Sun Devil Football Postgame Notes - Wyoming

SUN DEVIL FOOTBALL GAMES NOTES
OPENING NIGHT

• Arizona State’s 41-point victory over Wyoming was their biggest margin of victory in an opener since defeating UTSA by 42 points on Sept. 1, 2018 (49-7).
• It is the most points that Wyoming has lost by in a season opener in the history of the program (dating back to 1893). 

BIGGEST OPENING WINS OVER AN FBS SCHOOL
48 points - Sept. 21, 1968 vs. Wisconsin (55-7)
47 points - Sept. 1, 2005 vs. Temple (63-16)
42 points - Sept. 1, 2018 vs. UTSA (49-7) 
42 points - Sept. 1, 2007 vs. San Jose State (45-3)
42 points - Sept. 12, 1981 vs. Houston (52-10)
41 points - Aug. 31, 2024 vs. Wyoming (48-7)
41 points - Sept. 20, 1958 vs. Hawaii (47-6)

 QUICK HITS

• With their 48 point performance, Arizona State became the first team to score over 40 against Wyoming since Northern Illinois did so in a Sept. 11, 2021 50-43 loss. 
• The 48 points scored by the Sun Devils are the most allowed by Wyoming since Oregon scored 49 points on Sept. 16, 2017.
• Arizona State’s 41 point margin of victory over the Cowboys was the biggest since Wyoming lost to Boise State, 63-14, back on Nov. 22, 2014.
• Five different players finished with at least 25 yards rushing as Arizona State’s balanced ground attack produced 241 total yards (Skattebo 49, Brooks 47, Leavitt 47, Brown Jr. 33, Kyson Brown 25). 11 different Sun Devils recorded a carry, including offensive lineman Keona Peat.
• Zyrus Fiaseu’s 29-yard interception return for a touchdown came 41 seconds into the season. It is the quickest touchdown to start a season for the Sun Devils since they scored 24 seconds into the opener in the 2021 season against Southern Utah. It is the first pick six in an opener since Shannon Forman returned one 25 yards against UTSA in 2018.

PURE DOMINATION

• Arizona State outgained Wyoming 499-118 yards and also held a 27-8 advantage in first downs.
• The Sun Devils allowed less than 80 rushing and passing yards 
• Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward’s unit allowed only 118 yards to Wyoming which was the fewest by an ASU defense since it allowed 37 yards to Idaho State on Sept. 5, 2009.
• The Maroon & Gold compiled 5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

TURNING THEM OVER

• Arizona State forced three turnovers in the victory over the Cowboys, the most turnovers Wyoming has committed since Nov. 19, 2022 in a 20-17 loss to Boise State.
• It marks the first time that Arizona State has scored a defensive touchdown on both an interception and a fumble return in the same game since a 34-9 victory over UCLA on senior night on Nov. 28, 2008. 

ROWDY COWBOYS

• The environment at Mountain America Stadium impacted the game, as the Cowboys struggled to settle in.
• Wyoming was eighth in the country last year in averaging just 33.38 penalty yards per game. They committed 4 fouls for 45 yards in the first quarter alone.
• The Cowboys finished with 7 penalties on 65 yards, including three false starts.
• By contrast, Arizona State committed only 4 penalties for 30 yards.

ASU FOOTBALL STUDENT ATTENDANCE TOP HOME CROWDS (2010-PRESENT)
14,084 vs. UCLA/Sept. 24, 2014
13,698 vs. Wyoming/Aug. 31, 2024
13,615 vs. Northern Arizona/Sept. 1, 2022
12,274 vs. Arizona/Nov. 21, 2015
 
THE ASU VICTORY…

• Is the 25th consecutive victory in a HOME opener for the Sun Devils, currently the second-longest active streak in the nation behind only Illinois (27) - (2020 excluded due to unusual circumstances across country and ASU not having a home opener until December)
• Improves ASU to 82-28-2 on Opening Day in history and 64-15-1 on Opening Day at home
• Is ASU’s 22nd consecutive Opening Day win when the game is at Mountain America Stadium
• Is the first time ASU has won an Opening Night game against an FBS opponent since Kent State in 2019

MILESTONE WATCH

• Running back Cam Skattebo is 270 rushing yards away from reaching 3,000 rushing yards in his career (currently at 2,730). He is 342 all-purpose yards away from reaching 4,000 all-purpose yards in his career (currently at 3,658) He is also 202 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000 receiving yards in his career (currently at 798)
• Skattebo is 1 touchdowns away from scoring 30 touchdowns in his career (currently at 29 - 1 passing, 5 receiving, 23 rushing)
• Skattebo is 3 games played away from appearing in 40 games in his career (currently at 37)
• Wide receiver Xavier Guillory is 389 receiving yards away from reaching 2,000 receiving yards in his career (currently at 1,611)
• Wide receiver Melquan Stovall is 95 receiving yards away from reaching 1,500 receiving yards in his career (currently at 1,405). Stovall is 4 games played away from appearing in 50 games in his career (currently at 46)
• Defensive lineman Jeff Clark is 4 tackles away from registering 100 tackles in his career (currently at 96). He is 1 sack away from registering 10 sacks in his career (currently at 9.0). Clark is 2 games played away from appearing in 40 games in his career (currently at 38).
• Linebacker Caleb McCullough is 8 games played away from appearing in 40 games in his career, all in an ASU uniform (currently at 32)
• Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott is 5 tackles away from registering 150 tackles in his career (currently at 145)
• Defensive back Shamari Simmons is 19 tackles away from registering 200 tackles in his career (currently at 181). He is 2 interceptions away from collecting 10 interceptions in his career (currently at 8). Simmons needs 3 more pass defenses to reach 30 passes defended in his career (currently at 27) 

SUN DEVIL MOST PASSING YARDS IN FIRST CAREER GAME (1996-PRESENT)
292 - Joey Yellen vs. USC/Nov. 9, 2019
284 - Jayden Daniels vs. Kent State/Aug. 29, 2019
258 - Sam Leavitt vs. Wyoming/Aug. 31, 2024
236 - Jaden Rashada vs. Southern Utah/Aug. 31, 2023
160 - Jeff Krohn vs. San Diego State/Aug. 31, 2000
117 - John Leonard vs. Texas Tech/Sept. 9, 1999
107 - Ryan Kealey vs. New Mexico State/Aug. 30, 1997
77 - Chad Christensen at Nebraska/Aug. 24, 2002
 
EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• The Sun Devil offense finished with 14 total “explosive plays” as they put up 499 yards. In contrast, Wyoming finished with 3 “explosive plays” and 118 yards.

7 Completions of 15+ yards:
– Leavitt to Skattebo for 17 yards
– Leavitt to Stovall for 28 yards
– Leavitt to Smith for 18 yards
– Leavitt to Smith for 21 yards
– Leavitt to Tyson for 20 yards
– Leavitt to Metayer for 25 yards
– Leavitt to K. Brown for 68 yards

7 Rushes of 10+ yards
– K. Brown 16 yard run
– D. Brooks 15 yard run
– Leavitt 15 yard run
– Leavitt 21 yard run
– Sims 12 yard run
– Brown Jr. 11 yard run
– Brown Jr. 16 yard run
 
Connor Smith