ORLANDO — Sun Devil Football heads to Orlando for its first road meeting with
UCF on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Acrisure Bounce House. Kickoff is scheduled for
1:30 p.m. Arizona time (3:30 p.m. Eastern) on ESPN2.
Arizona State is 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 after a 20-10 victory over
Colorado. UCF also is 5-4 and 3-3 following a 33-32 win at Kansas on the final
play. The contest marks ASU’s second-longest road trip (~1,850 air miles) within the continental U.S. in program history (~1,970 to Miami (Fl.) in 1997.
A Sun Devil victory would secure bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season for the first time since 2017-19. ASU seeks its first win on an opponent’s home field this year as its lone its “road” victory came against Kansas in London.
The Knights
- ASU leads the series 2-0, winning 46-13 in Tempe in 2002 and 35-31 at home in 2024. This is the Sun Devils’ first trip to Orlando.
- Alonza Barnett III found Caden Piening for a six-yard touchdown with one
second left to lift UCF past Kansas this past Saturday. Barnett threw for 251
yards and two touchdowns, while Josh Derry had eight catches for 143 yards and a score. - Barnett has completed 57-of-96 passes for 728 yards, four touchdowns
and two interceptions. Keyone Jenkins is 122-of-180 for 1,181 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. - Duke Watson leads UCF with 596 rushing yards on 94 carries. Derry has 45 catches for 571 yards and four touchdowns. The Knights average 30.1 points and 359.0 yards per game, including 212.8 passing and 146.2 rushing.
- UCF allows 26.0 points and 379.0 yards per game, including 133.8 rushing and 245.2 passing. The Knights have forced 14 turnovers and have a +3 turnover margin.
- Tackett Curtis leads UCF with 59 tackles and has two interceptions. Isaiah Nixon has a team-high 2.5 sacks; Jeffson Lafontant leads with 6.0 tackles for loss.
Over the air
- ESPN2 carries Saturday’s game at 1:30 p.m. Arizona time (3:30 p.m. Eastern). The Sun Devils will have Chuckie Kempf (Pxp) and Dustin Fox (analyst) on the call for the second weekend in a row.
- 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 the Sun Devils to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12.
- Extend ASU’s series lead over UCF to 3-0 in its first trip to Orlando.
- Give ASU consecutive victories for the first time this season.
- Give Arizona State its first victory on an opponent’s home field this season.
- Secure bowl eligibility for the third consecutive season
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
20
Arizona State is 20-0 since the start of 2024 when leading after three quarters, including 10-0 when its lead was down to one possession at any point in the
fourth quarter. With a fourth-quarter lead of 10 points or fewer, the Sun Devils allow just 3.8 yards per play, 22nd-lowest nationally. Opponents convert a first
down or score a touchdown on 24-of-105 plays in those situations (22.9 percent), the 35th-lowest rate in the FBS.
51
Arizona State has 51 passes defended through nine games, tied for 10th nationally: 46 pass breakups and five interceptions. Ashton Stamps
recorded his first career interception against Colorado. The Sun Devils’ 14.1 percent forced-incompletion rate is tied for third in the FBS, and their defensive backs’ 7.6 percent havoc rate ranks 16th. ASU allows 4.3 yards after the catch per completion, sixth-lowest in the natio.
26
Arizona State is 26-4 under Kenny Dillingham when leading or tied at halftime, including 5-0 this season. The Sun Devils are 1-17 when trailing at the
break, including 0-4 this season. Since 2024, ASU has allowed only eight touchdown drives on 66 opportunities in the final five minutes of the first half
(12.1 percent), the 18th-lowest rate nationally. The defense has allowed 148.0 yards per first half over the last three games, 26th-lowest in the FBS.
9
Reed Harris has nine touchdown catches and 907 receiving yards on 52 catches through nine games. The touchdowns are tied for fifth in ASU
history through nine games, and the yards rank fifth. Harris leads the Big 12 in receiving yards and yards per game (100.8). His 103 yards against Colorado pushed him to 2,068 for his career. He has 16 catches of at least 20 yards and 23 receptions over 15 yards, ranking sixth and eighth nationally, respectively.
73
Cardae Mack has carried 73 times for 359 yards and four touchdowns over the last three games, the most carries by a Sun Devil in a three-game stretch since Cam Skattebo had 74 in 2024. Mack has 603 rushing yards, second among FBS
freshmen, and leads the group with 5.91 yards per carry. He is 268 yards from breaking ASU’s freshman rushing record of 870. He has three 100-yard rushing games, the first ASU true freshman back to do so since Deantre Lewis in 2010.
69
Arizona State has blitzed just 69 times this season, tied for the sixth-fewest in the FBS. When rushing only defensive linemen, the Sun Devils have recorded
81 quarterback pressures and 16 sacks, ranking 33rd and 25th nationally, respectively. ASU has hit the opposing quarterback on 25 plays this season,
tied for 30th nationally. Jalen Thompson leads the way with 37 pressures, third in the Big 12 and 11th in the FBS.
10 things
- Cardae Mack found Jake Fette for a touchdown against Colorado, the first FBS touchdown pass found in records dating to 2003 from a true freshman running back to a true freshman quarterback.
- Over the last three games, ASU leads the Big 12 in rushing defense (61.0 yards per game) and total defense (287.0), ranking fourth and 19th nationally, respectively.
- Cardae Mack is one of just five FBS true freshmen since 2021 to rush, catch a pass and throw for a touchdown in the same season
- ASU has 41 scoring drives in the final five minutes of a half in non-garbage time since 2024, 14th-most nationally. Its 21-of-70 offensive touchdown rate in that window in the first half (30.0 percent) ranks 25th.
- Daquwan Dunn has allowed just 26 coverage yards, the fewest among FBS freshman corners with at least 100 coverage snaps. His 0.26 yards allowed per snap ranks fourth-lowest among all qualifying FBS corners.
- Jessiah McGrew has allowed three catches and 21 coverage yards, both third-lowest among FBS safeties with at least 200 coverage snaps. His one first down allowed is tied for second-lowest.
- ASU is third nationally with 661 receiving yards after contact. Its 1,234 yards after the catch rank 20th, and its 6.6 yards after the catch per reception ranks 21st.
- ASU has attempted 133 fourth downs under Kenny Dillingham since 2023, tied for fifth-most in the FBS and third in the Big 12. Colorado went 0-of-3 on fourth down while ASU converted both tries.
- Carson Smith reached 40 career field goals against Colorado and has made 13-of-14 attempts this season. He has made multiple field goals in four games.
- ASU has outscored opponents 192-107 in the middle eight minutes since 2024: the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half.
Linebacker Owen Long recorded a season-high 14 tackles against Baylor.
Opening statement
- Arizona State enters UCF week at 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 after a
20-10 win over Colorado on Nov. 7. Jake Fette threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and caught a one-yard touchdown from Cardae Mack. Reed Harris caught four passes for 103 yards and a score, surpassing 2,000 career receiving yards. Owen Long matched his career high with 17 tackles and Albert Smith III recorded three sacks. The Sun Devils led 17-0 at halftime and held Colorado to 300 total yards and 52 rushing yards. - Mack’s touchdown pass to Fette was notable as it is the first recorded true
freshman running back to true freshman quarterback touchdown connection in
the FBS since AT LEAST the 2003 season. - Colorado had held a lead in every Big 12 game this season and had led in the
second half of four-straight Big 12 games entering the night (including against
Top-25 ranked teams Texas Tech, Utah and Oklahoma State). The game marked just the second time this season that Colorado did not hold a lead at any point in the game (at Northwestern). - Colorado was the fifth opponent ASU held to 17 points or fewer this season,
joining Morgan State (7), Kansas (17), Hawai‘i (12) and Kansas State (17). The
last Sun Devil team to do so at least five times was the 2021 squad, which did it
six times. The defense forced four three-and-outs to open the Colorado game
and did not allow a first down until midway through the second quarter. - The Sun Devils dominated the line of scrimmage defensively on Saturday,
recording eight tackles for loss - the second-highest total of its season. ASU
had 11 plays with a tackle for loss or no gain on run plays for the evening. - Senior kicker Carson Smith made both of his field goal attempts tonight and
now has four games in which he has made multiple field goals this season. He now has 40 made field goals in his career. Smith has been solid all season,
making 13-of-14 (92%) kicks on the year.
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 907 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 52 catches
through nine games. His nine touchdowns exceed his previous single-season
career high of five at Boston College in 2025 and match his total in 29 games
with the Eagles. His 103 yards against Colorado pushed him to 2,068 career
receiving yards. - Earlier this season, Harris was added to the Watch List for the Biletnikoff Award, awarded to the top receiver in college football.
- Harris’ 907 receiving yards are the fifth-most in ASU history through nine
games. His nine touchdown catches are tied for fifth through nine and leave
him one shy of the school’s nine-game record of 10. - Harris leads the Big 12 in receiving yards (907) and yards per game (100.8),
and ranks second with nine touchdown catches. Nationally, he ranks 9th in
receiving yards, 9th in yards per game, tied for 7th in touchdown catches and
tied for 29th with 5.8 receptions per game. - Harris’ six touchdown receptions vs. press coverage are tied for 10th-most in
the nation and his four touchdown receptions against man coverage are tied
for ninth. - Harris has 16 catches of at least 20 yards and 23 receptions over 15 yards,
ranking sixth and eight in the country, respectively. - Harris’ 86.4 receiving grade is 13th in the nation and second in the Big 12 (min. 60 targets) while his 86.1 overall offensive grade ranks third among Big 12 wide receivers and 15th among all FBS receivers.
- His 39 receptions for a first down/touchdown are tied for seventh in the
country, while his 334 yards after the catch are 22nd in the country. His 174
yards after contact are 12th nationally. - ASU quarterbacks have a 124.5 NFL QBR while targeting Harris this season,
the 19th-best tally in the country.
Return of the Mack
- True 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 was named a Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year semifinalist on Nov. 4, the second Sun Devil to reach that stage since the award
began in 2018. - Mack’s 603 rushing yards this season are second among FBS freshmen this
season (Pitt’s Damon Ferguson, 662) while his 5.91 yards per rush are tops
among freshmen. - Mack has three 100-yard rushing games, the first ASU true freshman running
back to reach that mark since Deantre Lewis in 2010. He has 603 rushing yards on 102 carries this season, 268 yards from breaking the Sun Devil freshman record of 870. Over his last five games, he has 93 carries for 543 yards (108.6 per game). - Mack has carried 73 times for 359 yards and four rushing touchdowns over
the past three games. That is the most work by a Sun Devil over three games
since Cam Skattebo had 74 carries against Kansas State, BYU and Arizona
in 2024. The most recent Power Conference true freshman with at least that
many carries over three games was Minnesota’s Darius Taylor, who had 86
for 529 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. - Mack’s 81.3 rushing grade this season is 36th in the nation (min. 100 attempts). His 81.2 overall offensive grade is 21st among FBS halfbacks.
- Mack is forcing 0.31 missed tackles per rush attempt this season, ninth-most
in the country (min. 100 attempts). He is averaging 3.6 yards after contact per
attempt, good for 36th among FBS running backs. - Mack is recording a first down or touchdown 34.3 percent of the time he
rushes the ball, good for ninth nationally. - Mack’s 19 explosive runs (runs over 10 yards) have him 35th in the nation -
notable as he has done so on just 102 attempts - the lowest total of any running
back in the Top-50.
Cardae Diem
- Mack, a former dual-threat high school quarterback, showed off his versatility with his first career touchdown pass in the Colorado game, in the process becoming one of just five FBS true freshmen since 2021 to rush, receive and pass for a touchdown in a season.
- In two games on the road against Top-10 teams (#10 Texas Tech, #8 BYU),
Cardae Mack has combined for 150 rushing yards and 64 receiving yards
(214 total yards from scrimmage). - With his 159-yard, four-touchdown effort against Kansas State, 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’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 became the first Sun Devil freshman to record four rushing touchdowns since Leon Burton had five on Oct. 1, 1955 against San Diego Navy. It was the first time an ASU true freshman accounted for four total touchdowns since Demario Richard had four (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, 2017), Damarea Crockett
(Missouri, 2016) and Benny Snell, Jr. (Kentucky, 2016). Only four of those other
games came against another Power Conference team. - Mack has 393 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in his last three
home games. He also threw his first career touchdown against Colorado,
finding Jake Fette from one yard out.
Fette Accompli
- Freshman Jake Fette became the first ASU quarterback since Jake Plummer against UCLA on Oct. 12, 1996 to throw and catch a touchdown in the same game. Fette threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and caught a one-yard score from Cardae Mack against Colorado, accounting for 213 yards of total offense in his second career start.
- Fette joined Delaware’s Tyler Bell among true freshman quarterbacks to
throw and catch a touchdown in the same game this season. Bell threw two touchdowns and caught a 15-yard touchdown from Bryson Graves at Middle Tennessee on Oct. 13. Fette has completed 39-of-69 passes for 411 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions this season.
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.
- C.J. Fite has made 36 consecutive ASU starts, followed by Maki Stewart with 12 and Jalen Klemm and Martell Hughes with 10 each.
- Roman Pitre has started all nine games in 2026. Reed Harris, Omarion Miller, Owen Long, Ashton Stamps, Montana Warren, Rodney Bimage Jr., Jalen Thompson and Adrian “Boogie” Wilson each have nine 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 are 11-3 (.786) since the start of 2024 in games decided by
seven or fewer points after the 27-20 loss at BYU. The 11 wins are tied for
fourth-most nationally. - The loss to BYU ended ASU’s winning streak of nine-straight Big 12 games
that were decided by 7 points or less. - ASU’s .786 winning percentage in games decided by seven or fewer points
ranked seventh among FBS teams with at least five such games. - ASU’s 10 such victories in 2024-25 were tied for the most over a two-season span in Big 12 history and tied for eighth-most for an FBS team since 1996.
- Since Kenny Dillingham took over in 2023, 15 of ASU’s 26 victories have
come by 10 points or fewer. - 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 eight games in the past two-plus seasons in which
they were trailing or tied at some point in the fourth quarter. - Since the start of the 2024, ASU has scored on 19-of-40 fourth quarter
drives while trailing in non-garbage time - a 47.5 rate that is 18th nationally. ASU’s 109 points scored on offense (excluding extra points) is 24th-most
in that span. - 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. - Opponents are averaging just 4.3 yards per play when ASU is trailing in the fourth quarter in non-garbage time over the last two-plus seasons - the 13th-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/touchdown just 35 times on 145 opportunities - a 24.1 conversion rate that is 23rd-lowest in the FBS. - Four times since the start of 2024, an opponent has added to its lead with
ASU within eight points in the fourth quarter: Texas Tech in 2024, Arizona in
2025, and Texas A&M and BYU in 2026. - ASU has been equally as efficient on defense when PROTECTING fourth
quarter leads, going 20-0 when leading through three quarters. ASU is 10-0
in games where it leads by just one possession at any point in the fourth
quarter. - In games wth a fourth quarter lead of 10 or less points, ASU is allowing just
3.8 yards per play to opponents since the start of 2024, rankings 22nd in the country in the category. Team’s convert a first down or touchdown just 22.9 percent of the time (24-of-105), good for 35th lowest in the country.
Setting the tone
- ASU is 26-4 when leading or tied at halftime under Kenny Dillingham, including 5-0 this season, compared to 1-17 when trailing. ASU is 0-4 when
trailing at halftime in 2026. The Sun Devils took a 17-0 halftime lead against
Colorado and never trailed. - ASU has 41 scoring drives in the final five minutes of a half in non-garbage
time since the start of 2024, the 14th-most in the country. From 2021-23, ASU had 28 scoring drives in that window (28-of-97), a 28.9 percent rate that ranked 102nd in the FBS. - The Sun Devils have a 30.0 percent (21-of-70) 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 22 total touchdowns) - good for 25th 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.
- ASU has allowed eight touchdown drives in the final five minutes of the first
half since the start of 2024 on 66 opportunities (12.1 percent), the 18th-lowest percentage nationally. - ASU holds a 192-107 scoring advantage in the “middle eight” since 2024:
the final four minutes of the first half and first four minutes of the second half.
• The Sun Devils are allowing just 148.0 yards per first half over the last three
games, the 26th-lowest tally in the country.
Keep them in front of you
- ASU has allowed 20 plays of 50 or more yards in the Dillingham/Ward era,
which is the 36th-lowest nationally. - ASU has allowed 32 plays of 50 or more yards since 2018, 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 79 plays of 30 or more yards in the Dillingham/Ward era, a
total ranked 28th nationally. - Since 2018, ASU has allowed 165 plays of 30 or more yards in 102 games
(1.61 per game), ranked seventh-lowest nationally - excluding Kennesaw State, which joined the FBS later. From 2014-17, ASU allowed 38, 44, 40 and 40
such plays each season, ranking 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th, respectively.
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 allows 219.6 passing yards per game through nine games.
Opponents are 180-of-305 (59.0 percent) for 1,976 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. The defense has allowed a 124.22 passing efficiency rating, ranking in the Top-45 nationally in that and lowest completion percentage allowed. - The team’s 14.1 percent forced-incompletion rate ranks tied for third in the
FBS and its defensive backs’ 7.6 percent havoc rating ranks 16th among FBS defensive back groups. - ASU has 51 passes defended through nine games, tied for 10th nationally:
46 pass breakups and five interceptions. Ashton Stamps’ first career interception came in his 36th appearance against Colorado. ASU ranked 13th in the FBS with 74 passes defended last year (66 PBUs, 9 INT). The Sun Devils were 16th nationally with 69 passes defended in 2024 and 14th with 16 interceptions. - Opponents are managing 6.48 yards per pass attempt against ASU this
season (1,976 yards on 305 attempts) - 32nd-lowest in the country. - ASU is sixth in the nation in fewest yards allowed after the catch this season
per completion at just 4.3. Teams are averaging just 2.02 yards after contact per completion, a total that sits as the 33rd-lowest mark in the country. - ASU’s defense depends on lock down coverage in the second level as the
scheme is not known for blitzing. When the Sun Devils ONLY pass rush four
or fewer defensive linemen, the team ranks in the Top-40 in several pass rush
categories DESPITE having a time to pressure of 2.70 seconds that is 29th-
slowest in the nation - a tribute to to work being done 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. - Ashton Stamps has allowed a first down/touchdown on just 24.5 percent
of the plays in which he is the primary player in coverage, the third-lowest
tally among Big 12 corners (min. 200 coverage snaps). - Jessiah McGrew has established himself as a force in the back end of ASU’s secondary and quietly put up quality numbers despite not starting a game until the fifth game of the season. His three receptions allowed are second-lowest among Big 12 safeties and third-lowest among ALL FBS safeties while his 21 yards allowed in coverage are third-lowest in the nation. (min 200 coverage snaps).
- McGrew has allowed just one first down in coverage this season, tied for
second-lowest total in the FBS. His 33.3 forced incompletion percentage is
seventh 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 ranks just behind McGrew in sixth among Big 12 safeties with just 10 catches allowed in coverage. His 116 yards allowed in coverage on the year are 10th-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. - Daquwan Dunn is one of just 20 FBS freshman corners to play at least 100 snaps in coverage this season (and one of just 11 to do so for a Power Conferene program) and he ranks ninth in that group with a 71.5 coverage grade and his 26 total yards allowed in coverage are the lowest of the group.
- His 0.26 yards allowed per coverage snap is lowest among the freshmen
and fourth-lowest among all FBS corners with at least 100 snaps in coverage. - His 7.9 percent target rate is also the lowest among FBS freshmen corners
and seventh-lowest among all corners with at least 100 snaps in coverage. - His 3.3 yards allowed while targeted are 11th-lowest in the country and
lowest among the freshmen.
Bring the heat
- The Sun Devils have 25 plays in which they have hit the opposing quarterback this season, tied for 30th in the nation.
- ASU has done so while blitzing just 69 total times, tied for the sixth-fewest of
any FBS team in the nation this season. - The Sun Devils have 81 QB pressures when they ONLY pass rush defensive
linemen, the 33rd-most in the country. The team’s 16 sacks when doing so are 25th-best nationally. - 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 47 games as a Sun Devil and started 41, including 36 in a row. He has 97 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Through nine games this season, he has 23 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 1,875 career snaps are the third-most among active interior linemen
in the FBS over the last four seasons. Ironically, that’s also third-most in
the Big 12 as he is ranked behind Texas Tech’s A.J. Holmes Jr. (2,095) and
Colorado’s Santana Hooper (1,950). - Among active interior linemen with at least 500 run defensive snaps in the
last four seasons, his 75.6 run defense grade is 14th in the FBS. His 20 tackles for loss or no gain on run plays are tied for seventh-most among active interior linemen, and his 1.15 average depth of tackle is the seventh-closest to the line of scrimmage. (As of Nov. 6) - Fite’s 1.11 average depth of tackle this season is 10th-best in the Big 12 and
40th-best in the FBS among interior linemen. Fite’s five QB hits as a pass rusher this year are third among Big 12 interior linemen and 17th nationally and his 18 total QB pressures are in the Top-50 among all FBS interior linemen . - Blazen Lono-Wong is in his fifth year with the Sun Devil program, the lone
player on the roster that pre-dates the Kenny Dillingham era. In a college landscape where transfers rule supreme, Lono-Wong and Fite have combined to play in 90 games in their careers with all of those coming as Sun Devils. ASU joins Cal, Liberty, Miami (Fl.), North Dakota State, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Stanford and UTSA as the only schools with two separate interior linemen with over 800 career snaps all coming while playing for just one school. The 90 career games between the two rank only behind UTSA’s duo of Jameian Buxton and Tai Leonard (93). - Jalen Thompson currently has the fifth-best pass rush score in the Big 12
at 86.0 (min. 150 pass rush snaps) - the 26th-best grade in the country. - Thompson’s 37 quarterback pressures this season are third in the Big 12 and 11th 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 19.3 percent of the time - third in the Big 12 and 18th 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. - Julian Hugo has 4.0 sacks for 37 yards on six total tackles, second on the
team behind Jalen Thompson’s 5.0 sacks. Hugo recorded a sack in three-
straight games through Kansas State before the streak ended at BYU. The last ASU true freshman with sacks in three consecutive games was Terrell Suggs in the final three regular-season games of 2000; redshirt freshman Dexter Davis did so in the final three games of 2006. - Albert Smith III had three sacks against Colorado, the first Sun Devil with three in a game since Prince Dorbah against TCU in 2025. Smith entered with 1.5 sacks in 23 career games and now has 4.5.
- ASU recorded eight tackles for loss for 53 yards against Colorado, its first game with at least 50 tackle-for-loss yards since its 65 against TCU in 2025.
Middle of the lineup
- Owen Long leads the Sun Devils with 91 tackles through eight games, 18 more than the next Sun Devil. Owen Long leads ASU with 91 tackles through nine games, 18 more than the next Sun Devil. His 17 tackles against Colorado matched his career high and marked his sixth double-digit effort this season and 16th of his career.
- It was the first 15-tackle game by a Sun Devil since Kyle Soelle had 18 against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 17, 2022. Long has 287 career tackles.
- Long averages 10.11 tackles per game, tied for 6th nationally and 2nd in the
Big 12. His 91 total tackles are tied for 6th nationally. His 19 stops on run defense are ninth in the league. - Long has made 27 defensive “stops” this season, good for ninth among Big
12 linebackers - 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 73 tackles and leads ASU with 7.5
tackles for loss through nine games. His 11 tackles against Colorado marked his fourth double-digit effort this season. Hughes averages 8.11 tackles per game, tied for 47th nationally. - Hughes has recorded 10 tackles for loss or no gain this season, a total that
is second among Big 12 linebackers and is 22nd among all FBS linebackers.
His 28 total “stops” are eighth in the league. - Hughes’ 10.8 run stop percentage (23 “stops” on 212 run plays) is seventh
among Big 12 linebackers this season (min. 175 run defense plays). The 23 stops are sixth in the league among linebackers and 42nd in the nation. - Long and Hughes have combined for 164 of ASU’s 577 tackles through
nine games (28.4 percent), despite a defensive scheme that features only
two linebackers on the field at a time. - The Sun Devils found themselves in a position where they had to replace nearly 23 percent of their tackles after the departures 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. 30).
Where's the beef?
- ASU used its seventh different starting offensive line combination at BYU and kept that group in tact against Colorado. The seven different combinations are the most in the FBS this season.
- Despite that, ASU had been charged with just one accepted offensive-line
holding penalty (Champ Westbrooks at Texas Tech), tied for the lowest total nationally (Ohio, 0). - ASU offensive linemen have been charged with just two false starts this season, tied for the eighth-lowest total in the country. (As of Nov. 6)
- 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 16th among ALL FBS linemen with his 86.7 pass blocking grade this year - eighth 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 13th-lowest total among all FBS players (min. 300 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. - 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 75 snaps this season at 86.9. That is the highest grade among all FBS true freshman with at least 75 pass block snaps this 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 come 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 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. - What the team may lack in experience, however, it more than makes up for
in size as the 2026 version of the road graders might be the most robust in program history. Taking all the offensive linemen into consideration, the group has an average height of just a tick under 6-5 with 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 309 pounds. - Beef in the trenches is the cornerstone of any program hoping to be acontender. 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. - 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) prior to the 0.40 over the final five games of the season. - As a team, ASU was 40th in the country in only allowing 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. The 2026 Sun Devils allow 344.4 yards per game through nine contests, tied for 51st nationally and sixth in the Big 12.
- ASU has had one of the top defenses in the nation over its last three games,
ranking fourth in the FBS and tops in the Big 12 in rushing yards allowed per game (61.0) and 19th in the FBS and tops in the league in total defense (287.0 yards per game). ASU ranked 93rd and 90th nationally in those two categories, respectively, prior to its current three game stretch. - 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.
- Opponents have scored touchdowns on 18-of-33 red-zone trips against
ASU (54.55 percent), good for 44th-lowest nationally. ASU finished 44th in the category a season ago as well (55.77) after ranking 91st in 2024 (64.10). - Opponents are only managing a touchdown or field goal attempt 79.6 percent of the time when reaching ASU’s 40-yard line this season - the 43rd-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.
- ASU has been fairly efficient at keeping teams from driving down the field
and scoring when it has them pinned, holding opponents to just 0.87 points
per drive that starts inside the opponent 20 - the 30th-lowest total in the nation. - 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. - ASU has held opponents to 400 or fewer total yards 33 times in 48 games
(68.8 percent) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. Since 2018, it has done so 62 times in 103 games (60.2 percent), compared with 24 of 65 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 fewer 37 times in 48 games (77.1
percent) under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward. The Sun Devils have done so 71 times in 103 games since 2018 (68.9 percent). They allowed 30-plus points in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) from 2013-17.
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 166 yards after contact are 16th in the FBS on receiving
plays while Reed Harris’ 174 yards after contact are 12th. Miller ranks 40th in the country in yards after the catch with 306 with Harris at 29th at 334. - The Sun Devils are third in the nation as a team with 661 yards after contact this season on receiving plays.
- The Sun Devils also have 1,234 yards after the catch as a team this season
- 20th-most in the country with a 6.6 YAC per reception mark that is 21st. - 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 on 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 during the 2025 season, starting in eight. 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.
- The duo of Harris and Miller have not been afraid to get their hands dirty and
emphasize Hines Ward’s “Don’t Block, No Rock” mantra. Harris’ 243 run block snaps are 19th in the country while Miller ranks 25th with 237. - Miller has recorded the nation’s 26th-best overall run block grade among
wide receivers at 68.8 while Harris has the No. 37 mark on gap run block plays. - Quietly, tight end Anthony Miller has recorded the FBS’ 14th-best run-blocking grade among tight ends (min. 150 run block snaps at 69.3).
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 Sun Devils are looking to return to that pace, averaging 136.7 rushing yards through nine games this season.
- The team has rushed for over 200 yards on 18 occasions under Kenny
Dillingham, going 14-4. ASU has rushed for 100-plus yards in 36 of the team’s 48 games under 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 in 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 separate players reach the century mark for the year. - ASU has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 29.5 percent of its rushes
since the 2023 season, good for 37th nationally. - Arizona State’s 3.33 yards after contact per rush since the 2023 season is tied for 23rd in the country.
- The team’s 0.28 missed tackles forced per rush since 2023 are tied for
second in the FBS and its 451 overall missed tackles forced are fifth. - ASU has received a team rushing grade of 96.4 from PFF since the start of
2023, good for 16th-best nationally. (As of Nov. 6) - 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
- ASU allows 124.9 rushing yards per game through nine games (1,124 yards on 292 attempts, 3.85 per carry), ranking 42nd nationally.
- It has held three-straight opponents under 100 yards: Kansas State (84),
BYU (47) and Colorado (52). It is the first such streak since 2023 and the fifth sub-100-yard performance of 2026. - Opponents are picking up a first down on run plays on 3rd and 4th down
with 2 or less yards to go just 63.2 percent of the time, the 22nd-lowest total in the FBS. - 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 33 of 48 games
(68.8 percent) under Kenny Dillingham. - It has held opponents under 100 rushing yards 22 times in those 48 games (45.8 percent), compared with 13 of 55 games from 2018-22.
- ASU has held 13 of its last 25 opponents under 100 rushing yards, dating
back to 2024, after holding Colorado to 52.
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 133 fourth-down conversions since Kenny Dillingham
took over in 2023, tied with North Texas for fifth-most in the FBS and third in the Big 12 behind Baylor (156) and West Virginia (136). ASU has attempted 23 this season. - ASU is 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) on fourth down through nine games in 2026. Opponents are 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) on fourth down and 43-of-126 (34.1 percent) on third down, a combined 51-of-148 (34.5 percent). Colorado went 0-of-3 on fourth down while ASU converted both attempts.
- Opponents convert 36.36 percent of their fourth downs against ASU (8-of-22), the 17th-lowest rate nationally and fourth in the Big 12. ASU ranked 59th last season with a 51.35 percent rate allowed.
Time and time again
- ASU is 19-10 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 20 of 48 games (41.7 percent), compared with 17 of 55 games from 2018-22 (30.9
percent). They held a 33:06-to-26:54 possession advantage against Colorado. - ASU averages 30:29 in possession this season.
Milestone watch
- Linebacker Owen Long has 287 career tackles, 13 from 300. His 270 tackles entering Colorado week were tied for ninth among active FBS players and led all juniors nationally. (As of Nov. 6 for the active-player rankings)
- Wide receiver Reed Harris surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards against
Colorado and now has 2,068. His 1,965 yards entering Colorado week ranked 28th among active FBS players. (As of Nov. 6 for the active-player ranking) - Wide receiver Omarion Miller is 251 yards shy of 2,000 career receiving yards, with 1,749. His 1,685 yards entering Colorado week ranked 46th among active FBS players. (As of Nov. 6 for the active-player ranking)
- Miller (112) and Harris (109) both recorded their 100th career reception earlier this season.
- Kicker Carson Smith reached 40 career field goals against Colorado. He has 232 career points, 18 from 250, and is 13-of-14 on field goals this season.
- Defensive back Ashton Stamps has 28 career passes defended after his first career interception against Colorado. His 27 passes defended entering Colorado week were tied for 11th among active FBS players. (As of Nov. 6 for the active-player ranking)
- Quarterback Mikey Keene needs 307 passing yards to reach 9,000, three touchdown passes to reach 70 and one total touchdown to reach 70. He has 8,693 passing yards, 67 touchdown passes and 69 total touchdowns. Those totals ranked 12th, 10th and tied for 23rd, respectively, among active FBS players entering Colorado week. (As of Nov. 6 for the active-player rankings)
- Quarterback Cutter Boley has accounted for 33 career touchdowns: 30
passing and three rushing. - Wide receiver Jalen Moss has 1,614 receiving yards and 2,170 all-purpose
yards, leaving him 386 yards from 2,000 receiving and 330 from 2,500 all-purpose. He has appeared in 44 career games. - Defensive lineman Clayton Smith needs one sack to reach 15 for his career. His 54 career appearances lead all Sun Devils. His 14 sacks ranked tied for 26th among active FBS players entering Colorado week, while his 53 appearances were tied for 33rd. (As of Nov. 6 for the active-player rankings)
- Defensive lineman Jalen Thompson is a half-sack shy of 10 for his career,
with 9.5 after his sack against Colorado. - Running back Marquis Gillis has 2,619 career rushing yards, 381 from 3,000, across 43 appearances. His career total includes 545 yards as a Delaware State freshman in 2022.
- Defensive back Lyrik Rawls’ 45 career appearances were listed in the pre-Colorado notes. (As of Nov. 6 for Rawls’ appearances)
- Running back David Avit surpassed 300 career carries earlier this season
and now has 303. He also needs 369 rushing yards to reach 2,000 and two rushing touchdowns to reach 20, with current totals of 1,631 yards and 18 touchdowns. - Defensive lineman Emar’rion Winston made his 51st career appearance
against Colorado. That total includes his three redshirt-season appearances at Oregon in 2022. - Starting defensive tackles C.J. Fite and Blazen Lono-Wong have combined
for 92 career appearances, all at Arizona State: 47 for Fite and 45 for Lono-Wong.
Six degrees of Sun Devil-ation: UCF
- Mikey Keene began his career at UCF in 2021 and 2022 before playing at
Fresno State and Michigan. He threw for 2,377 yards and 23 touchdowns
during his two seasons with the Knights. - Arizona State assistant coach/defensive line Diron Reynolds was a defensive line coach at Stanford while UCF special teams coordinator Pete Alamar was a special teams coordinator there from 2016-2022.
- UCF defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was a defensive backs coach at Wyoming when ASU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Marcus Arroyo
coached there in 2009 and 2010. - ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward coached at Western Illinois with
UCF offensive line coach AJ Blazek in 2013 and 2014. - Arizona State linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu played at San Diego State while UCF running backs coach Jimmy Beal coached there in 2023.
- UCF linebackers coach Mark D’Onofrio coached at Stanford while Arizona
State offensive lineman Luke Baklenko played there in 2023 and 2024. - ASU assistant head coach/wide receivers Hines Ward coached at FAU when UCF defensive back Jayden Williams played there in 2021.
- Arizona State assistant coach/defensive line Diron Reynolds coached at
Michigan State while UCF edge Ken Talley and offensive lineman Cooper
Terpstra played there in 2023. - UCF defensive tackle Horace Lockett played with Arizona State offensive
lineman Tana Alo-Tupuola at Georgia Tech in 2024. - Arizona State placekicker Carson Smith played alongside UCF defensive
back Antione Jackson at East Carolina in 2023. - Arizona State defensive back Nigel Pringle played at Arkansas with UCF
edge Ken Talley in 2025. - ASU defensive lineman Jalen Thompson played alongside UCF edge Ken
Talley and offensive lineman Cooper Terpstra at MSU in 2023 and 2024. - UCF quarterback Keyone Jenkins played with ASU defensive back
Jessiah McGrew at FIU in 2025. - UCF placekicker Will Stone played at Texas with Arizona State defensive
lineman Zac Swanson in 2022 and 2023. - Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller played at Colorado with
Antonio “TJ” Branch Jr. in 2025. - UCF linebacker Phil Picciotti played at IMG Academy with Arizona State
offensive lineman Tana Alo-Tupuola. - Arizona State has four players that attended high school in Florida.