Football Returns From Bye, Takes on Cowboys in Stillwater

The Sun Devils will look to become bowl eligible on Saturday.

Xavion Alford hypes up the crowd.

October 30, 2024

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THE GAME - Sun Devil Football returns from its second bye week of the season and heads back on the road to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. Scheduled for a 4 p.m. AZT kickoff (6 p.m. locally), the contest is scheduled to be broadcast on FOX (Connor Onion and Mark Helfrich on the call). The game will also be available over the local airwaves in Arizona on ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE COWBOYS - The Sun Devils will take on the Cowboys for the third consective season after previously taking part in a home-and-home series against OSU prior to joining the Big 12. Oklahoma State leads the all-time series, 3-2, winning both of those contests. The two programs had not previous played since the 1993 season. The Cowboys are looking for their first win in the Big 12. It will be ASU’s second-straight game playing a team celebrating its annual Homecoming event, with Oklahoma State’s dubbed “America’s Greatest Homecoming” and set for its 103rd rendition. The Cowboys have won seven of their last eight Homecoming games and 13 of the last 16.

SIX DEGREES OF SUN DEVIL-ATION

Oklahoma State Defensive Line coach Paul Randolph was Arizona State’s Associate Head Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach, and Associate AD for Championship Life from 2012 to 2015.
Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham and Randolph were a part of the same coaching staff at Memphis from 2016-2018.
Arizona State Assistant Special Teams Coordinator Matt Butterfield was on Oklahoma State’s Coaching staff as an offensive assistant from 2017-2018.
Marcus Arroyo was Oklahoma State’s running backs coach from 2015-2016. Arroyo and Oklahoma State Safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt coached together at the University of Wyoming in 2009.
Oklahoma State wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling was together with Arizona State defensive coordinator Brian Ward, Defensive Line Coach AJ Cooper and Defensive Back Javan Robinson at Washington State in 2022,
Oklahoma State QB coach Tim Rattay and Bryan Carrington were on the USC coaching staff in 2021.
Oklahoma State Offensive Lineman Noah McKinney and Arizona State starting Center Leif Fautanu were teammates at UNLV in 2022. McKinney was recruited by Arizona State Offensive Coordinator Marcus Arroyo to play at UNLV in 2022 when Arroyo was Head Coach
Oklahoma State running back AJ Green (22-23) and Arizona State Linebacker Jordan Crook (22-23) and Offensive Lineman Joey Su’a (2023) played together at Arkansas.
Oklahoma State Wide Receiver Gavin Freeman and Arizona State defensive Clayton Smith were teammates at Oklahoma in 2022.

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. ASU ranks 32nd nationally in picking up 53.5 of the yards available on offense while limiting opponents to picking up just 43.3 percent of theirs. The net 10.2 percent difference is the 29th-best total in the FBS.

2. Javan Robinson is tops among Big 12 corners (min. 200 coverage snaps) in allowing just 11 receptions this season - a total that ranks sixth among all FBS corners.

3. Sam Leavitt (81.7) is the nation’s second-highest graded freshman QB (true or redshirt) behind only South Alabama’s Gio Lopez (83.3).

4. After ranking 120th in converting just 31.76 percent of their attempts last year, the team is currently sitting 47th in the country in converting 43.37 percent of its third down attempts

5. ASU is outscoring opponents 42-13 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 nine scores this season in the final five minutes of the first and second halves, the 18th-best total nationally.

7. The Sun Devil defense has allowed just 4.3 yards per third down to opponent offenses - the 23rd-lowest total in the country after allowing 5.3 per third down play a year ago (67th).

8. Ben Coleman has allowed just one QB pressure this season, tied for the fewest among FBS players while his 91.1 pass blocking grade is fourth among all FBS players.

9. Shamari Simmons has the best run defense grade of any Big 12 player (88.8) and the ninth best grade in the category among all FBS defenders.

10. Opponents have just a 53.1 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU this season, ranking ASU 17th in the country. ASU ranked 113th nationally a season ago (96.1)

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 only Colorado 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.

50 - 50.7 percent of Sun Devil offensive drives have resulted in ASU scoring a touchdown or getting in range of a field goal attempt- good for 35th nationally. Only 40.3 such opponent drives have done the same, a net 10.4 percent difference that is the 35th-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 ASU’s defense’s 40.3 scoring drive allowed mark has ASU ranked 62nd a year later.

5 - Playing the 14th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 this season (244), Alford has allowed just five receptions, tied for the second-fewest among Big 12 secondary players (min. 200 coverage snaps) and third-fewest in the FBS. Opponents have chosen to throw his way on just 4.1 percent of coverage snaps, 6th-lowest total among all FBS players. He has allowed just 41 yards in coverage this season - fifth-lowest among all FBS players and second in the Big 12. He has allowed just 0.17 yards per coverage snap this season, second-lowest in the Big 12 and fifth in the FBS.Alford has forced an incompletion 40.0 percent of the time when targeted, the best tally among all FBS players.

3 - Leif Fautanu has played 3,123 career snaps, the third-most snaps among active centers in the FBS behind only NMSU’s Canaan Yarro (3,188) and Texas’ Jake Majors (3,215). 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). He has started in 50 career games with 44 of those coming consecutively. Fautanu has just three pressures credited against him, tied for 16th-fewest among FBS players and seventh among centers (min. 200 pass block snaps). His 1.4 pressure allowed percentage is 14th among FBS centers. His 86.3 pass-blocking grade is fifth among FBS centers.

2 - ASU has the quickest average time to cause a QB pressure in the Big 12 at 2.38 seconds, a total good for 32nd nationally. The team has done that with largely four-man rushes on the year, blitzing just 24.6 percent of the time - the 23rd-lowest total nationally while the team has brought just four rushers 186 times - 40th among all FBS teams. Conversely, ASU’s quarterbacks have had an average time to throw of 3.25 seconds this season, good for 33rd-best in the FBS after ranking 128th in the country a season ago at 2.48 seconds. The group is 28th nationally with an average of 2.58 seconds before allowing a QB pressure. ASU was 117th a year ago with a 2.37 mark before giving up a QB pressure.

0 - Shamari Simmons is one of just 12 slot defenders in the country not credited with a touchdown allowed by PFF (min. 150 snaps), despite playing the 11th-most slot coverage snaps in the country (202). His 178 total yards allowed are 13th-lowest in the country (min. 150 snaps in slot defense), and his 0.88 yards allowed per slot coverage snap are the 9th-lowest total in the FBS. He has accomplished this despite being the eighth-most targeted slot defender in the country (40 targets). Simmons has allowed just one reception per 7.2 coverage snaps this season, the sixth-lowest ratio in the FBS.

LAST TIME OUT - CINCINNATI
The Sun Devils posted their first second-half shut out of the season and the first since blanking Washington State in the second half of the game in 2022.
After giving up 30 third down conversions over its previous four games (and no less than seven in any of those), ASU limited the Bearcats to just 3-of-12 on third down conversions in the contest.
Cam Skattebo posted two rushing touchdowns for the fourth time in the last five games. He has rushed for a touchdown in five straight and in six of seven games this season.
ASU’s touchdown on its first drive of the game was the first touchdown allowed on the first drive by the Bearcats all season. Cincinnati had also forced a turnover on the first opponent drive of four of its six games entering the ASU contest before the Sun Devils drove down the field and scored on the opening drive. Unfortunately, ASU DID turn it over on the second drive, leading to a Bearcat touchdown and a key turning point in the contest.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...
Give ASU six wins in its first eight games for the first time since starting the 2014 season with an 8-1 record.
Give ASU two road wins for the first time since the 2020 season (ASU’s eight victories in 2021 were vacated).
Ensure the Sun Devils avoid their first two-game losing streak of the year.
Mark only the second time in the last nine Homecoming games that Oklahoma State has lost and just the fourth in the last 17.

MILESTONE WATCH
Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson needs 53 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his career (currently at 947). He needs two touchdown receptions to reach double digits for his career (currently at 8)
Cam Skattebo needs 152 yards to reach 1,000 for the season (currently at 848) to reach the millenial mark for the second time in his career.
Skattebo needs three total touchdowns (rushing or receiving) to reach 40 for his career (currently at 37 with 32 rushing and five receiving).
Keyshaun Elliott needs 18 tackles to reach 200 for this career (currently at 182).
Myles Rowser needs just 12 tackles to pass his previous season high of 70 tackles a year ago (currently at 59).
Defensive ends Clayton Smith and Prince Dorbah need just 1 and 6 tackles, respectively, to reach 50 for their carrers (currently at 49 and 44).

MAKING THE GRADE (NOTABLE PFF GRADES)
Cam Skattebo has the highest rushing grade in the Big 12 this season (88.8), a total good for 11th among FBS running backs
Skattebo’s 86.6 overall offensive grade is fourth in the Big 12 overall, tops among league running backs and eighth among all FBS halfbacks.
Shamari Simmons is the highest-graded player on run defense in the Big 12 (88.8) and the ninth-highest graded player in the FBS overall in the category (third among all FBS corners).
Ben Coleman ranks fourth in the nation among all players with his pass blocking grade of 91.1 this year. He is second among all FBS guards in the category.
Leif Fautanu is the sixth-highest graded center in the FBS this season with a pass blocking grade of 86.3.
Xavion Alford has the top tackling grade among all Big 12 safeties and 18th-best among FBS safeties at 84.5. His 79.9 score in coverage this season is 11th among all B ig 12 players and Top-40 among all FBS safeties.

WILD SKATT
Cam Skattebo is 9th among all active FBS AND FCS running backs with 3,529 career rushing yards while his 6.2 yards per carry are 16th in that group. (min. 300 carries). He is 12th in the FBS this season with 948 yards rushing, seventh at 121 rushing yards per game and second in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game at 161.57 - tops in the Big 12
He has forced 208 career missed tackles on rushing plays, 4th among active FBS/FCS halfbacks, as are his 0.37 missed tackles forced per rushing attempt (min. 300 attempts). He is 7th among FBS running backs this season wtih 49 missed tackles forced on rushing plays.
Skattebo has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 36.6 percent of his career carries, tops among all active FBS/FCS backs (min. 300 attempts). He has rushed for a first down or touchdown on 35.1 percent of his rushes this year, good for 10th in the FBS.
He has been stuffed for no gain or a loss on just 10.4 percent of his career carries, good for the fifth-lowest tally among all active backs at both levels (min. 300 attempts). His 14.6 stuff rate this season is 27th among running backs.
He is currently averaging 3.8 yards after contact per career rush - tied for 18th among all active FBS/FCS backs. His 3.8 yards after contact per rush this season are 22nd in the FBS and his 567 total yards after contact are 11th.
Skattebo has 277 rushing yards in the fourth quarter of games this season, good for third nationally.
He has 15 rushes for a first down or touchdown in the fourth quarter of games - tied for tops in the nation. His eight runs of 10 yards or more in the final frame are third in the FBS.
38.5 percent of his fourth quarter rushes this season have resulted in a first down or touchdown, good for fourth in the FBS, and his 46 fourth quarter touches (rushing and receiving) are third in ther country
He has 16 total 100+ rushing yard performances in his career, with six coming at Arizona State.

BOO SHIESTY
With his 117-yard receiving yard effort against Texas Tech, Cam Skattebo (pronounced BOO) 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).
His 283 total receiving yards this season are fourth among FBS running backs and his 23 receptions are 13th.
He lies fourth in the nation with 280 yards after the catch among the FBS running backs - a total good for 36th among all players, regardless of position.
His 112 receiving yards after contact are seventh among FBS running backs.
His 23 first downs receiving are 13th among FBS running backs and his 12.3 yards per catch are second.

SKAT BACK
Skattebo has rushed for two touchdowns in four of ASU’s last five games and has rushed for a touchdown in six of seven games this year and in five-straight games.
He has thrice been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week and twice named the Doak Walker Award National Running Back of the Week (vs. MSU, Utah).
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.
Skattebo’s 85.8 grade as a rusher from PFF is fourth among all FBS running backs this season and his Week Two grade of 84.6 was third among FBS backs - though the two ahead of him had just 14 and 13 rushes in their efforts.
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
Amongst players with at least 200 snaps, redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt is currently the nation’s second-highest graded freshman (true or redshirt) quarterback by PFF (81.7) behind only South Alabama’s Gio Lopez (83.3). He is the fifth-highest graded freshman among all FBS offensive players, regardless of position.
Among players with at least 150 dropbacks, Leavitt is tied for fifth in the FBS with just two turnover-worthy throws this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Only eight of his passes have been broken up this year, good for the 11th-lowest total in the FBS. He is one of just seven quarterbacks in the country not to have a pass batted at the line of scrimmage.
Leavitt has shown his ability to keep his composure under pressure, with 389 passing yards while pressured - good for 28th nationally despite having two bye weeks and missing a game. His 10.0 yards per attempt while under pressure are fourth best in the country.
He has three touchdown passes this season coming while being pressured, tied for 29th in the country.
His 53.8 completion percentage while being pressured is 13th among FBS quarterbacks.
His 82.1 NFL QBR while under pressure is 24th in the nation. He has picked up a first down with his arm 23 times on 64 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 55.9 percent of his total yardage coming after the catch - good for 18th nationally.
Leavitt has rushed for 230 yards this season on 26 QB scrambles, the yardage tied for the seventh-most among quarterbacks in the FBS.
He is 29th among FBS quarterbacks with four touchdown rushes. His 31 first downs rushing are 31st.
He has picked up a first down or touchdown on 50.0 percent of those QB scrambles, good for 14th among FBS quarterbacks.
Leavitt has the nation’s 4th-best rushing grade when scrambling this season at 79.6. His 76.4 overall rushing grade is 23rd among FBS quarterbacks.
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).
Sam Leavitt’s Sun Devil debut against Wyoming was about as good as anyone could have asked for with the redshirt freshman throwing for 258 yards on 14-of-22 passing, recording two touchdowns and no interceptions while also adding 47 rushing yards.
The 258 passing yards with the third-most by a Sun Devil making his debut since 1996, behind only Joey Yellen (292, 2019) and Jayden Daniels (284, 2019).

KEEP THEM IN FRONT OF YOU
ASU has allowed just 20 plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 74 games - tied for the second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (17). The FBS average in that span is 42.52 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, tied for the fourth-lowest amount in the FBS in that time.
The Sun Devils have allowed just seven plays overs 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 117 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.6 per game/74 games)). That is the third-lowest tally in the FBS in that time behind Iowa (92) and Northwestern (108) (Sam Houston State and Kennesaw State excluded as they joined the FBS after 2018). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays each SEASON, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th.

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 of their attempts.
The team has shown vast improvements in the area, currently sitting 50th in the country in converting 42.11 percent of its third down attempts - 40-of-95
ASU’s 5.8 yards per third down play this season is good for 52nd nationally after ranking 112th nationally at 4.4 yards per third down last season.
Conversely, the defense has allowed just 4.3 yards per third down to opponent offenses - the 23rd-lowest total in the country after allowing 5.3 per third down play a year ago (67th).
Opponents have just a 53.1 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU this season, ranking ASU 17th 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 glimpses of improvement in 2024.
ASU has had just 13.0 percent of its offensive drives this season start inside its own 20-yard line this year - the 19th-lowest tally nationally.
ASU’s average starting field position has been its own 28.0 yard line while holding opponents to a starting average of their own 30.7 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 tally that the Sun Devils have cut down by over seven yards thus year
The Sun Devils rank 32nd nationally in picking up 53.5 of the yards available on offense while limiting opponents to picking up just 43.3 percent of theirs. The net 10.2 percent difference is the 29th-best total in the FBS.
The defense has been exceptional in keeping opposing offenses pinned in their own territory, allowing opponents to pick up just 57.9 percent of the total yards available from the starting field position to the opponent’s own 40-yard line - the 17th-lowest percentage in the FBS - while only 53.4 percent of drives have made it to ASU’s 40 yard line, good for 33rd in the country.
50.7 percent of Sun Devil offensive drives have resulted in ASU scoring a touchdown or getting in range of a field goal attempt - good for 35th nationally. Only 40.3 such opponent drives have done the same, a net 10.4 percent difference that is the 35th-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 2.59 points per drive this season, good for 39th nationally and have a net .44 points per drive over opponents that is 45th in the country. 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 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 14th-most snaps in coverage in the Big 12 this season (244), Alford has allowed just five receptions, tied for the second-fewest among Big 12 secondary players (min. 200 coverage snaps) and third-fewest in the FBS.
Opponents have chosen to throw his way on just 4.1 percent of coverage snaps, the 6th-lowest total among all FBS players.
He has allowed just 41 yards in coverage this season - fifth-lowest among all FBS players and second in the Big 12.
He has allowed just 0.17 yards per coverage snap this season, second-lowest in the Big 12 and fifth in the FBS.
Alford has forced an incompletion 40.0 percent of the time when targeted, the best tally among all FBS players.
He is the nation’s 27th-highest graded safety in coverage this season (79.3).
ASU’s last line of defense, Alford has been sure-handed as well with the nation’s 18thh-best tackling grade among safeties (84.5). He has been credited with just two missed tackles this year, tied for sixth-fewest among FBS safeties.

NO FLY ZONE
Among FBS slot defenders, Shamari Simmons is one of just 12 players in the country not credited with a touchdown allowed (min. 150 snaps), despite playing the 11th-most slot coverage snaps in the country (202).
His 178 total yards allowed are 13th-lowest in the country (min. 150 snaps in slot defense), and his 0.88 yards allowed per slot coverage snap are the 9th-lowest total in the FBS. He has accomplished this despite being the eighth-most targeted slot defender in the country (40 targets)
Simmons has allowed just one reception per 7.2 coverage snaps this season, the sixth-lowest ratio in the FBS.
Javan Robinson is tops among Big 12 corners (min. 200 coverage snaps) in allowing just 11 receptions this season - a total that ranks sixth among all FBS corners.
He is 25th among FBS corners in allowing just 146 yards in coverage and his 0.66 yards allowed per coverage snap are 27th.
Opponents have just a 53.1 NFL QBR rating on third downs against ASU this season, ranking ASU 17th in the country. The group ranked 113th nationally a season ago in allowing opponents a 96.1 NFL QBR on third down passing.
The ASU defense has allowed just 6.35 yards per passing attempt this season, the 31st-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 37 total passing plays over 40 yards - the sixth-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 quickest average time to cause a QB pressure in the Big 12 at 2.38 seconds, a total good for 32nd nationally. The team has done that with largely four-man rushes on the year, blitzing just 24.6 percent of the time - the 23rd-lowest total nationally while the team has brought just four rushers 186 times - 40th among all FBS teams.
ASU has hit the quarterback 22 times this season, tied for the 44th-highest total in the country.
ASU’s average depth of tackle on run plays is within 4.17 yards, fifth-best in the Big 12 and 46th nationally. The big men up front on the defensive line, however, have a depth of tackle average of 1.95 yards, 30th nationally and tops in the Big 12.
C.J. Fite’s 11 defensive “stops” on run defense are 8th in the Big 12 among interior linemen. His four tackles for loss or no gain are tied first among the league 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 based.
ASU’s offensive linemen have received a 79.2 pass blocking grade from PFF as a group this season, the 35th-best tally nationally. The offensive line itself has been credited with just five of ASU’s sacks this year, the 33rd-lowest total in the country. The group has allowed just 41 total pressures, the 32nd-lowest total in the FBS.
As a team, ASU is 31st in the country in only allowing 10.0 sacks this season after ranking 87th a season ago with 30 allowed.
ASU’s quarterbacks have had an average time to throw of 3.25 seconds this season, good for 33rd-best in the FBS after ranking 128th in the country a season ago at 2.48 seconds.
The group is 28th nationally with an average of 2.58 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 44.7 percent of his dropbacks this season, the 40th-lowest tally in the FBS (out of 100 QBs with 150+ 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.
Ben Coleman ranks is tops in the FBS with just a single QB pressure allowed this year (min. 200 pass block snaps), one of just four players in the country to lay sich a claim. His 0.4 pressure allowed percentage on 221 pass block snaps is second nationally among all players.
His 91.1 pass blocking grade is fourth among all FBS players and second among guards.
Leif Fautanu also has just three pressures credited against him, tied for 14th-fewest among FBS players and seventh among centers (min. 200 pass block snaps). His 1.4 pressure allowed percentage is 14th among FBS centers. His 86.3 pass-blocking grade is fifth among FBS centers.
Fautanu has played 3,123 snaps in his career, third-most among FBS centers behind only NMSU’s Canaan Yarro (3,188) and Texas’ Jake Majors (3,215) and has started 44 consecutive games in his career out of his 50 total starts.
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 328.7 yards per game, good for that is 38th nationally. Opponents are averaging just 4.92 yards per play - 26th-lowest in the country.
ASU’s defense currently ranks 26th in overall defensive EPA at -0.054.
The team has allowed offenses to pick up just 43.3 of their available yards, the 46th-lowest total nationally. ASU was 124th in the country a year ago in allowing 56.3 percent of available yards.
The defense has allowed just two drives this year longer than 80 yards to opponents.
ASU has been stalwart in keeping opponents from getting across the 50, allowing other teams to pick up just 57.9 percent of their available yards up to their own 40-yard line - the 17th-lowest total in the FBS.
Only 40.3 percent of opponent drives have resulted in a touchdown or field goal attempt, the 62nd-lowest total in the FBS after being 132nd (of 133) in the country last year with a 57.0 clip.
ASU has been credited with just 35 missed tackles against the run - tied for the 35th-lowest tally in the country. The Sun Devils were Top-40 in the country last season in only being credited with 129 missed tackles on defense.
Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 42 occasions over 74 games (57.5 percent of the time) - including six of seven 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 49 of 74 games since 2018 (66.2 percent) - including six of seven 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 five for six 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).

GOLD RUSH
The Sun Devils rank 19th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 in averaging 208.3 rushing yards per game this year. It is worth noting that ASU has lost 8.3 yards per game (58 total yards) to taking a knee at the end of games/halves.
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 first down or touchdown 32.1 percent of the time, good for 19th nationally.
The rushing attack has been especially efficient in punishing opponents with ASU running backs earning 3.7 yards after contact per rush - 28th in the FBS.
A huge part of the rushing success has come by way of the team’s wide receivers and their edge blocking. Jordyn Tyson (223) has the 8th-most run-blocking snaps of any wide receiver in the FBS.
ASU has forced 81 missed tackles on run plays this season, 13th-most in the FBS.
The Sun Devils ranked 16th in the FBS in averaging 0.29 missed tackles forced per running play last season.
Since 2020, ASU’s 20.8 percentage of total drives ending with rushing touchdowns is 10th in the FBS.
ASU has received a team rushing grade of 96.7 from PFF since the 2020 season, the 23rd-highest tally in the FBS.
Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 18.0 percent of its rushes - good for the 32nd-lowest tally in the FBS. The team has averaged 3.2 yards after contact per rush in that time - tied for 28th in the FBS.
Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 30.9 percent of its rushes - 12th-most in the FBS. The team is averaging 5.4 yards per rush in that time, tied for 28th in the FBS.
Since 2018, ASU has rushed for 100+ yards in 56 of 74 games (75.7 percent).
The Sun Devils have produced a 1,000-yard rusher nine times in the last 13 seasons - with one of the lone exceptions being the shortened 2020 season. For comparison, from 1976-2010, ASU had a 1000-yard rusher just eight times.

BUT ALSO NO RUSH
The Sun Devils have held opponents to just 115.9 rushing yards per game, the 32nd-best total in the country. ASU was 36th in the FBS in allowing just 133.5 rush yards per game to opponents last season.
Eight times under Kenny Dillingham and Brian Ward has ASU held an opponent under 100 rushing yards in a game.
Shamari Simmons has the highest run defense of any players in the Big 12 and ninth-best in the FBS at 88.8 (min. 200 run defense snaps), a total good for third among the nation’s corners. He is joined in the Top 25 of corners by teammate Keith Abney (23rd, 79.2)
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. It already has 11 (seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries) through seven games this year.
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 has four fumble recoveries already this season after having just four total a season ago.
ASU is tied for 18th nationally with just two fumbles lost this year.
ASU has recorded three defensive touchdowns this season, the sixth-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 934-554 in points off takeaways since 2012 and 27-14 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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