 or more yards during the Dillingham/Ward
era. That total is ranked 30th in the nation over that span of time. - Since 2018, ASU has allowed 163 plays over 30 yards in 101 games (1.61 per game), ninth-lowest in the country in that span (excluding Kennesaw State, which joined the FBS later). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays each SEASON, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. (As of Oct. 23).
Rodney Bimage (pictured) and Ashton Stamps rank eighth and 12th among Big 12 corners with a completion percentage allowed when targeted of 44.4 and 47.4 percent, respectively.
No-fly zone
- Arizona State is allowing just 213.1 passing yards per game through seven
games. Opponents have completed 141-of-244 passes (57.8 percent) for 1,492 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions against the Sun Devils. - ASU’s 57.8 percent completion rate allowed through seven games is tied for the 30th-lowest rate in the country this season. The Sun Devils have 40 passes defended through seven games (37 pass breakups and three interceptions), including nine breakups at Kansas State - the team’s second nine breakup game of the year. ASU ranks 15th in the nation in the category this season. The team’s 14.5 percent forced-incompletion rate ranks fourth in the FBS, The defensive backs on the team have a 7.8 percent havoc rating, good for 20th among DB groups in the FBS.
- ASU ranked 13th in the FBS with 74 passes defended last year (66 PBUs,
9 INT). The Sun Devils were 16th in the nation with 69 passes defended in 2024 and 14th with 16 interceptions. - The Sun Devils are a Top-50 team in the country this season in pressure
percentage despite having a 2.60 time-to-pressure tally that is the 20th lowest in the country - a credit to the work of the secondary down the field. - The Sun Devils are accomplishing the feat despite having four new starters
in the secondary this season - including having to overcome the departures
of NFL Draft selection Keith Abney and transfer Javan Robinson — a duo that had started 26 consecutive games together at corner for ASU up until the Sun Bowl to conclude last year. - Montana Warren and Ashton Stamps rank fifth and 11th among Big 12 corners with a completion percentage allowed when targeted of 55.6 and 58.5 percent , respectively (min. 200 coverage snaps). Rodney Bimage was perhaps the hottest player in the Sun Devil lineup prior to his season-ending concussion sustained in the West Virginia victory last season. Among FBS corners with at least 100 snaps played in coverage, his 4.4 yards allowed per reception were third-lowest in the country. Only 35.7 percent of opponents passes in Bimage’s direction resulted in a reception (on 107 snaps) - the 13th-lowest tally nationally. He allowed just .21 yards per coverage snap last season, the third-lowest total among FBS corners with at least 100 coverage snaps, while tying for second with his 1.6 yards allowed per coverage target. His 7.1 1D/TD percentage when targeted was tied for the lowest allowed in the FBS.
- While Stamps saw limited game action last season, he was a lockdown corner when it mattered most in 2024 while at LSU and did not allow a single
touchdown while in man coverage on the season and posting a 72.0 grade in man defense - where ASU loves to stick its corners - that was 25th-best among the 150+ corners with at least 100 man coverage snaps for the season. - Jessiah McGrew has established himself as a force in the backend of ASU’s secondary and quietly put up quality numbers despite not starting a game until the fifth game of the season, leading ASU’s safeties with 201 coverage snaps. His three receptions allowed are tied for second-lowest among Big 12 safeties and sixth-lowest among ALL FBS safeties while his 21 yards allowed in coverage are second-lowest in the nation. (min 200 coverage snaps).
- McGrew has allowed just one first down in coverage this season, tied for
lowest total in the FBS. His 33.3 forced incompletion percentage is fourth among all FBS safeties and leads the Big 12. - Opponents have had just a 42.4 NFL QB rating when targeting McGrew
(14th-lowest in FBS) while completing just 33.3 percent of their attempts (third-lowest in FBS). McGrew was the nation’s 27th-highest graded safety in coverage (83.6) at FIU last year and his 19.4 forced incompletion percentage when targeted was 22nd among FBS safeties while his 12.9 percent interception rate was 18th. Boogie Wilson has been targeted just 11 times this season - fourth-lowest in the conference among safeties as are his eight catches allowed. His 92 yards allowed in coverage on the year are sixth-lowest among Big 12 safeties. - Wilson was the only returning Sun Devil defender outside C.J. Fite to start at least 10 games last season, where he was fourth among all Big 12 secondary with just 10 receptions allowed (min. 250 coverage snaps) in the regular season. Opponents threw Wilson’s way just 18 times, the third-lowest total among Big 12 secondary players in the regular season.
Bring the heat
- The Sun Devils have forced a QB pressure on 33.8 percent of their defensive snaps, ranking 50th in the FBS after finishing 116th in the nation in the category last year (29.0).
- ASU has done so while blitzing just 55 total times, tied for the fifth-fewest
of any FBS team in the nation this season. The Sun Devils were 23rd in the FBS with 34 sacks last season and 19th with 86 tackles for loss. The sack total was especially notable as the team had just 24 TOTAL sacks during the 2024 season. - Last year’s results in the categories were a marked change in trend from
the previous couple seasons, where ASU finished in the lower half of the country in both categories (73rd and 70th in sacks in 2024 and 2023, 83rd
and 96th in TFLs). - ASU had that success despite blitzing just 20.4 percent of the time, the third-LOWEST total in the country. The team brought four or fewer pass rushers 446 times in 2025 - the seventh-MOST in the country.
- Arizona State’s 28 sacks with four or fewer pass rushers were the ninth-
most in the FBS in 2025.
C.J. Fite's 72.6 grade on run defense in 2025 was 15th among defensive interior players with at least 250 run-defense snaps that season.
In the trenches
- C.J. Fite has played in 45 games in his Sun Devil career and started 38, including 34 in a row. He has 91 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Through seven games this season he has 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
- Last season, his 72.6 grade on run defense was 15th among defensive interior players with at least 250 run defense snaps on the season.
- His 1,769 career snaps are the third-most among active interior linemen in
the FBS over the last three-plus seasons. Ironically, that’s also third-most in the Big 12 as he is ranked behind Texas Tech’s A.J. Holmes Jr. (1,995) and Colorado’s Santana Hooper (1,831). - Among active interior linemen with at least 500 run defensive snaps, his 76.8 run defense grade is 10th in the FBS. His 20 tackles for loss or no gain on run plays are fourth-most among active interior linemen, and his 1.06 average depth of tackle is the sixth-closest to the line of scrimmage.
- Fite’s 0.43 average depth of tackle this season is fourth-best in the Big 12
and 24th-best in the FBS among interior linemen. Fite’s three QB hits as a pass rusher this year are third among Big 12 interior linemen. - Jalen Thompson currently has the fifth-best pass rush score in the Big 12
at 86.9 (min. 100 pass rush snaps) - the 21st-best grade in the country. His
overall defensive grade of 81.2 is 24th among FBS edge defenders. - Thompson’s 30 quarterback pressures this season are tied for second in the Big 12 and 19th in the country. ASU’s team leader for the entire season last year had just 29, for perspective. Thompson has been credited by PFF with a “win” on his pass rush snaps 21.6 percent of the time - leading the Big 12 and eighth in the FBS.
- Thompson, a veteran from Michigan State, brought over 1,000 defensive snaps with him this season. His 19 plays last year, where he was credited with beating his defender but denied an opportunity at a QB pressure last season, were tied for the eighth-most in the Big Ten.
- Freshman Julian Hugo continued his young tear as he recorded a sack for
the third consecutive game and now has a team-leading 4.0 for 37 yards on the season - especially notable as he has just six total tackles. The last time a Sun Devil true freshman defensive player had sacks in three consecutive games was Terrell Suggs in ASU’s final three regular season games of the 2000 season. Dexter Davis as a redshirt freshman had a sack in ASU’s final three games of 2006.
Middle of the lineup
- Owen Long leads the Sun Devils with 64 tackles through seven games, 10 more than any other player on the roster. He had 10 tackles against Kansas State, his fourth double-digit effort this season.
- Long averages 9.14 tackles per game through seven games, ranking 18th
nationally and 3rd in the Big 12. - His 8.3 percent run-stop rate ranks eighth among Big 12 linebackers with at least 130 run-defense snaps. His 15 stops on run defense are seventh in the league
- Among Big 12 linebackers with at least 15 pass rush snaps, Long’s 81.7 grade is fifth best in the league. Long was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and the Bronko Nagurski National Defender of the Week for his effort against Kansas, where he recorded 12 tackles, an interception, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered. He added a second Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honor following his effort against Hawai’i.
- Long was the FBS leader in tackles per game and total tackles in 2025 at Colorado State (12.6 tackles per game/151 tackles) - the next closest player averaged 11.8 per game with 142 tackles. (As of Oct. 23)
- A Third-Team All-American by the AP, Long recorded 33 “stops” on run defense as a sophomore, good for 30th among FBS linebackers.
- Martell Hughes is second on the team with 54 tackles through seven games and leads ASU with 7.0 tackles for loss. He set a career high with 14 tackles at Kansas State, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and averages 7.71 tackles per game (64th nationally, tied).
- Hughes has recorded nine tackles for loss or no gain this season, a total that
leads the Big 12 linebackers and is 18th among all FBS linebackers - Hughes’ 11.5 run stop percentage (19 “stops” on 165 run plays) is third among Big 12 linebackers this season (min. 130 run defense plays). The 18 stops are third in the league among linebackers and 35th in the nation.
- Long and Hughes have combined for 118 of ASU’s 444 total tackles through seven games (26.6 percent), despite ASU’s defensive scheme featuring only two linebackers at a time.
- Long and Hughes each have 22 defensive stops between them, tied for the seventh most in the Big 12.
- The Sun Devils found themselves in a position where they had to replace nearly 23 percent of their tackles from a season ago with the departure of linebackers Jordan Crook (101) and Keyshaun Elliott (98).
- Elliott was a fifth-round selection by the Bears this offseason while Crook joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL where he has 42 tackles this season. The duo started every regular season game at linebacker last year and 20 games between them in 2024, leaving a massive hole to fill in ASU’s base nickel formation that only ever features two linebackers on the field at a given time. (as of Oct. 3).
Where's the beef?
- Despite having six different offensive starting line combinations this season, the Sun Devil group has been among the more disciplined in the country from a penalty perspective having been charged with just one accepted holding penalty on the year (Champ Westbrooks against TTU) - tied for the second-lowest tally in the country (Ohio, 0).
- Additionally, the linemen themselves have been charged with just one false start penalty this season and that came in the first game of the year (Champ Westbrooks). The one false start charged against an offensive line is tied for the fourth-lowest total in the country.
- Maki Stewart is fresh off one of the most promising freshman lineman campaigns in recent Sun Devil memory and hasn’t had any massive sophomore slump as he ranks 39th among ALL FBS linemen with his 83.3 pass blocking grade this year - 13th among all FBS guards and second among Big 12 guards.
- Stewart has been credited with just four quarterback pressures allowed this season, tied for the 38th-lowest total among all FBS players and 18th among guards. (min. 200 pass block snaps)
- Stewart made four starts on the interior line over the second half of last
season and recorded the sixth-best run-blocking grade among Big 12 interior lineman with a score of 74.2 (min. 200 total snaps) - That was the third-highest grade among ALL freshmen (true or redshirt)
interior linemen in the FBS for the season (min. 200 snaps). His 72.0 overall offensive grade was fifth among freshmen interior lineman for the season. - For two consecutive seasons, the Sun Devil offensive line had been one of the most experienced in the nation entering the season - a note that will change as it entered the 2026 campaign with a combined 33 career starts among the position group, 14 of which came from Luke Baklenko, who didn’t start a single game at Oklahoma last season.
- To put that into perspective, ASU entered the 2025 season with 134 starts to its collective credit across the FBS/FCS levels, good for the 12th-highest total in the nation coming into the year. Last year, the group entered the 2024 season with a combined 156 career starts spread amongst them, the fifth-highest tally in the country.
- What the team may lack in experience, however, it more than makes up for in size, as the 2026 version of the road grades might be the most robust in program history. Taking all the offensive linemen into account, the group has an average height just a tick under 6-5 and an average weight of 317 pounds. For perspective, ASU’s 2024 Big 12 Champion roster had an average height of just under 6-4 and an average weight of 309 pounds.
- Beef in the trenches is the cornerstone of any program hoping to be a contender. Just take a look at last year’s final Top-10 teams in the AP polls, which checked in with a combined OL height/weight average of 6-5 and 312 pounds.
- While the sample size is smaller, freshman Filiva’a “Suka” Lokotui has posted the Big 12’s fifth-highest pass block grade among tackles with at least 50 snaps this season at 82.7. That is the highest grade among all FBS true freshman with at least 50 pass block snaps this season.
- Wade Helton is the only returning offensive player for the Sun Devils to start at least six games a year ago as a redshirt freshman. Helton’s 422 snaps at center were the eighth-most among centers designated as true or redshirt freshman in the FBS last season and second among Power Four freshmen.
- ASU was one of just 19 schools in the FBS that had two freshmen linemen (true or redshirt) play 200 or more snaps last season.
- Overall, in 2025, ASU had a team pass-blocking grade of 74.8 according to PFF, good for 27th in the FBS despite running out seven different starting combinations of that offensive line last season. ASU’s offensive linemen received an 82.0 pass-blocking grade from PFF as a group in 2024, the 23rd-best tally nationally.
- The Sun Devils allowed just two sacks in their last five contests last season, which was tied for the second-lowest total from Week 10 onwards. ASU had allowed 24 sacks in the first eight games of the season (3.0 per game) before allowing 0.40 per game over the final five games.
- As a team, ASU was 40th in the country in allowing only 1.50 sacks per game in 2024 after ranking 96th in 2023 with 2.50 allowed per game.
- The team gave its quarterbacks 3.26 seconds to throw per play last year, 38th-most nationally. ASU’s quarterbacks had an average time to throw of 3.51 seconds in 2024, which was good for 14th-best in the FBS after ranking 128th in the country in 2023 at 2.48 seconds.
Getting defensive
- The Sun Devils allowed 342.3 yards per game in the regular season last year, ranking 42nd, and 339.6 in 2024, ranking 38th.
- ASU’s yardage tally last year was especially notable as the team faced five
teams ranked in the FBS’s Top-25 in total offense yards per game (Texas Tech, Texas State, Utah, Baylor, TCU) in the regular season. - ASU allowed an average of just 5.13 yards per play last season, good for 36th in the country. Opponents averaged just 5.23 yards per play in 2024- 40th-lowest in the country after being 93rd at 5.95 in 2023. Only 22.2 percent of opponent plays have gained 7 or more yards, the 23rd-lowest tally in the country after ranking 105th in 2023 at 35.1 percent.
- ASU’s -0.105 defensive EPA per play in the regular season last year ranked
26th in the FBS. In 2024, ASU’s defense ranked 21st in overall defensive EPA at -0.070. - Only 74.5 percent (38-of-51) of opponent non-garbage time drives that reached the ASU red zone last season resulted in points for the opponent - the 11th-lowest tally in the FBS. Teams scored a touchdown or recorded a field goal attempt just 83.0 percent of the time when reaching ASU’s red zone in the season - the ninth-lowest total in the FBS. Teams are managing a touchdown when reaching ASU’s red zone just 51.85 percent of the time (14-of-27), 35th-lowest in the country with ASU’s allowing a score on red zone drives just 81.48 percent of the time (55th nationally). The Sun Devils ranked 15th in the FBS in that category a season ago with a 75.0 rate allowed, showing a vast improvement over the 84.62 rate in 2024 that was 81st in the country.
- Opponents are only managing a touchdown or field goal attempt 80.0 percent of the time when reaching ASU’s 40-yard line this season - the 42nd-lowest mark in the country. Last year, opponents had a field goal attempt or scored a touchdown just 75.7 percent of the time when reaching the ASU 40-yard line - the 21st-lowest total in the FBS.
- Last season, ASU allowed opponents to pick up just 45.6 percent of the yards available to them, good for 47th nationally. The team allowed offenses to pick up just 45.2 of their available yards in 2024, the 48th- lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country in 2023 in allowing 56.3 percent of available yards.
- Opponents picked up just 65.4 percent of their available yards up to their
own 40-yard line last season - the 42nd-lowest total in the country - and just 57.3 percent of the yards to the ASU 40, which was 36th. In 2024, 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. For perspective on this improvement the last two seasons, ASU ranked 121st and 126 in those categories in 2023. - Arizona State has held opponents to 400 or fewer yards of total offense 31 times in 46 games (67.4 percent) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. Since 2018, ASU has done so on 60 occasions in 101 games (59.4 percent). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-17.
- Baylor’s 564 total yards on Oct. 3 ended ASU’s regular-season streak without allowing 450 yards that began at the start of 2024. Entering the contest, ASU was one of only three teams in the nation with such a claim
(Indiana and Toledo). - ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less 35 times in 46 games (76.1
percent) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. ASU held opponents under the 30-point mark in 69 of 101 games since 2018 (68.3 percent). This is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17. Last year, the Sun Devils 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 per game (Texas State/Baylor/TCU/Texas Tech).
Grayson Rigdon and Reed Harris (pictured) had two touchdowns vs. Morgan State, and it was the first time two different Sun Devil receivers recorded two or more receiving touchdowns since Chris Coyle and Rashad Ross against Washington State (two each) in 2012.
Golden receivers
- Omarion Miller’s 143 yards after contact are 15th in the FBS on receiving plays while Reed Harris’ 157 yards after contact are eighth. The Sun Devils are third in the nation as a team with 572 yards after contact this season on receiving plays.
- The Sun Devils also have 1,001 yards after the catch as a team this season
- 26th-most in the country with a 6.7 YAC per catch mark that is 17th. The Sun Devils had three 100-yard receivers in the opener: Reed Harris (137), Grayson Rigdon (110) and Omarion Miller (102) — a feat that had not been achieved at Arizona State since at least 1996. - Rigdon and Harris had two touchdowns and it was the first time two different Sun Devil receivers recorded two or more receiving touchdowns since Chris Coyle and Rashad Ross against Washington State (two each) in 2012. ASU was the only team in the country in Week One to have two players achieve that feat. For perspective, that only occurred on 14 different occasions in all of the FBS last season.
- Arizona State’s transfer group featured the No. 2 (Harris) and No. 4 (Miller) wideout transfers in the nation, according to 247Sports.
- Harris started all 12 games at wide receiver in 2025, totaling 39 catches for 673 yards and five touchdowns - career highs in each category. His 17.26 yards per reception for the year were 30th in the FBS and third in the ACC.
- Miller earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2025 and played in 11 games that season, starting 8. He finished the season leading Colorado in all three receiving stats with 45 receptions for 808 yards and eight touchdowns.
- Miller had either 100 yards receiving or a receiving touchdown in each of the last four games of the season. His 17.9 yards per reception were tops in the Big 12 and 18th in the FBS, and his 11 catches on contested targets were fourth in the Big 12 and 30th in the FBS.
Gold rush
- ASU ranked 27th in the country in averaging 193.62 rushing yards per game last season after ranking 20th in the FBS in averaging 199.9 rushing yards per game in 2024. The team is looking to get back to that pace this season, averaging 144.1 yards per game through seven games.
- The team has rushed for over 200 yards on 18 occasions under Kenny
Dillingham, going 14-4 in those games. - ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 34 of the team’s 46 games under Kenny Dillingham. ASU was the only team in the country that had two different players rush for over 200 yards in a game last year.
- Four different Sun Devils had a 100+ yard rushing game last season: Raleek Brown, Kanye Udoh, Jeff Sims and Jason Brown. It was the first time that had happened at ASU since the 1996 season.
- ASU was one of just 13 teams in the country to have four players reach the century mark in the same year.
- The team has rushed for 200 or more yards 17 times under Kenny Dillingham, compiling a 13-4 record in those games. ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 32 of the team’s 44 games under Kenny Dillingham.
- ASU has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 29.3 percent of its rushes since the 2023 season, good for 40th nationally.
- Arizona State’s 3.33 yards after contact per rush since the 2023 season is tied for 25th in the country.
- The team’s 0.28 missed tackles forced per rush since 2023 are tied for second in the FBS. and its 440 overall missed tackles forced are seventh. ASU has received a team rushing grade of 96.6 from PFF since the start of 2023, good for 14th-best nationally.
- 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.
But also no rush
- The Sun Devils allow 146.4 rushing yards per game through seven games (1,025 yards on 228 attempts, 4.5 per carry). Kansas State managed 84 rushing yards, the 20th opponent held under 100 yards on the ground under Kenny Dillingham.
- The Sun Devils held opponents to just 112.9 rushing yards per game in 2024 in the regular season, 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 held opponents to 140 or fewer rushing yards in 31 of 46 games (65.2 percent) in the Kenny Dillingham era. The Sun Devils have held opponents under 100 rushing yards 20 times in those 46 games (43.5 percent). Between 2018 and 2022, it happened just 13 times in 55 games.
- ASU has held 11 of its last 23 opponents dating back to the 2024 season
under 100 rushing yards.
Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils
- Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics 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 donation program to provide brand-new shoes to community members in need.
- Scholarships: Each year, Mountain America will provide $20,000 to ASU student-athletes, with $10,000 for women’s sports and $10,000 for 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 offer an internship program to help student-athletes develop the skills and experience needed for future endeavors.
Smart Devils
- Arizona State has one of the top honors colleges in the nation, as Barrett, The Honors College, is consistently ranked high in several areas. Football players in Barrett this year include Kyson Brown, Cory Butler, Cam Dyer, Jake Fette, Martell Hughes, Isaiah Iosefa, Davis Kinney, Cardae Mack, Mason Marden, Landen Miree and Uriah Neloms.
- Additionally, 11 different Sun Devils have already earned their undergraduate degrees from Arizona State University and will compete as graduates this season with two others who earned their degrees prior to arriving at Arizona State:
- Kyson Brown: BA in interdisciplinary studies, 2026
- Derek Eusebio: BA in business (sports business), 2026
- Zyrus Fiaseu: BA in liberal studies, 2025
- C.J. Fite: BS in business entrepreneurship, 2025
- My’Keil Gardner: BS in family and human development, 2026
- Jaren Hamilton: BA in liberal studies, 2026
- Roman Pitre: BA in interdisciplinary studies, 2025
- Clayton Smith: BA in liberal studies, 2025
- Zac Swanson: BA in liberal studies, 2026
- Tyler Wigglesworth: BA in mass communication and media studies, 2026
- Blazen Lono Wong: BS in communication, 2025
- Mikey Keene: BS in business administration, 2024 (Fresno State)
- Lyrik Rawls: BS in business administration, 2024 (Oklahoma State)
Fourth-and-go or fourth-and-no
- ASU has attempted 129 fourth-down conversions since Kenny Dillingham
took over in 2023, sixth-most in the FBS and third in the Big 12 behind Baylor (155) and West Virginia (134). ASU is 9-for-19 (47.4 percent) through seven games this season. Opponents are 5-for-15 (33.3 percent) on fourth down and 36-for-100 (36.0 percent) on third down, combining for 41-of-115 (35.7 percent). - Teams are managing just a 33.33 conversion rate on fourth downs this season against the Sun Devils (5-of-15), tied for the 14th-lowest total in the
country. ASU was 59th in the category last season with a 51.35 rate.
Time and time again
- ASU is 18-9 under Kenny Dillingham when leading in time of possession
and 8-11 when trailing. - The Sun Devils have held the ball for more than 32 minutes in 19 of 46 games (41.3 percent), compared to 17 of 55 games from 2018-22 (30.9 percent). ASU averages 29:59 in possession this season.
Milestone Watch
- Owen Long reached 250 career tackles in the last game, tied for 12th-most
among active FBS players. - Cutter Boley has accounted for 33 career touchdowns.
- Clayton Smith is one sack from 15, with 14—tied for 22nd-most among active FBS players. His 51 career appearances lead the Sun Devils.
- Marquis Gillis surpassed 2,500 career rushing yards earlier this season and now has 2,604 in 43 games.
- Jalen Moss has 1,614 career receiving yards, 45th-most among active FBS
players and 386 shy of 2,000. Through 41 games, he has also surpassed 2,000 all-purpose yards, with 2,122. - Reed Harris is 186 yards from 2,000 career receiving yards. His 1,814 rank
30th among active FBS players. - Omarion Miller surpassed 100 career receptions in the last game and now
has 101 for 1,628 yards, 44th-most among active FBS players. - Carson Smith reached 200 career points earlier this season and now has
212. - Ashton Stamps has 23 career passes defended, tied for 21st-most among
active FBS players. - Emar'rion Winston is two appearances from 50 career games, with 48.
- C.J. Fite has made 43 career appearances.
- Blazen Lono-Wong has played 41 career games, all at Arizona State.
- David Avit has 302 career carries for 1,622 yards and 18 touchdowns, leaving him 378 yards from 2,000 and two touchdowns from 20.
- Mikey Keene surpassed 8,500 career passing yards in the last game and now has 8,542. His 67 touchdown passes leave him three from 70.
Six degrees of Sun Devil-ation
- Arizona State offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo was the head coach at UNLV when BYU offensive line coach TJ Woods coached there in 2021 and 2022.
- BYU outside linebackers coach Chad Kauha’aha’a was a defensive line coach at UNLV when ASU offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo was the head coach there in 2020.
- BYU assistant tight ends coach Tyson McDaniel served as a graduate assistant for running backs in 2019 and offensive line in 2020 at ASU.
- BYU assistant cornerbacks coach Wesley Johnson was a recruiting assistant from 2019-2021 and a defensive assistant, linebackers from 2021-2023 at Arizona State.
- Arizona State linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu played at San Diego State when BYU special teams coordinator Justin Ena was a defensive line coach there in 2022.
- BYU assistant quarterbacks coach Tyler Hughes was a football analyst at
Washington when Arizona State offensive lineman Jalen Klemm played there in 2023. - Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham was the offensive coordinator/QBs coach at Oregon when BYU wide receiver Kyler Kasper played there in 2022.
- BYU tight end Roger Saleapaga II played at Oregon with ASU defensive
linemen Emar’rion Winston and MyKeil Gardner in 2024. - BYU wide receiver Kyler Kasper played at Oregon alongside ASU defensive linemen MyKeil Gardner (2023 and 2024) and Emar’rion Winston (2022, 2023 and 2024).
- ASU linebacker Prayer Young-Blackgoat and BYU linebacker Pierson Watson played together at Coconino High School.
- Arizona State offensive lineman Jalen Klemm played with BYU linebacker
Jake Clifton at Kansas State in 2022. - BYU linebacker Maika Kaufusi played alongside ASU offensive lineman Siosaia “Leni” Lapuaho at Alta High School.
- ASU offensive lineman Luke Baklenko and BYU wide receiver Tiger Bachmeier played at Stanford together in 2023 and 2024.
- BYU offensive lineman Zak Yamauchi played with Arizona State offensive
lineman Xander Ruggeroli at Bishop Gorman High School. - Arizona State cornerback Nasir Stephens and BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa played together at Utah in 2024.
- ASU wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright played at Washington with BYU
offensive lineman Paki Finau in 2025. - Arizona State wide receiver Jalen Moss and BYU defensive lineman David
Tangilanu played at Menlo-Atherton High School together. - BYU offensive lineman Caden McKee played at Centennial High School
(CA) with ASU wide receiver Cory Butler Jr. - Arizona State offensive lineman Makua Pule played alongside BYU deep
snapper Ty Smith at Highland High School. - BYU defensive tackle Justin Kirkland played with ASU defensive back Lyrik
Rawls at Oklahoma State in 2023 and 2024. - Arizona State has two players who attended high school in Utah.