# #

Sun Devils Embark on Back-to-Back PNW Games Starting at UW

by thesundevils.com
Nov 10, 2021

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football will look to build momentum down the stretch of the season as it embarks this weekend on its first of two straight games in the Pacific Northwest against the Washington Huskies on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. AZT/4 p.m. Locally at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Wash. The contest will be broadcast nationally on FS1 (Dan Hellie and Petros Papadakis on the call) and available over the airwaves locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Jeff Munn).

ON THE HUSKIES - The Huskies are winners of two of their last three games and played within a one-possession game of the CFP's No. 3 team Oregon last week in Seattle in a tough 24-16 loss in tough conditions. ASU leads the all-time series, 20-16, and are winners of 11 of the last 13 games against UW, though Washington has won the last two played in Seattle. Washington leads the Pac-12 in first downs allowed, passing yards allowed, pass efficiency defense, and scoring defense; and is second in total defense. UW has gone 84 games in a row without allowing an opponent to score more than 35 points, easily the longest such streak in the nation. 

KICKING OFF

  • In a rare set of circumstances, UW will mark the third-straight team ASU will play without the head coach that started the season at the helm as Washington's Jimmy Lake has been suspended following an incident in last weekend's game against the Ducks. ASU is coming off games against Washington State (Nick Rolovich let go due to COVID-19 state legislation) and USC (Clay Helton let go after loss to Stanford in Week 2).
  • This will mark the first time ASU has made a back-to-back trips to the Pacific Northwest since the conference expanded in 2011. Only six teams in the Pac-12 era have had to endure the challenge, one of which being Stanford last season in a COVID year where schedules were re-done midseason. That 2020 Stanford team is the only team to go 2-0 in those games, with two teams going 1-1, and three going 0-2. No team in a undisrupted year have won back-to-back games in the Pacific Northwest since at least 2011.
  • The contest features two teams who do not allow big plays. ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 39 games. The .18 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.13 per game on 5 plays over 40 games). UW is tied for fourth in the FBS this season with just 8 30+ yard plays allowed with ASU right behind it in seventh with nine. 
  • Chase Lucas will tie Dexter Davis' school record of 47 career starts with a start this weekend. 
  • Rachaad White is one of only 14 running backs in the FBS to rush for over 200 yards against a Power 5 opponent this season.
  • Against FBS opponents in non-garbage time, ASU has a +1.50 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive is 10th-highest in the nation.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD...

  • Keep ASU within at least a game of the first in the Pac-12 South
  • Give ASU its best 10-game mark (7-3) since 2014 (8-2) and best 7-game Pac-12 mark (5-2) since that 2014 season as well (also 5-2)
  • Improve ASU to 12-2 over the Huskies in the last 14 contests dating back to 2002.
  • End ASU's two-game losing streak in games played in Seattle

NOTABLE SERIES NUMBERS - USC

RUSHING YARDS

  • 214-Mario Bates, ASU (UW 31, @ASU 7/Sept. 5, 1992)
  • 185-Willie Hurst, UW  (No. 13 UW 33, @ASU 31/Oct.27, 2001)
  • 163-Mario Bates, ASU (@ASU 32, UW 17/Oct/ 30, 1993)

PASSING YARDS

  • 428-Cary Conklin, UW (ASU 34, @UW 32/Nov. 4, 1989)
  • 405-Jake Browning, UW (ASU 27, UW 17/Nov. 14, 2015)
  • 401-Rudy Carpenter, ASU (@ASU 44, UW 20/Oct. 29, 2005)

RECEIVING YARDS

  • 223-Andre Riley, UW (ASU 34, @UW 32/Nov. 4, 1989)
  • 194-Shaun McDonald, ASU (No. 13 UW 33, @ASU 31
  • 162-Keith Poole, ASU (@UW 23, ASU 20/Sept. 2, 1995)

TACKLES

  • 20-Ben Burr-Kirven, UW (@#10 UW 27, ASU 20/Sept. 22, 2018)
  • 17-Joe Kelly, UW (@ASU 36, UW 7/Nov. 9, 1985)
  • 17-Jason Shivers, ASU (No. 13 UW 33, @ASU 31/Oct. 27, 2001)

MILESTONE WATCH

  • 476 passing yards by Jayden Daniels to reach 6,000 in his career (Currently at 5,524)
  • 1 touchdown by Rachaad White to reach 20 in his career (Currently at 16 - 17 rush, 2 receiving)
  • 2 rushing touchdowns by Rachaad White to move into a tie for 8th in ASU single season history (needs 14, currently at 12. School record is 19)
  • 4.5 sacks by Tyler Johnson to move into the Top-10 in ASU career history (needs 19.0, currently at 14.5)
  • 2 starts by Chase Lucas to become ASU's all-time leader in career starts (needs 48, currently at 46. He will tie Dexter Davis' school record of 47 this weekend.)

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. Chase Lucas is one of just 7 Pac-12 corners with 150+ coverage snaps to not allow a TD this year, despite being targeted the most of any corner in the Pac-12 (20.8 percent).

2. ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 27 of 39 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. 

3. Rachaad White has multiple touchdowns in seven of his 12 games played at Arizona State and at least one touchdown in 10 games. 

4. ASU is just the seventh team since the Pac-12 expansion to have to play back-to-back games in the Pacific Northwest in consecutive weekends. 

5. ASU has converted 90.0 percent of its opportunities (18-of-20) with one or two yards to go on third down - best in the FBS.

6. When rushing on third down, Jayden Daniels has picked up a first down or touchdown 55.9 percent of the time (min. 50 attempts) - 6th among FBS quarterbacks since 2019.

7.  ASU's offensive line has allowed a quarterback pressure on just 23.5 percent of dropbacks this year, the 13th-lowest tally in the FBS.

8. ASU is eighth in the FBS in allowing just 7.4 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. 

9. The Sun Devils lead the nation in allowing just one play over 40 yards this season and are one of just three teams not to allow a 50-yard play on the year. 

10. ASU is one of just 15 teams in the country with four players with over 275 rushing yards on the year.

BY THE NUMBERS

50 - ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 39 games. The .18 50+ yard plays per game allowed are 2nd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.13 per game on 5 plays over 40 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17. The last 50-yard play allowed was a rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020, giving ASU a streak of 11 straight games without a 50-yard play allowed. That is the second-longest active streak in the entire FBS behind only Oregon (14). ASU has gone 13 games without a 50-yard passing play.

47 - Chase Lucas is in line to make his 47th career start this weekend, which would tie him with Dexter Davis for the most in ASU career history.Among all active FBS players, Chase Lucas is tied for ninth in the nation with 34 career passes defended. Among Pac-12 corners with 150 snaps in coverage, Lucas has been targeted th most at 20.8 percent of the time. Despite that, Lucas is one of just 7 corners to not allow a touchdown this year. His six forced incompletions are tied for first in the Pac-12 and his 14.6 percent forced incompletion rate is good for fourth among the league's corners. 

41 - ASU's 41 rushing touchdowns over its last 12 games are the most in the FBS over a 12-game span ahead of Buffalo (38) and triple options Army (38) and Air Force (37).. ASU is one of just 15 teams in the country with four players with over 275 rushing yards. ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 13 straight games - its longest streak since a 13-game span from 2013-14.ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in eight of its last 15 games dating back to 2019. In the Herm Edwards era,  ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 13 times and 250+ yards 11 times.

40 - All told, the ASU offensive linemen alone have allowed just 40 quarterback pressures this year - 13 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 7th-fewest in the FBS. As a team, only 15 pressures this season have come unblocked, good for the sixth-lowest total in the FBS.ASU has allowed a pressure on just 23.5 percent of quarterback dropbacks this year as a team, the 13th-lowest total in the FBS. ASU quarterbacks have been knocked down just 16 times this season - eighth-lowest in the FBS. According to PFF, ASU's offensive linemen have been charged with only one of ASU's sacks this year, tops in the FBS. 

27 - ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 27 of 39 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back in a span from 2013-17. ASU is eighth in the FBS in allowing just 7.4 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU is outscoring teams 123-66 in the second half of games this year and 75-29 in the fourth quarter. Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 25.3 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (40 of 158) - the 13th-lowest in the FBS.ASU has allowed just 48 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 11th fewest in the FBS. 

3 - ASU has a third-down conversion rate of 47.9 against FBS opponents, good for 13th in the country. This has been a marked improvement for the Sun Devils over the past decade-plus. ASU was also 21st in the shortened season last season (46.67). For perspective, ASU finished in the Top-25 in third-down conversions just once from 2009-2019 (23rd in 2017).  It finished 47th or worse in every other year in that span at 75th or worse in six of those. The team is especially deadly on third-and-short, converting 90.0 percent of its opportunities (18-of-20) with one or two yards to go on third down - tops in the FBS.

DANNNGGGGG DANIELS

  • Jayden Daniels is currently the highest graded quarterback in the Pac-12 this season (85.5) - and the third-highest graded offensive player in the league regardless of position. The tally marks him as the 26th-highest graded quarterback in the nation.
  • Daniels is currently 36th in the nation and second in the league in yards per attempt at 8.43. 
  • His 67.3 completion percentage is 17th in the nation (min. 200 attempts) and is tops in the league while he has posted 76.8 percent adjusted completion percentage (accounting for drops), which is 18th in the FBS.
  • Daniels is accounting for 259.6 total yards of offense per game this year, 38th nationally and second in the Pac-12.
  • Daniels is 21st in the FBS since 2019 in fourth quarter passing yards (1,186) while his 10 touchdown passes in the final frame are tied for 19th.
  • Daniels has an NFL passer rating of 109.9 in the fourth quarter of games, 8th-highest among FBS quarterbacks since 2019 (min. 100 attempts). 
  • Since 2019, Daniels is second in the FBS in yards per pass attempt with 11+ yards to go (min. 50 attempts) at 11.3 ypa while he is second in yards per completion in the category (17.7 on 1,130 yards and 65 catches). He has seven touchdown passes with 11+ yards to go, tied for third in the FBS since 2019. 
  • His NFL passer rating with over 11+ yards to go since 2019 is 122.5, good for first in the nation since 2019.
  • Among players with at least 400 passing attempts since 2019, Jayden Daniels ranks tied for 18th in fewest interceptions with just 10 on 645 attempts (1.6 percent of his throws). He has the 28th highest NFL QBR in that time at 98.1.
  • Daniels has thrown just two interceptions on third down in his career, tied for sixth-fewest in the FBS since 2019 (min. 100 attempts). The first third down interception didn't come until the 19th game of his career (BYU this season).
  • Since 2019, Daniels is fourth among FBS quarterbacks in yards per attempt on third down at 8.7 (1,403 yards on 161 attempts).
  • Among Power Five quarterbacks with at least 100 third-down attempts since 2019, Daniels is 22nd with an NFL quarterback rating of 95.3.

JAY WALKING

  • As a rusher, Jayden Daniels has a grade of 80.6, good for first among quarterbacks in the league and sixth overall. He is the 10th-highest graded quarterback as a rusher this season.
  • Daniels has forced 26 missed tackles this season, eighth among FBS QBs. His 535 rushing yards before sacks are 12th among FBS quarterbacks.
  • He has 23 explosive runs (10+), fifth among FBS quarterbacks and third out of any player in the Pac-12, regardless of position.
  • Since 2019, Daniels' 1,317 rushing yards overall (sacks excluded) are 16th among active quarterbacks and among those with at least 100 carries, his 6.0 yards per rush are 22nd. 
  • Daniels surpassed the 1,000 career rushing yard mark against Washington State and now sits at 1,060. The school record in quarterback career rushing yards in 1,404 by Taylor Kelly.
  • Daniels rushed for 125 yards against UNLV, his second career 100+ yard game and the fourth-most by a quarterback in program history (he also holds the fifth-best tally with 111 at USC last year).
  • When rushing on third down, Daniels has picked up a first down or touchdown with his feet 55.9 percent of the time (min. 50 rushes) - 6th among FBS quarterbacks since 2019.
  • His 8.0 yards per carry when rushing on third down are 6th among FBS quarterbacks since 2019. He has 21 explosive third down runs (runs of 10+ yards), good for fourth among FBS quarterbacks since 2019.

RUSH HOUR

  • ASU's 41 rushing touchdowns over its last 12 games are the most in the FBS over a 12-game span ahead of Buffalo (38) and triple option offenses Army (37) and Air Force (36). ASU has 27 rushing touchdowns this season, good for 4th in the nation.
  • ASU is one of just 15 teams in the country with four players with over 275 rushing yards.
  • ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 13 straight games - its longest streak since a 13-game span from 2013-14.
  • ASU had 10-straight games dating back to 2020 with over 150 rushing yards before that streak was ended against Utah, where the team finished two yards shy at 148. It was the longest such streak since a 12-game run over 150 yards over the final nine games of 1975 and first three of 1976.
  • ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in eight of its last 15 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 6 of the last 12 games. In the Herm Edwards era,  ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 13 times and 250+ yards 11 times.
  • ASU is 25th nationally and fourth in the Pac-12 with 201.6 rushing yards per game this season.
  • ASU's success this season has come in large part by its receivers grinding on the outside with the wide receiver group of of Andre Johnson (1st), Bryan Thompson (8th) and Ricky Pearsall ranking in the Top 50 highest-graded receivers as run blockers in the entire FBS (min. 200 snaps). ASU has a team wide receiver grade of 88.7 as run blockers this season - tops in the FBS.
  • As a team, ASU has the 22nd-highest graded run blocking group in the FBS (75.4).

THE PRICE IS WHITE

  • ??Rachaad White has multiple touchdowns in seven of his 12 games at ASU and has at least one touchdown in 10 of those 12 games with the Devils.
  • White now has 19 touchdowns in his career (17 rushing, two receiving) in just 12 games played (1.6 per game).
  • Even missing a game this year, White has 12 rushing touchdowns, good for 12th in the FBS and second in the Pac-12.
  • He has been a workhorse for ASU, sixth among Pac-12 running backs with 143 touches this season (114 rushing, 29 receiving) despite missing a game. His 320 total snaps are good for fourth among Pac-12 running backs. 
  • White is the second-highest graded player, regardless of position, overall in the Pac-12 this season (89.3) and the third-highest graded running back in the FBS.
  • White has rushed for 35 first downs this season, 6th among Pac-12 backs. However, he has added 13 first downs as a receiver - good for 6th among all FBS running backs.  
  • 64.4 percent of White's yards have come after contact this season - the 3rd-most in the Pac-12 (min. 100 attempts). He is averaging 3.8 yards after contact per attempt on the year, good for 21st among all FBS running backs with at least 100 attempts. 
  • He is also the highest graded running back in the league as a receiver (84.4) and 3rd-highest graded in the category nationally among backs. 
  • His 33 targets in the passing game are tied for the most among Pac-12 backs despite his missed game and 12th among running backs nationally. His 29 receptions are two more than any other Pac-12 back and 9th among FBS running backs.
  • White has 336 yards after the catch (think catches behind the line of scrimmage) - 70 more yards than any other Pac-12 back and the 4th-highest tally of any FBS running back this season.
  • He has also forced 13 misses tackles as a receiver - second among FBS backs.

RUSH-AAD

  • Rachaad White had himself a day with career highs in carries (28) and yards (202) and matching his career best with three touchdowns on the ground.
  • The effort earned him Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week recognition as well as being the Rose Bowl's National Offensive Player of the Week.
  • White is one of only 14 running backs in the FBS to rush for over 200 yards against a Power 5 opponent this season.
  • White was the first player to rush for over 200 yards since Eno Benjamin's school record 312 yards against Oregon State in 2018. It was the 22nd instance of a Sun Devil rushing for over 200 yards in program history and the 16th individual to reach the milestone.
  • The 202 yards were the third-most in the 38 games played in the series between the two teams.It was the first time USC had allowed a 200-yard rusher since UCLA Josh Kelly in 2018 (289).
  • He was the first player to rush for over 100 yards (102) in the first half since Benjamin against USC in 2018. 
  • He was also the first ASU player with two rushing touchdowns over 47 yards since Benjamin in that same USC game in 2018.

GOING OFF THE RAILS ON A CRAZY TRAYANUM/IN-NGATA DA VIDA

  • DeaMonte Trayanum was the highest-graded running back in the Pac-12 in Week One, posting an overall offensive score of 86.1.
  • Among Pac-12 backs with at least 50 carries this season, Trayanum has the second-lowest "stuff rate" in the league at just 3.2 percent (63 carries). 
  • Daniyel Ngata has 17 first downs on his 43 attempts this season and has a first down/touchdown on 39.5 percent of his touches - the second-highest tally in the Pac-12 and 10th in the FBS (min. 40 carries)
  • Ngata has 11 explosive rushes (rushes of 10+ yards) on his 43 attempts - the 13th-best tally in the league despite having significantly fewer touches than those ahead of him - 8 of whom have 100 or more rushes.
  • Trayanum was the highest-graded running back in the Pac-12 last season by PFF with a score of 87.6 - 4.4 points higher than any other back in the league. White was fourth in the Pac-12 with a score of 82.5.
  • Against UCLA in 2020, Chip Trayanum became the first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Demario Richard in 2014 (14 for 116 vs. Utah - the 8th game of the year). In doing so in just his second game as a Sun Devil, he became the fastest freshman to have a 100-yard game since Keegan Herring rushed for 134 yards on 12 carries in his debut in the season opener for ASU.
  • Trayanum averaged a first down or touchdown on 36.7 percent of his carries last season, tops in the league just ahead of his teammate, White (35.7).

TAKING OFFENSE

  • Against FBS opponents in non-garbage time, ASU has a +1.50 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive is 10th-highest in the nation. 
  • ASU's offense is averaging 6.83 yards per play on the season (against FBS opponents in non-garbage time) - good for 12th in the FBS. 
  • Against FBS opponents, the Sun Devils pick up at least four yards per play on 67.5 percent of plays (4th in the FBS) and gain at least seven yards on 42.9 percent of plays (8th in the FBS).
  • The team is averaging 2.61 points per drive on the year against FBS opponents - 35th best in the FBS. When the team starts between its own 20-40 yard lines, it averages 2.86 points per drive against FBS teams - the 22nd-best tally in the nation.
  • ASU's offense has earned 56.6 percent of the total yards available this season - the 21st-best tally in the FBS. The team is deadly with a short field (from its own 40 inwards), gaining 83.6 percent of the total yards available - fourth-most in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils are 33rd in the FBS with 142 plays over 10 yards this season and first in the Pac-12 with 49 plays over 20 yards. 
  • According to CFB-Graphs.com, ASU's Expected Points Added (EPA) per offensive play average is .228 - good for 9th in the FBS. The site credits ASU's offense with a positive play 49.0 percent of the time - the fifth-best ratio in the nation.

THIRD TIMES THE CHARM

  • ASU has a third-down conversion rate of 47.9 against FBS opponents, good for 13th in the country.
  • With Southern Utah included, ASU's third-down conversion rate still sits at 47.2 percent - 17th in the FBS.
  • This has been a marked improvement for the Sun Devils over the past decade-plus. ASU was also 21st in the shortened season last season (46.67). For perspective, ASU finished in the Top-25 in third-down conversions just once from 2009-2019 (23rd in 2017).  It finished 47th or worse in every other year in that span at 75th or worse in six of those.
  • The team is especially deadly on third-and-short, converting 90.0 percent of its opportunities (18-of-20) with one or two yards to go on third down - tops in the FBS.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

  • ASU has forced 49 turnovers in its last 20 games dating back to 2019, good for second-most in the nation over a 20-game span behind Iowa (50).
  • ASU has forced 54 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 14th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
  • The Devils were tops in the country in turnover margin last season at 2.00. ASU was 6th nationally in turnover margin in 2019 (1.08). 
  • ASU (11th in 2018) is one of just two teams nationally to rank in the Top-25 in turnover margin in each of the past three seasons (Georgia Southern) and only ASU was in the top-15 in each of those seasons.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 809-437 in points off takeaways since 2012. 
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 62.7 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (136 of 217) while finding the end zone 100 times in that span (46.1 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.4 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (74 of 153) with 56 touchdowns (36.6 percent).
  • ASU turned the ball over five times last year, seventh nationally. The Devils turned the ball over just 14 times in 2019 - the 20th-lowest total in the FBS. 
  • ASU is one of just three teams to rank in the Top-25 in fewest interceptions thrown in each of the last three seasons (since 2018), alongside triple-option offenses from Air Force and Navy. 

GETTING DEFENSIVE

  • ASU was the final team in country to not allow an opponent play over 40 yards this year, a streak that came to a close against Washington State.  Still, ASU's one 40-yard play is the fewest allowed in the FBS. The team has the ninth-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just nine.
  • ASU is one of just three teams in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play on the year (Oregon/Texas State).
  • ASU extended its streak to 11 games without allowing a 50-yard play, second in the FBS to only Oregon (14)
  • The Sun Devils are 25th in the FBS and first in the league in allowing just 328.3 yards of offense per game. 
  • ASU has multiple games this season in which it has held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing AND/OR less than 100 yards passing (4 games under 100 yards rushing/2 games under 100 yards passing). It is the first time that has happened since 2012 (four games under 100 yards rushing and two games under 100 yards passing).
  • In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, ASU is allowing just 5.27 yards per play this season, good for 34th in the country.
  • In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gain 7 or more yards on a play just 18.1 percent of the time (11th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.4 percent of the time (18th in the FBS).
  • The Sun Devil defense has been credited with just 91 missed tackles this year - the 22nd-best tally among Power Five teams
  • ASU has held opponents to 400 yards or less in 7 of 9 games this season. That matches the total for the 2020 season (13 games). Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 21 occasions over 39 games (53.8 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
  • ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 39 games. The .18 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.13 per game on 5 plays over 40 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
  • The last time ASU gave up a 50-yard play was a rush by UCLA's Britain Brown in 2020, giving ASU a streak of 11 straight games without a 50-yard play allowed. It last gave up a 50-yard passing play in the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, marking 13 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
  • ASU is one of just seven teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last three seasons (Cal, Washington, Utah, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern). 
  • Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 52 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/39 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. ASU has given up just nine this season - good for seventh in the FBS.

KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD

  • Currently, ASU is 26th in the FBS and second in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.2 points per game. 
  • With second-half shutouts over UNLV and UCLA, this is the first time ASU has held two opponents without a second-half point in a season since 2012 (Utah/Colorado).
  • ASU is eighth in the FBS in allowing just 7.4 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU is outscoring teams 123-66 in the second half of games this year and 75-29 in the fourth quarter. 
  • Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 92 times on 313 drives, a 29.4 score percentage that is the 24th-lowest in the FBS.
  • Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 25.3 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (40 of 158) - the 13th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have allowed just 110 offensive touchdowns (2.8 per game/39 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 - among the Top-25-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
  • ASU has allowed just 48 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 11th fewest in the FBS. It has allowed just 30 second half touchdowns since 2019 - 9th-fewest in the FBS.
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 27 of 39 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17. 
  • Last season, ASU was first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 23.2 points per game (32nd nationally). In 2019, ASU was 35th in the country, allowing 22.4 points per game. The Sun Devils allowed just 25.5 points per game in 2018, good for 53rd nationally. These totals are notable as ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per game allowed in 2017 and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior.

NO FLY ZONE

  • The Sun Devils have forced three or more interceptions in 5 of the last 14 games dating back to 2019. ASU has recorded multiple interceptions five times this season and 12 times in the Herm Edwards era.
  • ASU is tied for fourth in the FBS this season with 13 interceptions. 
  • Among all active FBS players, Chase Lucas is tied for ninth in the nation with 34 career passes defended. Lucas will tie Dexter Davis' school record of 47 career starts with a start this weekend.
  • The Sun Devils have emphasized "cat" coverage this season - man coverage where it's defensive backs are simply asked to guard their "cat". The Sun Devils have been lock down with just 114 "open" targets allowed this year - good for 28th among FBS teams. 
  • Other teams are earning a first down through the air just 37.4 percent of the time against ASU
  • Opponents have an open target just 43.5 percent of the time - the 16th-lowest percentage in the FBS and fourth among Power Five teams.
  • Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 72.3 this season - 4th-lowest in the Power Five (Iowa, Georgia, Washington) and 7th in the FBS.
  • ASU is 30th in the nation in allowing just 198.1 passing yards per game.
  • ASU's coverage has a forced incompletion rate of 11.1 percent - 11th in the FBS.
  • Since 2020, ASU has allowed an explosive passing play (15+ yards) just 13.0 percent of the time (66 on 508 attempts) - among the 25 lowest totals in the FBS.
  • Since Herm Edwards' arrival in 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 17 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranked second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
  • With Colorado throwing for just 67 total passing yards, it was the second time this season ASU has held two opponents under 100 yards in the category (UNLV, 67). The last time ASU accomplished that twice in a season was 2012, though that includes a triple option offense in Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. It is the first time it has done so without a triple option offense in the schedule since 2006 (@Colorado, 86/Stanford, 66).
  • Prior to Stanford, ASU had held its first five opponents this season under 250 passing yards, extending its streak in that category to eight straight games dating back to last season. That was the longest streak since ASU had an 11-game stretch across the 1991 and 1992 seasons. In total, ASU has held eight of nine opponents under 250 passing yards this year.

IN THE TRENCHES

  • Among FBS offensive linemen with 250 snaps in pass protection this year, Dohnovan West ranks tied for sixth in the FBS with only three QB pressures allowed. Kellen Diesch and LaDarius Henderson rank right behind him in a tie for 11th with only four allowed this season.
  • More impressively, only one of ASU's sacks allowed this season has been credited to the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus - the lowest tally in the Power Five and second in the FBS behind only Northern Illinois.
  • All told, the ASU offensive linemen alone have allowed just 40 quarterback pressures this year - 13 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 7th-fewest in the FBS.
  • As a team, only 15 pressures this season have come unblocked, good for the sixth-lowest total in the FBS.
  • ASU has allowed a pressure on just 23.5 percent of quarterback dropbacks this year as a team, the 13th-lowest total in the FBS.
  • ASU quarterbacks have been knocked down just 16 times this season - eighth-lowest in the FBS.
  • The team has a 77.3 overall score as a pass blocking unit, 12th in the nation and second in the Pac-12.
  • Kellen Diesch is currently the highest graded tackle in the Pac-12 and the seventh-highest graded tackle in the FBS as a pass blocker this season. Dohnovan West is 11th among FBS centers as a pass blocker while LaDarius Henderson is 17th among FBS guards.

HOLD THE LINE

  • Since the start of last season, the Sun Devil defensive line (only down linemen and ends) has forced a quarterback pressure on 36.6 percent of opponent passing plays - the 17th-highest in the FBS in that span. This feat is made more impressive considering ASU has blitzed just 22.2 percent of snaps in that time - 24th-lowest nationally.
  • The team is averaging 6.2 tackles for loss per game, good for 29th in the nation and second in the Pac-12. The team is second in the league in averaging 2.33 sacks per game.
  • The line tallied 70 total quarterback pressures last year, sixth in the league but a 17.5 pressure per game average along the line that was easily tops in the league.
  • D.J. Davidson is the Pac-12's second-highest graded interior lineman overall (78.1)  - 15th in the FBS - and highest graded interior linemen in run defense this year (83.1) - 5th in the FBS.
  • Davidson is credited with 24 defensive "stops" on run defense, third in the nation among interior linemen.
  • Tyler Johnson is ASU's active leader in tackles for loss (27.5) and sacks (14.5). He needs 4.5 more sacks to move into the Top-10 in ASU history.
  • Johnson was named the Walter Camp National Defender of the Week for his effort against Stanford, as well as the Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week. He finished with five total tackles (four solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in a dominant effort and was also credited with a key forced fumble. Johnson was the 7th-highest graded defender in Pac-12 overall according to PFF and the 2nd-best among edge defenders (77.8). His 6 QB pressures were the most in the Pac-12 for the week (14th in FBS). Johnson managed to force a pressure on 18.8 percent of his snaps, most in the Pac-12 (18th in FBS).

NO IFS, ANDS OR BUTLERS

  • Sun Devil Football linebacker Darien Butler was named a semifinalist for the 2021 Butkus Award, the Butkus foundation announced on Monday. Butler is one of 16 candidates for the award given to the nation's top collegiate linebacker at the FBS level.
  • Butler leads the team with 60 tackles this season in addition to leading the team with 7.5 tackles for loss - sixth-most in the Pac-12 and second among true linebackers. 
  • He has 16 tackles for loss OR no gain, second-most in the Pac-12 and tied for fourth among all FBS linebackers.
  • Butler has 29 defensive stops on the year, good for fourth among the league's backers.
  • Butler is the Pac-12's highest graded linebacker in coverage at 86.5 - eighth among all LBs in the nation.
  • His three interceptions this season are the most for a linebacker at ASU since Mike Nixon had three in 2009.

Related News & Videos