Football Readies for Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship

ASU is looking for its first outright conference title since 1996.

Xavier Guillory takes it to the end zone against Arizona.

Xavier Guillory scores against rival Arizona in 2024 Territorial Cup.

December 4, 2024

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THE GAME - #12 (AP) Sun Devil Football will look for its first outright conference championship and first 11-win season since 1996 this weekend as the team heads to Arlington and AT&T Stadium to take on #16 Iowa State for the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday, Dec. 7. Scheduled for a 10 a.m. AZT/11 a.m. local kickoff, the contest will be broadcast nationally on ABC (Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, Katie George). The game will also be available over the local airwaves in Arizona on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON IOWA STATE/BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP - This will be the first meeting between the Sun Devils and Iowa State, marking the fourth time this season ASU has played an opponent for the first time in its history. Iowa State comes into the game having reached 10 wins for the first time in program history. This is the second conference championship game ASU has participated in, also competing in the 2013 Pac-12 Championship. Iowa State is making its second Big 12 Championship appearance.

KICKING OFF

ASU's 10-2 record already marks a seven-win improvement - at minimum - over the team's 3-9 record a season ago. The seven-win improvement is already two games better than the previous best turnarounds in program history and trails only Indiana's eight-win improvement this season among FBS programs.
The Sun Devils are just the 8th Power 4/5 team since 2012 to increase their win total by 7 games from one season to another (8 - TCU, '21-22, Indiana '23-24/7 - Mizzou '12-13, Syracuse '17-18, USC '21-22, UW '21-22, Northwestern '22-23).
With ASU vacating its wins in the 2021 season, the 10 wins this season surpasses the team's combined win tally from 2020-2023 (8 wins).
ASU was one of only 13 teams to go undefeated in the month of November (5-0). Of those 13 teams, only 7 are from a Power 4 conference (including Notre Dame). ASU was one of only four teams the FBS to go 5-0 in the month of November.
Since Week 6, no FBS wide receiver has as many yards as Jordyn Tyson's 749 - second behind only Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr.. His 481 receiving yards in the month of November leads all FBS players.
Among players with at least 500 snaps, redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt is the nation's highest-graded freshman player on offense OR defense with his overall offense grade of 89.4 (min. 500 snaps) - 5.2 points higher than South Alabama's Gio Lopez (84.2) who is in second. He is 11.9 points ahead of Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava for the highest freshman grade among Power 4 freshmen quarterbacks (77.5).
Leavitt's 89.4 grade for the season is tied for the seventh-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 500 snaps played). Of the seven players tied or ahead of him, six have started an NFL game this season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler).
ASU is 5-0 in games decided by a seven points or less and 6-1 in games decided by one score (8 points or less). The 5-0 record is second behind Arkansas State's 6-0 mark in games of seven points or less and the six wins are tied for second behind only Syracuse (7) for most wins in one-score game.
Cam Skattebo ran for three touchdowns in the first half of each of the last two games. He is the first Big 12 player to rush for 3+ touchdowns in consecutive first halves since Taurean Henderson (Texas Tech) did it on Sept. 17 and Sept. 24 of 2005 but the only Big 12 player to ever do it against BFS teams. He is only the seventh FBS player to accomplish the feat since 2008, joining an exclusive list Malik Cunningham, Louisville 09/24/2022 - 10/01/2022, Tavion Thomas, Utah 10/30/2021 - 11/05/2021, Lamar Jackson, Louisville 09/09/2016 - 09/17/2016, Melvin Gordon III, Wisconsin 10/11/2014 - 10/25/2014, Zach Line, SMU 09/17/2011 - 09/24/2011 LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh 10/18/2008 - 10/25/2008)
#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. Jordyn Tyson's 624 yards in the month of November were 119 more than any other FBS player for the month and his six touchdowns were 2nd.

2. The Sun Devils are 5-0 in games decided by 7 points or less and 6-1 in one-score games overall - both win totals good for second in the FBS.

3. Sam Leavitt (88.2) is the nation's highest graded freshman player (true or redshirt) on either side of the ball, 5.2 points ahead of the next closest player.

4. Over the last three games, the Sun Devils are first in the FBS in most first half points per game (25.7) AND fewest first half points against per game (1.0).

5. ASU is outscoring opponents 80-16 in the "middle eight" of games this year (last four minutes of first half and first four minutes of second half).

6. The Sun Devils have recorded 15 touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first and second halves this season, a total good for fourth in the FBS - two off the FBS lead.

7. The Sun Devil defense has allowed just 4.6 yards per third down to opponent offenses - the 26th-lowest total in the country after allowing 5.3 per third down play a year ago (67th).

8. Cam Skattebo's is the only FBS player with 1,000+ rushing yards and 400+ receiving yards.

9. Among FBS slot defenders, Shamari Simmons is one of just 9 players in the country not credited with a TD allowed (min. 200 snaps), despite playing the 3rd-most slot coverage snaps in the country (339).

10. Sam Leavitt is the only quarterback in the country with 20+ touchdowns (21) with 5 or fewer interceptions (5) AND turnoverworthy throws (3) - (min. 300 dropbacks).

BY THE NUMBERS
60 - Kenny Dillingham has put together a roster with 60 total newcomers this season - the ninth-most of any FBS school behind after being second a year ago. The Sun Devils have just three players in their final year of eligibility that started their careers at Arizona State (Trenton Bourguet, Caleb McCullough and Anthonie Cooper) - tied for the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS. ASU's 46 scholarship newcomers are tied for third-most in the FBS while the teams 58 returning players are tied for the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS. Only 38 of those players are scholarship student-athletes, tied for the third-lowest mark in the FBS.

52 - 52.6% of Sun Devil offensive drives have resulted in ASU scoring a touchdown or getting in range for a field goal attempt - good for 16th nationally. Only 40.2% of such opponent drives have done the same, a net +12.5% difference that is the 24th-best in the nation. ASU ranked dead last (133rd) in the category a season ago with a net -29.0% tally as only 28% of its drives resulting in a touchdown or field goal attempt (124th) compared to a 57% success rate for opponents (132nd of 133).The Sun Devils are averaging 2.95 points per drive this season, good for 16th nationally and have a net .86 points per drive over opponents advantage that is 24th in the country.

7 - Playing the 4th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 this season (424, 33rd in FBS), Xavion Alford has allowed just 7 receptions, and 3rd-fewest in the FBS (min. 300 coverage snaps). Opponents have thrown his way on just 4.0 percent of coverage snaps, the 4th-lowest total among all FBS players. His 17 targets on the year are 9th-lowest in the FBS.He has allowed just 76 yards in coverage this season - 4th-lowest among all FBS players.He has allowed just 0.18 yards per coverage snap this season, 2nd-lowest in the FBS.Opponents have just a 35.0 NFL QBR when targeting Alford, sixth-lowest in the FBS and his 29.4 forced incompletion percentage is fourth.

4 - Cam Skattebo has received an overall offensive grade of 90.1 from Pro Football Focus this season, good for 4th among all FBS running backs and 24th among all FBS offensive players. Skattebo has accounted for 37.0 percent of ASU's scrimmage yards this season and 39.1% of scrimmage yards in games he played - 4th-best in the FBS.All 1,866 of his yards have come from scrimmage. He needs just 134 scrimmage yards to reach 2,000 for the season and would become just the 100th player in FBS history to accomplish that feat. Skattebo needs just 40 yards to set ASU's school record for most scrimmage yards (Eno Benjamin, 1,905).

3 - Leif Fautanu has played 3,453 snaps in his career, third-most among active FBS centers, behind only NMSU's Canaan Yarro (3,557) and Texas' Jake Majors (3,492) and has started 49 consecutive games in his career out of his 55 total starts.He started all 12 games for the Sun Devils a year ago, playing all but one snap of the season (helmet came off) for the team at center (850).Leif Fautanu has just 5 pressures credited against him, tied for 12th-fewest among FBS players and 7th among centers (min. 300 pass block snaps). His 1.3 pressure allowed percentage is 8th among FBS centers. His 88.0 pass-blocking grade is the 4th-best grade for any FBS center and 13th among all players.

1 - Among players with at least 500 snaps, redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt is the nation's highest-graded freshman player on offense OR defense with his overall offense grade of 89.4 (min. 500 snaps) - 5.2 points higher than South Alabama's Gio Lopez (84.2)in second. He' s 11.9 points ahead of Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava for the highest freshman grade among Power 4 freshmen quarterbacks (77.5).The grade is tied for the 7th-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 500 snaps played). Of the 7 players tied or ahead of him 6 have started an NFL game this season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler).=

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
Be the program's first outright conference championship since 1996 (co-champion in 2007).
Give ASU 11 wins in a season for the first time since 1996 (11-1) and just the sixth time in program history (Frank Kush four times, Bruce Snyder once).
Mark the Sun Devils as one of just three Power 4/5 teams since 2012 to increase their win total by eight games from one season to the next (TCU '21-22, Indiana '23-24)
Improve ASU to 4-0 against AP-ranked opponents this season. It would match ASU's most wins against Top-25 teams since 2014 (4) and be tied for the second-most single season AP wins in program history (5 in 1986).

MILESTONE WATCH
Cam Skattebo needs 134 scrimmage yards to reach 2,000 for the season (currently at 1,866). He would become just the 100th player in FBS history to accomplish that feat.
Skattebo needs just 40 yards to set ASU's school record for most scrimmage yards (Eno Benjamin, 1,905).
Currently at 17, Skattebo needs three rushing touchdowns to set ASU's school record in the cateogry (Woody Green, 19, 1972).
Currently at 19, Skattebo needs just four TOTAL touchdowns to set ASU's school record in the category (22, Wilford White, 1950).
Skattebo needs 245 rushing yards to break Eno Benjamin's school record of 1,642 rushing yards in a single season (currently at 1,398).
Sam Leavitt needs 66 passing yards to reach 2,500 for the season (currently at 2,444) and become the first Sun Devil to reach the mark since Jayden Daniels in 2019 (2,943).
Keyshaun Elliott needs 9 tackles to reach 200 for this career (currently at 191).
Myles Rowser needs 6 tackles to reach 200 for his career (currently at 194).
Shamari Simmons needs 7 tackles to reach 250 for his career (currently at 243).

MAKING THE GRADE (NOTABLE PFF GRADES)
Sam Leavitt is the nation's highest-graded freshman player on offense OR defense with his overall offense grade of 89.4 (min. 500 snaps) - 5.2 points higher than South Alabama's Gio Lopez (84.2) who is in second. He is 11.9 points ahead of Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava for the highest freshman grade among Power 4 freshmen quarterbacks (77.5).
Leavitt is the 15th-highest graded quarterback in the nation, regardless of eligibility.
Cam Skattebo (90.1) is the fourth-highest graded running back on overall offense this season and 24th-highest offensive player at any position in the FBS.
Leif Fautanu is the highest-graded center in the Big 12 and fourth-highest graded center in the FBS on pass blocking with a mark of 88.0.
Xavion Alford is the nation's 29th-highest graded safety overall (81.2), 18th in coverage (88.3) and 20th in tackling (84.3). He ranks fourth, third and first, respectively, in those categories among Big 12 safeties.
Caleb McCullough is the second-highest graded Big 12 linebacker on run defense (84.1) and 30th-highest graded linebacker in the FBS in the category.
Jordyn Tyson was the highest graded offensive player in the Big 12 in Week 14 following the Territorial Cup (91.4). It was the second-highest grade for any wide receiver in the FBS and the ninth-best grade for any offensive player in the FBS, regardless of position.
Emmit Bohle (91.2) was the second-highest graded offensive player in the Big 12 behind Tyson in Week 14 an the second-highest graded tackle in the FBS for the week. It was the 11th-best grade of ANY offensive player in the country for the week.

LAST TIME OUT - ARIZONA
Both Cam Skattebo (177) and Kyson Brown (100) ran for 100 yards against the Wildcats, as the Sun Devils finished with 281 yards on the ground. The last time ASU had two rushers reach 100 yards was Demario Richard (119) and Kalen Ballage (103) on Nov. 18, 2017 at Oregon State.
Arizona State finished with 643 yards of total offense, a season high. It was the most yardage the Sun Devils have produced since collecting 652 against Texas Tech on Sept. 10, 2016 (68-55 win). It was the most yardage in a conference game since ASU posted 742 on Oct. 29, 2015.
Arizona State has won six of the last eight meetings in the series. The Sun Devils hold a 16-9 advantage against the Wildcats since 2000.
ASU shutout Arizona in the first half. It is the first time Arizona State has shutout Arizona in the first half since 2010, a game that ended in a 30-29 victory for the Sun Devils. The 35-0 lead matches the largest halftime lead in Territorial Cup history.
The 49 points are the sixth time the Sun Devils have scored 40+ points in a game against Arizona since 2012.
Since 2010, Arizona State is averaging 40.0 points per game in matchups with the Wildcats (15 games).
Arizona State has now allowed only seven points in two of their past three visits to Tucson.
ASU has outscored Arizona 158-92 in their past four meetings in Tucson (3-1 record).
ASU's 390 yards in the first half were its most in a half in any game since it had 401 in the first half of the Territorial Cup in 2015.
The 210 total yards by Arizona were the fewest by the Wildcats since posting 196 against Utah back in 2019.

WILD SKATT
Cam Skattebo is 7th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs with 4,079 career rushing yards while his 6.1 yards per carry are 17th in that group. (min. 300 carries).
Despite not plaing essentially two games (DNP vs. UCF, DNP in fourth quarters vs. WYO, @OKST, @ARIZ), he is 8th in the FBS this season with 1,398 yards rushing, 7th at 127.1 rushing yards per game and 2nd in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game at 169.64 - tops in the Big 12 and ranking only behind Boise State's Ashton Jeanty
Skattebo has accounted for 37.0 percent of ASU's scrimmage yards this season and 39.1% of scrimmage yards in games he played - 4th-best in the FBS.
He has forced 237 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 3rd among active FBS/FCS halfbacks and he is 6th at 0.36 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt (min. 300 attempts).
He is 4th among FBS running backs this season wtih 78 missed tackles forced on rushing plays, despite missing the missed time. He has 93 total missed tackles forced with pass plays including, the 3rd-best mark among all FBS players.
Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 36.2 percent of his career carries, 2nd among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 300 attempts). He has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 34.7 percent of his rushes this year, good for 5th in the FBS (min. 150 carries).
He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 10.5 percent of his career carries, good for the 7th-lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts). His 13.3 stuff rate this season is 11th in the FBS.
He is currently averaging 3.9 yards after contact per career rush - tied for 16th among all active FBS/FCS backs. He has 2,569 yards after contact in his career, more than 150 other active FBS/FCS running backs with 300+ carries have TOTAL for their career rushing yards. His 964 yards after contact this year are 5th in the FBS and would be good for 33rd among all running backs in the FBS for TOTAL yards on the year.
Skattebo has 337 rushing yards in the fourth quarter of games this season, good for 9th nationally despite missing one game and coming out in the fourth quarter in blowouts against Wyoming, Oklahoma State and Arizona.
He has 18 rushes for a first down or touchdown in the fourth quarter of games - good for 6th in the nation in the nation. His 10 runs of 10 yards or more in the final frame are also tied for 9th in the FBS.
32.7 percent of his fourth quarter rushes this season have resulted in a first down or touchdown, good for 14th in the FBS, and his 57 fourth quarter touches (rushing and receiving) are 9th in the country

BOO SHIESTY
Cam Skattebo's (pronounced BOO) 468 receiving yards are 4th among FBS running backs, despite missing nearly two game's worth of action.
He lies 4th in the nation with 473 yards after the catch among the FBS running backs - a total good for 17th among all FBS players, regardless of position.
His 178 receiving yards after contact are 6th among FBS running backs and 39th among all FBS offensive players..
His 20 first downs/touchdowns receiving are 3rd among FBS running backs and his 13.4 yards per catch are 4th (min. 100 receiving snaps).
Skattebo's 121 receiving yards against Oklahoma State and 117 against Texas Tech and the 4th and 6th most receiving yards by an FBS halfback this season.
Against Oklahoma State, Skattebo became the first Sun Devil running back with 100+ rushing AND receiving yards in a single game since Demario Richard put up 151 receiving and 104 rushing against New Mexico in 2015.
He became one of just 15 FBS running backs since 1996 to rush for over 150 yards and receive for 100 yards and one of just six Big 12 running backs since 1996 to rush and receive for over 100 yards in a conference game.
With his 117-yard receiving yard effort against Texas Tech, Skattebo became the first ASU running back to have over 100 receiving yards in a game since Kalen Ballage on Nov. 10, 2016 at Utah (113).
Twice, Skattebo has recorded games with over 250 all-purpose yards, joining Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and Utah State's Jalen Royals as the only two FBS players to do so twice this year. Only Skattebo and Jeanty have done it without kick/punt returns included.
Since at least 1996, he is the only Sun Devil to record 250+ scrimmage yards twice, period, let alone in the same season.

SKAT BACK
Skattebo has received an overall offensive grade of 90.1 from Pro Football Focus this season, good for 4th among all FBS running backs and 24th among all FBS offensive players.
Skattebo has multiple touchdowns in seven of his last nine games and has rushed for a touchdown in nine of the 11 games this year he has played in.
He has 19 total 100+ rushing yard performances in his career, with eight coming at Arizona State.
His 19 total touchdowns this season are 8th among FBS players and 2nd in the Big 12. The total is tied for fourth in ASU single season history and he needs just four to break the school record in the category (22, Wilford White, 1950/20, Marion Grice, 2013/20, Terry Battle 1996).
Skattebo's 17 rushing touchdowns are also tied for fourth in program history and he needs just three to set the single season school record (19, Woody Green, 1972/18, Cam Marshall, 2011/18, Terry Battle, 1996).
Skattebo's 1,866 all-purpose yards are the fourth-most in the country while the 169.6 all-purpose yards per game are 2nd.
He is the only player in the country with 1,000+ rushing yards and 400+ receiving yards, even with a missed game.
All 1,866 yards have come from scrimmage. He needs just 134 scrimmage yards to reach 2,000 for the season and would become just the 100th player in FBS history to accomplish that feat. Skattebo needs just 40 yards to set ASU's school record for most scrimmage yards (Eno Benjamin, 1,905).

SKATTEGORIES
Skattebo has received an overall offensive grade of 90.1 from Pro Football Focus this season, good for 4th among all FBS running backs and 24th among all FBS offensive players.
Skattebo was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given the the top running back in the country and Maxwell Award, given annually to the best player in college football. He is just the second Doak Walker semifinalist in program history (Eno Benjamin) and the first Maxwell semifinalist.
Five times, he has been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and thrice named the Doak Walker Award National Running Back of the Week (vs. MSU, Utah, Oklahoma State, Arizona). The five Big 12 OPOW honors are behind only Boise State's Ashton Jeanty's six Mountain West weekly accolades this year.
Skattebo's 158 rushing yards were the most allowed by Utah since UCLA's Zach Charbonnet had 198 on Oct. 8, 2022.
His 50-yard touchdown run against the Utes was the longest rushing TD by a Sun Devil since Rachaad White had a 50-yard touchdown on the ground against USC in 2021.
Coming into the Utah game, Skattebo's average touchdown run in games at ASU was 4.9 yards (15 touchdowns) with a long of 17. His 50- and 47- yard touchdowns both surpassed his previous career long touchdown run of 43 yards against Utah Tech in 2022 while he was at Sacramento State.
Skattebo had the game of his career against Mississippi State in Week 2, rushing for a career high 262 yards on 33 carries in the 30-23 victory. He was named the AP National Offensive Player of the Week, The Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and the Doak Walker Running Back of the Week for the effort.
The 262 yards were 50 more than any other player in the FBS for the week. Skattebo rushed for 155 yards AFTER contact in the contest, which alone was more than all but seven players in the country had for TOTAL rushing yardage in their games in Week 2.
Skattebo's 262 yards were the second-most in a single game for a Sun Devil EVER, behind only Eno Benjamin's 2018 school record of 312 against Oregon State.
Skattebo had 19 first downs rushing against MSU, eight more than any other FBS player in Week 2. He had a first down/touchdown rate of 57.6, which was eighth in the country overall (min. 10 carries), but notable as no player ahead of him had more than 14 carries compared to his 33.
93 of Skattebo's yards came in the fourth quarter, including a game-best 39-yard run on the final drive to seal the victory.
He becomes the first Sun Devil to go over 30 carries since Rachaad White had 32 carries against Washington on Nov. 13, 2021. His 137 rushing yards at half was the most by a Sun Devil since Eno Benjamin had 185 against Oregon State on Sept. 29, 2018.
It was the most rushing yards by one individual against Mississippi State since at least 2004.

WHEN THE LEAVITT BREAKS
Among players with at least 500 snaps, redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt is the nation's highest-graded freshman player on offense OR defense with his overall offense grade of 89.4 (min. 500 snaps) - 5.2 points higher than South Alabama's Gio Lopez (84.2) who is in second. He is 11.9 points ahead of Tennessee's Nico Iamaleava for the highest freshman grade among Power 4 freshmen quarterbacks (77.5).
Leavitt's 89.4 grade for the season is tied for the seventh-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 500 snaps played). Of the seven players tied or ahead of him, six have started an NFL game this season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler).
The grade is good for 15th among all FBS quarterbacks this season.
Leavitt is tied for second among FBS quarterbacks with three game-winning fourth quarter drives this season (Texas State, Kansas, Utah), a total tied for tops in the Big 12 since the 2011 season.
Among players with at least 300 dropbacks, Leavitt is tied for first in the FBS with just three turnover-worthy throws this season, according to Pro Football Focus and his 0.9 turnover-worthy throw percentage is first as well.
His five interceptions are tied for 8th-fewest in the FBS among those with at least 300 dropbacks.
Leavitt is the only quarterback in the country with 20+ touchdowns (21) with 5 or fewer interceptions (5) AND turnoverworthy throws (3) (min. 300 dropbacks). He is one of just 7 QBs with 20+ touchdowns and 5 or fewer INTs.
Only 13 of his passes have been broken up this year, good for the 5th-lowest total in the FBS. His two passes batted at the line of scrimmage at tied for 6th-lowest in the FBS (min. 300 dropbacks).
Leavitt has shown his ability to keep his composure under pressure, with 583 passing yards while pressured - good for 27th nationally despite missing a game. His 9.1 yards per attempt while under pressure are 5th-best in the country.
His 50.0 completion percentage while being pressured is 23rd among FBS quarterbacks.
His 83.0 NFL QBR while under pressure is 15th in the nation. He has picked up a first down with his arm 34 times on 106 pressures - 19th-most in the FBS.
Leavitt has set his receivers up for success, finding open players and hitting guys in stride to the tune of 59.9 percent of his total yardage coming after the catch - good for 2nd nationally behind Texas' Quinn Ewers.
His 8.5 yards per pass attempt are 14th in the FBS.

TAKE IT OR LEAVITT
Sam Leavitt has rushed for 352 yards this season on 42 QB scrambles, the yardage good for the 7th-most among quarterbacks in the FBS.
He has picked up a first down or touchdown on 45.2 percent of those QB scrambles, good for 15th among FBS quarterbacks (min 25 scrambles).
Leavitt has the nation's 7th-best rushing grade when scrambling this season at 74.7. His 74.3 overall rushing grade is 27th among FBS quarterbacks.
He has thrice been named the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Week this season and also earned the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week honor following the K-State contest.
After having just three touchdown passes in his first four games, he now has 18 in his last seven with a touchdown:interception ratio of 21:5 for the season.
Leavitt is the first ASU quarterback to have five games in a season with three or more touchdown passes (5) since Mike Berocovici in 2015 (6).
He had his first career 300+ yard game against Oklahoma State, finishing 20-of-29 for 304 yards and three touchdowns with no picks.
Leavitt was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week following his four touchdown effort against Kansas, including the game-winner with less than a minute remaining. The four touchdowns were the most for any quarterback in the country in Week 6 as he was the highest-graded quarterback in the Big 12 for the week by PFF and ninth best in the FBS (89.4).
Leavitt's 258 passing yards in his starting debut against Wyoming were the third-most by a Sun Devil making his debut since 1996, behind only Joey Yellen (292, 2019) and Jayden Daniels (284, 2019).

STARTING STRONG
The Sun Devils have not punted on an opening drive this season and have scored on the first drive in nine of 12 games. They have touchdowns in eight of those (a field goal against Wyoming), threw interceptions on the opening drives against Utah and Texas Tech and turned the ball over on downs against UCF.
ASU has outscored opponents 77-3 in the first half of the last three games.
ASU has now outscored opponents 80-16 in the "middle eight" of games (last four minutes of first half, first four minutes of second half).
Four times this season and in three straight games, ASU did not allow an opponent score on the first three drives of the game after it went eight-straight games between doing so between the opener against Wyoming and the Kansas State game.
Prior to the last three games, ASU was 71st in the country in allowing 13.2 points per game in the first half to opponents. Over the last three games, ASU has allowed just 3 points combined.
ASU's 25.7 points her first half in the last three games are the most in the nation and the 1.0 points against per first half in those three games are also first.

KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU
ASU has allowed just 20 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 79 games - 2nd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (18). The FBS average in that span is 44.48 such plays. ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17, giving up a nation-leading 55 such plays in that span - 13 more than any other school in the FBS.
ASU has allowed just 12 catches for 50 or more yards in that span, good for the 3rd-lowest amount in the FBS in that time (Penn State, 10/Washington, 11).
The Sun Devils have allowed just 11 plays over 30 yards this season, tied for the 7th-lowest total in the country. ASU allowed just 22 total plays over 30 yards last season, which was 35th in the FBS.
Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 121 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.6 per game/79 games). That is the 3rd-lowest tally in the FBS in that time behind Iowa (93) and Northwestern (118) (Kennesaw State and Sam Houston State excluded as they joined the FBS after 2018). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays each SEASON, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.

RULE OF THIRDS
The Sun Devils were among the worst teams in the nation on converting third downs last season, ranking 120th in converting just 31.76 percent.
The team has shown vast improvements in the area, currently sitting 15th in the country in converting 46.88 percent of its third down attempts - 75-of-160.
The Sun Devils have converted 41-of-56 opportunities on 3rd-and-less than 3 yards, a 73.2 percent success rate that is 15th nationally.
Much of ASU's success on third down can be attributed to its improvements on first down this season. The team is averaging 6.3 yards per first down this season, 43rd in the FBS after being 98th a year ago (5.4).
ASU's 6.3 yards per third down play this season is good for 26th nationally after ranking 112th nationally at 4.4 yards per third down last season.
Conversely, the defense has allowed just 4.6 yards per third down to opponent offenses - the 26th-lowest total in the country after allowing 5.3 per third down play a year ago (67th).
Opponents have just a 57.5 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU this season, ranking ASU 16th in the country. ASU ranked 113th nationally a season ago in allowing opponents a 96.1 NFL QBR on third down passing.

PLAYING THE FIELD
The field position battle was one ASU frequently lost a season ago, but have shown improvement in 2024.
ASU has had just 14.9 percent of its offensive drives start inside its own 20-yard line this year - the 21st-lowest tally nationally.
ASU's average starting field position has been its own 28.9 yard line while holding opponents to a starting average of their own 28.9 yard line. ASU's average starting field position a season ago was its own 25.3 yard line compared to opponents starting on their own 34.8. The -9.5 net field position yards ranked ASU dead last in the country (133 of 133), a discrepency that the Sun Devils have cut down by 8 yards this year (+0.0) and rank 67th nationally.
The Sun Devils rank 12th nationally in picking up 58.3 percent of the yards available on offense while limiting opponents to picking up just 46.1 percent of theirs. The net 12.2 percent difference is the 21st-best total in the FBS.
ASU has a successful play percentage (40 percent of first down yardage, 50 percent of second down yardage, 3rd down conversion) of 40.5 percent this year, which is good for 20th in the FBS. The total is notable as ASU had just a 31.0 successful play percentage last season that was 115th in the country.
52.6 percent of Sun Devil offensive drives have resulted in ASU scoring a touchdown or getting in range for a field goal attempt - good for 16th nationally. Only 40.2 percent of such opponent drives have done the same, a net +12.5 percent difference that is the 24th-best in the nation. ASU ranked dead last (133rd) in the category a season ago with a net -29.0 percent tally as only 28 percent of its drives resulting in a touchdown or field goal attempt (124th) compared to a 57 percent success rate for opponents (132nd of 133).
The Sun Devils are averaging 2.95 points per drive this season, good for 16th nationally and have a net .86 points per drive over opponents advantage that is 24th in the country. Last season, ASU was 130th nationally with a net -1.54 points per drive with the offense scoring just 1.40 points per drive (122nd) while allowing opponents to post 2.95 points per drive (123rd) - the latter compared to a 2.15 mark this season that is 58th..

THE 100-YARD LANDLORD
Xavion Alford has dubbed himself the @100YardLandlord across his social media platforms and has made sure to become eponymous with the title this season as ASU's last line of defense in the secondary.
Playing the 4th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 this season (424, 33rd in FBS), Alford has allowed just 7 receptions, and 3rd-fewest in the FBS (min. 300 coverage snaps).
Opponents have chosen to throw his way on just 4.0 percent of coverage snaps, the 4th-lowest total among all FBS players. His 17 targets on the year are 9th-lowest in the FBS.
He has allowed just 76 yards in coverage this season - 4th-lowest among all FBS players.
He has allowed just 0.18 yards per coverage snap this season, 2nd-lowest in the FBS.
Alford has forced an incompletion 29.4 percent of the time when targeted, the 4th-best tally among all FBS players. Opponents have just a 35.0 NFL QBR when targeting Alford, sixth-lowest in the FBS.
Alford is the nation's 29th-highest graded safety on overall defense (81.2, 4th in the Big 12) and 18th-highest graded safety in coverage (88.3, 3rd in the Big 12).
ASU's last line of defense, Alford has been sure-handed as well with the nation's 19th-best tackling grade among safeties (84.3), first in the Big 12
He has been credited with just six missed tackles this year, tied for 39th-fewest among FBS safeties (min. 400 snaps) with a 8.5 missed tackle percentage that is 26th among FBS safeties.
Alford is second on the Sun Devils with 75 tackles.

NO FLY ZONE
Among FBS slot defenders, Shamari Simmons is one of just 9 players in the country not credited with a touchdown allowed (min. 200 snaps), despite playing the 3rd-most slot coverage snaps in the country (339).
He is one of just 6 corners, period, in the Big 12 to not be credited with a touchdown allowed this year.
His 1.04 yards allowed per slot coverage snap are the 26th-lowest total in the FBS. He has accomplished this despite being the 3rd-most targeted slot defender in the country (64 targets)
Opponents have just a 74.5 NFL QBR when targeting Simmons, 12th-lowest among FBS slot defenders.
Javan Robinson has been credited with just two touchdowns allowed this season, the 14th-lowest total among all Big 12 corners (min. 200 snaps).
In the Oklahoma State and UCF games, Laterrance Welch had five pass breakups and an interception return for a touchdown. He has two INTs on the season.
A true Sun Devil corner (nickelback excluded) had an interception in four-consecutive games between the Utah and UCF games, the first time ASU had accomplished that feat since 2013.
Opponents have just a 57.5 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU this season, ranking ASU 16th in the country. ASU ranked 113th nationally a season ago in allowing opponents a 96.1 NFL QBR on third down passing.
The ASU defense has allowed just 6.43 yards per passing attempt this season, the 30th-lowest total in the country. The group was 88th a year ago with 7.54 yards allowed per attempt.
Since 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 38 total passing plays over 40 yards - the 6th-fewest in the FBS in that time. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranking second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.

IN THE TRENCHES
ASU has the second-quickest average time to cause a QB pressure in the Big 12 at an average of 2.48 seconds. The team has done that with largely four-man rushes on the year, blitzing just 25.2 percent of the time - the 14th-lowest total nationally - while the team has brought just four or fewer pass rushers 325 times - 10th-MOST among all FBS teams.
Jacob Kongaika's three sacks are tied for third among Big 12 interior linemen.
On run plays, the big men up front on the defensive line have a depth of tackle average of 2.02 yards, tops in the Big 12 and 30th nationally.
C.J. Fite's six tackles for loss or no gain are 6th among the league's interior linemen and Top-40 nationally. His 14 defensive "stops" are 10th among Big 12 interior players. His 1.38 average depth of tackle is sixth-best in the Big 12 among interior linemen.
A year ago, Fite played the fourth-most snaps of any true freshman defender in the Pac-12 and tops among all defensive linemen. He was Top-50 among all true freshmen defenders in the FBS in snaps played and his 350 snaps were third among all true freshmen interior defensive lineman in the FBS for the season.
Among FBS true AND redshirt freshmen, Fite's 71.3 grade from PFF on run defense was fifth in the country. That mark was good for 13th among all Pac-12 interior defenders, regardless of year.
ASU's interior linemen as a whole last season had 22 combined tackles for loss or no gain on rushes - good for 13th in the FBS. Those interior linemen had an average depth of tackle of just 1.49 yards, the 23rd-lowest tally in the FBS.

WHERE'S THE BEEF?
The Sun Devil offensive line entered the 2024 season with a combined 156 career starts spread amongst them entering the 2024 season, the fifth-highest tally in the country.
The experienced group has done its part this season in protecting its quarterback and also paving the way for its rushers as the squad looks to be one of the more improved lines in the country.
ASU's offensive linemen have received a 84.4 pass blocking grade from PFF as a group this season, the 12th-best tally nationally. The offensive line itself has been credited with just 7 of ASU's sacks this year, the 125th-lowest total in the country. The group has allowed just 65 total pressures, the 23rd-lowest total in the FBS - the latter notable as the group was 80th in the country in the category last year.
As a team, ASU is 34th in the country in only allowing 17 sacks this season after ranking 87th a season ago with 30 allowed.
ASU's offensive linemen have been charged with just five non-pre-snap penalties this season - the eighth-lowest total among all FBS offensive lines.
ASU's quarterbacks have had an average time to throw of 3.39 seconds this season, good for 24th-best in the FBS after ranking 128th in the country a season ago at 2.48 seconds.
The group is 21st nationally with an average of 2.10 seconds before allowing a QB pressure. ASU was 117th a year ago with a 2.37 mark before giving up a QB pressure.
Sam Leavitt has had less than 2.50 seconds to thow the ball on just 45.4 percent of his dropbacks this season, the 33rd-lowest tally in the FBS (out of 93 QBs that have at least 300+ dropbacks). For perspective, last season, Trenton Bourguet had less than 2.50 seconds to throw the ball 65.9 percent of the time - the second-MOST of any quarterback in the FBS.
Leif Fautanu has just 5 pressures credited against him, tied for 12th-fewest among FBS players and 7th among centers (min. 300 pass block snaps). His 1.3 pressure allowed percentage is 8th among FBS centers.
His 88.0 pass-blocking grade is the 4th-best grade for any FBS center and 13th among all players.
He has not been credited with a sack allowed this season.
Fautanu has played 3,453 snaps in his career, third-most among FBS centers behind only NMSU's Canaan Yarro (3,557) and Texas' Jake Majors (3,492) and has started 49 consecutive games in his career out of his 55 total starts.
Ben Coleman is 23rd among all FBS players with just 6 pressures credited by PFF this season (min. 300 pass block snaps). His 1.5 pressure allowed percentage on 390 pass block snaps is 34th.
Coleman has not been credited with allowing a sack this season.
Last season, despite being the only FBS team to see at least 11 different combinations of its starting five offensive linemen due to unprecedented bad luck on the injury front, ASU allowed just 13 total sacks in its final eight games (including four games with no sacks) compared to 17 in the first four games. The 13 sacks in the last 8 games were 42nd-lowest in that time while the 17 in the first four weeks were sixth-WORST in the country.
The team allowed a knockdown percentage of 11.1 percent in the final eight games and is right in the middle of the FBS. Through the first four weeks of the season, ASU's knockdown percentage was 21.9 - 7th worst in the FBS.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
ASU's defense continues to build upon a solid base in its second season under defensive coordinator Brian Ward, who was named a candidate for the 2023 Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football.
ASU has allowed just 336.6 yards per game, good for that is 37th nationally after ranking 89th a year ago (396.8). Opponents are averaging just 5.18 yards per play - 41st-lowest in the country.
ASU's defense currently ranks 20th in overall defensive EPA at -0.070.
The team has allowed offenses to pick up just 46.1 of their available yards, the 54th-lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country a year ago in allowing 56.3 percent of available yards.
ASU has been much improved in keeping opponents from getting across the 50, allowing other teams to pick up just 68.2 percent of their available yards up to their own 40-yard line - the 65th-lowest total in the FBS while also allowing only 59.9 percent of opponent yards up to the ASU 40 - 60th nationally. ASU ranked 121st and 126 in those categories a year ago.
Only 40.2 percent of opponent drives have resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt, the 57th-lowest total in the FBS - notable after being 132nd (of 133) in the country last year with a 57.0 clip.
Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 44 occasions over 79 games (55.7 percent of the time) - including eight of 12 this year. For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
ASU have held opponents to 30 points or less in 52 of 79 games since 2018 (65.8 percent) - including nine of 11 this year. This is notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17.
In eight of 11 games following the season opener last season, ASU held its opponent at or below its season scoring averaging entering the game (Oklahoma State 27/27.0, Fresno State 29/36.5, USC 42/59.3, Cal 24/32.8, Colorado 27/34.2, Washington 15/44.3, Washington State 27/32.9, UCLA 7/28.6). ASU is 10 for 11 in that category this year: Mississippi State (23/56.0), Texas State (28/41.5), Texas Tech (30/44.7), Utah (19/28.3), Cincinnati (24/31.0), Oklahoma State (21/30.5), UCF (31/33.2) Kansas State (14/31.2), BYU (21/31.6), Arizona (7/23.1).

AIR JORDYN
Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson had nine touchdowns in his last eight games and 892 yards (107.0 yards per game) on 61 catches in that span. In the first four games, he had 14 catches for 209 yards with one touchdown.
The 892 yards were the most for any FBS player from Week 6 to the end of the regular season, as were his 9 touchdowns.
Tyson's 624 yards in the month of November were 119 more than any other FBS player for the month and his six touchdowns were 2nd.
Tyson has 1,101 yards on the year and is the first Sun Devil to go over 1,000 receiving yards since Brandon Aiyuk in 2019 (1,192). The tally is 10th-most in program history and 6th-most in a 12-game season.
Tyson 10 receiving touchdowns on the season, tying him for sixth all-time in Sun Devil Football history and one of just 11 Sun Devils total to reach double digits in a single season. He is the first to reach double digits since Jaelen Strong had 10 in 2014.
The 10 receiving touchdowns were 10th in the FBS regular season and behind only Travis Hunter's 14 in the Big 12
Tyson became the first Sun Devil to catch two touchdowns in two straight games since Frank Darby had back-to-back two-score games at UCLA (10/26/19) and vs. USC (11/9/19).
His 176 receiving yards against KSU were the most since Brandon Aiyuk put up 196 on Washington State back on Oct. 12, 2019. It was the most receiving yards in a road game since Devin Lucien had 200 yards at California on Nov. 28, 2015.
Tyson's 11-yard catch at 7:48 in the third quarter of that game gave him a new career high for single-game yardage, surpassing his previous best of 137 yards against Oregon in 2022 while he was a member of the Colorado football team. He also set a new career high with 12 receptions in the game.
Four of his touchdown receptions this season have come in the final five minutes of a half (two in the first half and two in the second half).
Three of his touchdown catches have come in the fourth quarter of games - tied for 11th among FBS receivers.
His 13 third down receiving conversions were 18th in the FBS regular season.
Tyson was 9th in the country in the regular season with 51 first down/touchdown receptions, third in the Big 12.
Tyson emphasized Hines Ward's "No Block, No Rock" mantra as he was 7th among FBS receivers with 360 run-blocking snaps in the regular season.

GOLD RUSH
The Sun Devils rank 24thin the FBS in averaging 195.0 rushing yards per game this year.
Twice this season, ASU has rushed for over 300 yards in a game - the first time it has accomplished that feat since 2012 (vs. NAU, vs. Navy).
The group is averaging a rushing first down or touchdown 30.3 percent of the time, good for 37th nationally.
The rushing attack has been especially efficient in punishing opponents with ASU running backs earning 3.6 yards after contact per rush - 29th in the FBS.
ASU has forced 137 missed tackles on run plays this season, 3rd-most in the FBS.
The Sun Devils ranked 10th in the FBS in averaging 0.28 missed tackles forced per running play last season, a tally they have repeated to the dot this year and sit at 11th.
Since 2020, ASU's 20.5 percentage of total drives have ended with a rushing touchdown is 11th in the FBS.
ASU has received a team rushing grade of 97.2 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 20th-highest tally in the FBS.
Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 18.1 percent of its rushes - good for the 31st-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.2 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 29th in the FBS.
Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 30.5 percent of its rushes - 16th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.3 yards per rush in that time, tied for 33rd in the FBS.
Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 60 of 79 games (75.9 percent).
The Sun Devils have produced a 1,000-yard rusher 10 times in the last 14 seasons - with one of the lone exceptions being the shortened 2020 season. For comparison, from 1976-2010, ASU had just eight 1000-yard rushers over 34 years.

BUT ALSO NO RUSH
The Sun Devils have held opponents to just 116.8 rushing yards per game, the 27th-best total in the country and second in the Big 12. This comes despite ASU playing four of the Top-29 teams in the nation this season in rushing offense (UCF, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas State). ASU was 36th in the FBS in allowing just 133.5 rush yards per game to opponents last season.
11 times in 24 games under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward has ASU held an opponent under 100 rushing yards in a game.
Caleb McCullough has the 8th-best run blocking grade in the Big 12 overall and 30th among all FBS linebackers (84.1)
Keith Abney (80.0) and Shamari Simmons (79.6) and rank 38th and 41st among all FBS corners as run blockers.
A year ago, the Sun Devils allowed only 88 rushing yards to Washington State, which marked the third consecutive game that ASU had held an opponent to under 100 rushing yards. It was the first time since the first three games of the 2016 season that ASU had accomplished the feat (Northern Arizona - 56 yards, Texas Tech - 72 yards, UTSA - 93 yards).
It was the first time it had happened against three-straight Pac-12 Conference opponents since a four-game stretch in the 2015 season (USC - 76, UCLA - 62, Colorado - 49, Utah - 72).
In that three-game span against CU/UW/WSU, Arizona State allowed only 157 total rushing yards - the fewest over a three-game stretch since the Sun Devils allowed only 96 against Colorado (99), Washington (-5), and Washington State (2) during the 2013 season.
A lot of that success can be attibuted to the Sun Devil secondary as well, which received a positive rush defense grade on 17.3 percent of run plays this season from PFF, the 32nd-highest tally among safeties and corners in the FBS.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR
Arizona State only had eight takeaways all of last year - 127th of 133 teams. It has 19 (14 interceptions and five fumble recoveries) through 12 games this year - a total good for 38th in the country.
Sun Devil true corners (excluded the nickelback) recorded interceptions in four straight games (Keith Abney vs. Utah and at Cincinnati/Javan Robinson at Oklahoma State/Laterrance Welch vs. UCF). It was the first time ASU has had corners accomplish that feat in four straight games since 2013 (Robert Nelson at Stanford/Osahon Irabor vs. USC and Notre Dame/Nelson and Lloyd Carrington vs. Colorado).
This season marked the first since 2020 (at USC 4 TOs; at Arizona 7 TOs) that the Sun Devils have forced three or more turnovers twice in a three-game span (3 vs. Wyoming, 3 at Texas State).
The Sun Devils picked off Utah's Cam Rising three times, matching the veteran's career high for a game. Rising now has 17 interceptions in his career (on over 750 career passes), of which the Sun Devils are responsible for six of them (35.3 percent). The three interceptions in the game were the most for an ASU team since having three against Stanford on Oct. 8, 2021.
ASU was one of just five teams in the country with a fumble recovery in each of its first three games.
ASU is tied for 6th nationally with just three fumbles lost this year.
ASU has recorded four defensive touchdowns this season (2 pick sixes, 2 fumble returns), the 5th-most in the FBS
Taking out ASU's COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, the Sun Devils had a streak of at least one pick six in 23 consecutive seasons (2000-2022) come to a close last season - ending what was the longest streak in the FBS.
ASU immediately started a new streak with Zyrus Fiaseu's 29-yard return in the opener of 2024. ASU would also pick up a scoop-and-score from Justin Wodtly later in the contest on a 6-yard fumble return, giving ASU an interception AND fumble return for a touchdown in the same game for the first time since UCLA in 2008.
ASU has outscored opponents 955-561 in points off takeaways since 2012 and 48-21 this season.

WHO'S THE NEW GUY
For the second consecutive season, there will be a slew of newcomers taking the field for the Sun Devils in the form of 60 new players this season - the ninth-highest tally in thie FBS.
The Sun Devils have just three players in their final year of eligibility that started their careers at Arizona State (Trenton Bourguet, Caleb McCullough and Anthonie Cooper) - tied for the fourth-lowest tally in the FBS.
ASU's 46 scholarship newcomers are tied for third most in the FBS while the teams 58 returning players are tied for the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS. Only 38 of those players are scholarship student-athletes, tied for the third-lowest mark in the FBS.
The Sun Devils welcomed the 48th best freshman class in the country by 247Sports, good for the top half of the Big 12 at No. 7 in the league.
The team's transfer portal haul was tabbed at No. 30 overall and No. 4 in the Big 12.
Overall, with the two groups combined, ASU checks in with the No. 43 class in the country and No. 7 in the Big 12.
It should be noted, however, that ASU's talent rating from 247Sports (which takes into account transfer's high school ratings) is ranked 30th in the nation and second in the Big 12.
While both were on the Sun Devil roster last season, antiquated NCAA rules that were inevitably overturned kept Jake Smith and Xavion Alford out for the season. When the duo takes Frank Kush Field on Saturday night, it will have been 1,342 days for Smith (Dec 29, 2020 - Aug. 31, 2024) and 1,009 days for Alford (Nov. 27, 2021 - Aug. 31, 2024) since either player has appeared in a college football game.
Ben Coleman was another newcomer last season that was forced to miss the year with an injury and will be taking the field for the first time in 646 days (Nov. 25, 2022-Aug. 31, 2024) on Saturday.

MOUNTAIN AMERICA STADIUM, HOME OF THE ASU SUN DEVILS
Arizona State University and Sun Devil Athletics have announced a multi-year naming rights partnership last season 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.
The partnership happens as a fever pitch surrounds Sun Devil Football and the hiring of Sun Devil graduate Kenny Dillingham, one of eight Arizona State alumni leading programs as head coaches at the University. ASU fans have been "Activating the Valley" leading up to the start of the 2023 college football season, as over 90 percent of football season tickets have been renewed so far, and 4,000 new season tickets have been sold. And now, with the record-breaking football naming partnership and comprehensive relationship with Mountain America, numerous Olympic sports teams will be showcased, and multiple areas of the Sun Devil fan experience, from in-stadium entertainment to digital marketing, will be impacted.
Both Mountain America and ASU are committed to giving back to the community, and this partnership will provide support to the community and student-athletes in a variety of ways: Football Field Goals: Mountain America will donate $250 to the Sun Devil Club for every field goal made to enhance ASU's student-athlete experience, Shoe Donation Program: ASU and Mountain America will develop a shoe donation program, providing brand-new shoes to community members in need, Scholarships: Each year, Mountain America will provide $20,000 to ASU student-athletes, with $10,000 going to women's sports and $10,000 to men's sports, Financial Education Programs: Mountain America will offer special student-athlete financial education programs, including personal coaching sessions, Internship Program: Mountain America will also provide an internship program for student-athletes to help students develop the skills and experience needed for future endeavors.

SMART DEVILS

ASU will compete with 22 young men this season that have already earned their undergraduate degrees:
Xavion Alford - Graduated SP24 Liberal Studies BA
Emmit Bohle - Graduated SP23 Liberal Studies BA
Coben Bourguet - Graduated SP24 Engineering Management BSE, working on Industrial Engineering MS)
Trenton Bourguet - Graduated FA22 Communication BS
Cade Briggs - Graduated SP23 University Studies BA (Texas Tech, Homeland Security Graduate Certificate (ASU)
DeCarlos Brooks - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
Jeff Clark - Graduated SP24 (Louisville)
Ben Coleman - Graduated FA22 Media Studies (Cal), Earned Master's at ASU in SP24 Communications, working on Digital Audience Strategy MS
Anthonie Cooper - Graduated FA22 Interdisciplinary Studies
Prince Dorbah - Graduated SU24 Communication BS
Leif Fautanu - Graduated FA23 Liberal Studies BA, working on Communications MA
Xavier Guillory - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
Caleb McCullough - Graduated SP24 Interdisciplinary Studies
Troy Omeire - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
Elijah O'Neal - Graduated SU24 Liberal Studies BA
Shamari Simmons - Graduated FA23 Liberal Studies BA
Jake Smith - Graduated FA23 Liberal Studies BA, working on Communications MA
Melquan Stovall - Graduated FA22 Business Administration/Organization and Innovation Management BS, Earned master's at ASU SP24 – Organizational Leadership MS, Starting another master's – Global Security MA
Parker Lewis – Graduated SP24 (Ohio State), working on W.P. Carey MBA
Jeff Sims – Graduated SP24 (Nebraska)

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