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Sun Devil Football Takes On Beavers, Looking For Third-Straight

by thesundevils.com
Nov 18, 2021

THE GAME -  Sun Devil Football will look to continue building momentum down the stretch of the season as it embarks this weekend on its second of two-straight games in the Pacific Northwest against the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 8:30 p.m. AZT/7:30 p.m. Locally at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. The contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN (Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Stormy Buonantony on the call) and available over the airwaves locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Jeff Munn).

ON THE BEAVERS - The Beavers are bowl eligible for the first time since 2013 and 5-0 at home this season, as the Sun Devils will look to keep OSU from earning its first undefeated home campaign since the 2000 season. The Beavers' 2001 Fiesta Bowl team and former head coach Dennis Erickson, who coached the Sun Devils from 2007-11, will be inducted into the Oregon State Hall of Fame Friday night and will be honored at Saturday's game. ASU leads the overall series against the Beavers, 30-14-1, though the series has been much more evenly matched in the past decade-plus with the teams going 8-8 since the 2003 season. 

KICKING OFF

  • 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 has won back-to-back games in the Pacific Northwest since at least 2011.
  • Bizarre things are afoot with the alternating Pac-12 schedules every two seasons and the anomalous COVID-19 season in 2020 leading to this being the fifth time in the last six contests between the two teams that the game will be played in Corvallis (2014, '17, '19, '20, '21 with only the 2018 game played in Tempe). ASU is 2-2 so far in the road games, emerging victorious last season and in 2017.
  • All five of those road games have taken place in November/December, four of which have been night games and three will have kicked off after 8 p.m. AZT.
  • Chase Lucas would break Dexter Davis' school record with his 48th career start this weekend
  • Rachaad White's 386 rushing yards over the past two weeks are the second-most by an FBS player over a two-week span this season. (BYU's Tyler Allgeirer, 457 yards - Week 8-9 vs. WSU and Virginia). He has the most yards over a two-game stretch by a Pac-12 running back since J.J. Taylor (Arizona) had 404 rushing yards in games against Oregon and Colorado in 2018 (10/27-11/2).
  • ASU's 10-point fourth quarter comeback against UW last weekend marked the first time that Washington had blown a two-possession fourth quarter lead since the 2012 Apple Cup.

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 (8-3) since 2014 (8-3) and best 8-game Pac-12 mark (6-2) since that 2013 season (7-1)
  • Improve ASU to 3-2 in games played in Corvallis since 2014, with 5 of its last 6 games against OSU being played in Oregon and all five taking place in November/December - four of which at night and 3 after 8 p.m. AZT
  • Keep Oregon State from going undefeated in its home schedule for the first time since 2000
  • Be the first time ASU went 3-0 in the first three weekends of November since 2013 (went 4-0 for the month) and just the sixth time in the Pac-10/12 era ('85, '86, '96, '97, '13)

NOTABLE SERIES NUMBERS - OSU

RUSHING YARDS

312-Eno Benjamin, ASU (ASU 52, OSU 24/Sept. 29, 2018)

254-Jermar Jefferson, OSU (ASU 52, OSU 24/Sept. 29, 2018)

250-Ben Malone, ASU (ASU 44, @OSU 14/Oct. 27, 1973)

PASSING YARDS

384-Derek Anderson, OSU (@ASU 27, OSU 14/Sept. 25, 2004)

365-Sam Keller, ASU (ASU 42, @OSU 24/Sept. 24, 2005)

361-Rudy Carpenter, ASU (@ASU 44, OSU 32/Sept. 22, 2007)

RECEIVING YARDS

193-Derek Hagan, ASU (ASU 42, @OSU 24/Sept. 24, 2005)

174-Mike Hass, OSU (ASU 42, @OSU 24/Sept. 24, 2005)

174-Mike Hass, OSU (@ASU 27, OSU 14/Sept. 25, 2004)

TACKLES

20-James Murphy, OSU (@ASU 30, OSU 16/Nov. 6, 1982)

18-Mike Shimkus, ASU (@OSU 24, ASU 18/Oct. 16, 1971)

17-Bruce Kilby, ASU (@OSU 24, ASU 18/Oct. 16, 1971)

MILESTONE WATCH

  • 386 passing yards by Jayden Daniels to reach 6,000 in his career (Currently at 5,614)
  • 1 rushing touchdown by Rachaad White to move into a tie for 6th in ASU single season history (needs 15, currently at 14. School record is 19)
  • 2 rushing touchdowns by Rachaad White to move into a tie for 5th in ASU single season history (needs 16, currently at 14. School record is 19)
  • 1 start by Chase Lucas to become ASU's all-time leader in career starts (needs 48, currently at 47)

#10THINGS (Twitter-Friendly Notes)

1. Chase Lucas is one of just 6 Pac-12 corners with 200+ coverage snaps to not allow a TD this year, despite being targeted the third-most of any corner in the Pac-12 (18.4 percent).

2. ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 27 of 40 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 eight of his 13 games played at Arizona State and at least one touchdown in 11 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. No team has won both games. 

5. ASU has converted 82.6 percent of its opportunities (19-of-23) with one or two yards to go on third down - sixth-best in the FBS.

6. When rushing on third down, Jayden Daniels has picked up a first down or touchdown 55.0 percent of the time (min. 50 attempts) - 8th among FBS quarterbacks since 2019.

7.  ASU's offensive line has allowed a quarterback pressure on just 25.7 percent of dropbacks this year, the 21st-lowest tally in the FBS.

8. ASU is seventh in the FBS in allowing just 8. 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 two teams not to allow a 50-yard play on the year. 

10. Opponents have an NFL QBR rating of just 71.8 this season against the ASU defense, the sixth-lowest total in the FBS.

BY THE NUMBERS

51 - ASU has forced 51 turnovers in its last 21 games dating back to 2019, good for second-most in the nation over a 21-game span behind Iowa (53). ASU has forced 58 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 13th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020. With two this year, ASU has 20 interception returns for touchdowns since the 2012 campaign - a tally good for second in the Pac-12 (Utah, 21) and 6th in the FBS in that time span. Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.0 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (138 of 219) while finding the end zone 102 times (46.6 percent).

50 - ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 40 games. The .18 50+ yard plays per game allowed are 2nd-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.12 per game on 5 plays over 41 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 12 straight games without a 50-yard play allowed. That is the longest active streak in the entire FBS behind. ASU has gone 14 games without a 50-yard passing play.

48 - Chase Lucas is in line to make his 48th career start this weekend, which would break his tie with Dexter Davis and give him 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 200 snaps in coverage, Lucas has been targeted the third-most at 18.4 percent of the time. Despite that, Lucas is one of just 6 corners to not allow a touchdown this year. His 7 forced incompletions are tied for first in the Pac-12 and his 16.3 percent forced incompetion rate is good for second among the league's corners. 

44 - ASU's 44 rushing touchdowns over its last 13 games are the second-most in the FBS over a 13-game span behind only triple option Army, who pulled ahead with an eight-rushing touchdown game over Bucknell last weekend. ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 14 straight games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995 and the first 11 of 1996 - a 21-game stretch over two seasons. ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 9 of its last 16 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 7 of the last 13 games.

27 - ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 27 of 30 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 seventh in the FBS in allowing just 8.0 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU is outscoring teams 151-79 in the second half of games this year and 96-35 in the fourth quarter. The Sun Devils have allowed just 114 offensive touchdowns (2.9 per game/40 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018  For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).

1 - Rachaad White is the highest graded running back in the FBS this season (91.1), according to PFF. White's 386 rushing yards over the past two weeks are the second-most by an FBS player over a two-week span this season (BYU's Tyler Allgeier, 457). He has the most yards over a two-game stretch by a Pac-12 running back since J.J. Taylor (Arizona) had 404 rushing yards in games against Oregon and Colorado in 2018 (10/27-11/2).?? White has multiple touchdowns in 8 of his 13 games at ASU and has at least one touchdown in 11 of those 13 games with the Devils.

 RUSH HOUR

  • ASU's 44 rushing touchdowns over its last 13 games are the second-most in the FBS over a 13-game span behind only triple option Army, who pulled ahead with an eight-rushing touchdown game over Bucknell last weekend. 
  • Arizona State's 30 rushing touchdowns this season matches the total for the 1996 Rose Bowl team are the most it has had since 2013 (36). If the team gets to 37, it would be the most by a Sun Devil team since 41 in 1973.
  • ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 14 straight games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995 and the first 11 of 1996 - a 21-game stretch over two seasons.
  • As a team, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage just 5.6 percent of the time - sixth-lowest among Power Five schools. The team is picking up a first down or touchdown on 33.6 percent of its rushes - also good for sixth in the Power Five.
  • 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 9 of its last 16 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 7 of the last 13 games. In the Herm Edwards era,  ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 14 times and 250+ yards 12 times.
  • ASU is 19th nationally and fourth in the Pac-12 with 210.0 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 (2nd) and Bryan Thompson (16th) and Ricky Pearsall ranking in the Top 25 highest-graded receivers as run blockers in the entire FBS (min. 200 snaps). ASU has a team wide receiver grade of 84.7 as run blockers this season - tops in the FBS.
  • As a team, ASU has the 17th-highest graded run blocking group in the FBS (79.2).

THE PRICE IS WHITE

  • ??Rachaad White has multiple touchdowns in 8 of his 13 games at ASU and has at least one touchdown in 11 of those 13 games with the Devils.
  • White now has 21 touchdowns in his career (19 rushing, two receiving) in just 13 games played (1.6 per game).
  • Even missing a game this year, White has 14 rushing touchdowns, good for 8th in the FBS and first in the Pac-12.  The total ties him with Marion Grice (14 in 2013) for the seventh-most rushing touchdowns in single-season program history as he sets his sights on the school record of 19 by Woody Green in 1972.
  • He has been a workhorse for ASU, third among Pac-12 running backs with 180 touches this season (146 rushing, 34 receiving) - just three off the Pac-12 lead despite missing a game. His 385 total snaps are good for second among Pac-12 running backs and just five off the league lead.  
  • White is the second-highest graded player, regardless of position, overall in the Pac-12 this season (91.1) and the highest graded running back in the FBS.
  • White has rushed for 48 first downs this season, 4th among Pac-12 backs. However, he has added 17 first downs as a receiver - good for 2nd among all FBS running backs (KSU's Deuce Vaughn, 19).
  • He is averaging 3.5 yards after contact per attempt on the year, good for 4th in the Pac-12 and 34th among all FBS running backs with at least 100 attempts. 
  • He is also the highest graded running back in the league as a receiver (84.7) and 2nd-highest graded in the category nationally among backs. 
  • His 38 targets in the passing game are second among Pac-12 backs despite his missed game and 11th among running backs nationally. His 34 receptions are more than any other Pac-12 back and 9th among FBS running backs.
  • White has 355 yards after the catch (think catches behind the line of scrimmage) - 65 more yards than any other Pac-12 back and the 6th-highest tally of any FBS running back this season.
  • He has also forced 13 misses tackles as a receiver - third among FBS backs.

RUSH-AAD

  • Rachaad White's 386 rushing yards over the past two weeks are the second-most by an FBS player over a two-week span this season. (Tyler Allgeirer, 457 yards - Week 8, BYU at WSU 32 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs; Week 9, BYU vs UVA 9 carries, 266 yards, 5 TDs)
  • He has the most yards over a two-game stretch by a Pac-12 running back since J.J. Taylor (Arizona) had 404 rushing yards in games against Oregon and Colorado in 2018 (10/27-11/2).
  • Rachaad White had himself a day with career highs in carries (28) and yards (202) against USC and matching his career best with three touchdowns on the ground. He topped the carries mark with 32 last week against Washington.
  • The efforts earned him Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week recognition as well as being the Rose Bowl's National Player of the Week in back-to-back weekends.
  • More on the USC outing: 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.
  • More on the UW outing: His 184 rushing yards were the seventh-best ever by a Sun Devil back in a road Pac-12 game. White recorded all three of ASU's third-down conversions in the game, all three of which were in the fourth quarter.White also recorded both of ASU's fourth-down conversions in the game, which also both came in the fourth quarter.

DANNNGGGGG DANIELS

  • Jayden Daniels is currently the second-highest graded quarterback in the Pac-12 this season (84.5) - and the fifth-highest graded offensive player in the league regardless of position. The tally marks him as the 29th-highest graded quarterback in the nation.
  • His 66.9 completion percentage is 18th in the nation (min. 200 attempts) and is tops in the league while he has posted 77.3 percent adjusted completion percentage (accounting for drops), which is 15th in the FBS.
  • Daniels is 22nd in the FBS since 2019 in fourth quarter passing yards (1,213) while his 10 touchdown passes in the final frame are tied for 22nd also.
  • Daniels has an NFL passer rating of 109.6 in the fourth quarter of games, 9th-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 11.8 ypa. 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 second in the nation since 2019. He has thrown just one pick with 11+ to go, tied for 11th in the FBS since 2019.
  • Among players with at least 400 passing attempts since 2019, Jayden Daniels ranks tied for 26th in fewest interceptions with just 11 on 661 attempts (1.7 percent of his throws). 
  • He has the 30th highest NFL QBR in that time at 97.5 (min. 400 attempts) and has accounted for a "turnover-worthy" play just 2.1 percent of the time, tied for fourth in the FBS in the span.
  • Since 2019, Daniels is seventh among FBS quarterbacks in yards per attempt on third down at 8.6 (1,435 yards on 167 attempts).
  • Among Power Five quarterbacks with at least 100 third-down attempts since 2019, Daniels is 30th with an NFL quarterback rating of 91.8.

JAY WALKING

  • As a rusher, Jayden Daniels has a grade of 82.0, good for second among quarterbacks in the league and 4th overall. He is the 9th-highest graded quarterback as a rusher this season in the FBS.
  • Daniels has forced 29 missed tackles this season, 6th among FBS QBs. His 613 rushing yards before sacks are 9th among FBS quarterbacks.
  • He has 355 yards after contact, good for 8th among FBS quarterbacks.
  • He has 27 explosive runs (10+), fifth among FBS quarterbacks and second out of any player in the Pac-12, regardless of position, one out of the leagye lead.
  • Since 2019, Daniels' 1,395 rushing yards overall (sacks excluded) are 15th among active quarterbacks and among those with at least 100 carries, his 6.1 yards per rush are 21st. 
  • Daniels surpassed the 1,000 career rushing yard mark against Washington State and now sits at 1,116. 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 55.0 percent of the time (min. 50 rushes) - 8th 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.

TAKING OFFENSE

  • Against FBS opponents in non-garbage time, ASU has a +1.31 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive is 15th-highest in the nation. 
  • ASU's offense is averaging 6.53 yards per play on the season (against FBS opponents in non-garbage time) - good for 19th in the FBS. 
  • Against FBS opponents, the Sun Devils pick up at least four yards per play on 65.9 percent of plays (7th in the FBS) and gain at least seven yards on 38.6 percent of plays (14th in the FBS).
  • The team is averaging 2.60 points per drive on the year against FBS opponents - 38th best in the FBS. When the team starts between its own 20-40 yard lines, it averages 2.72 points per drive against FBS teams - the 28th-best tally in the nation.
  • ASU's offense has earned 55.7 percent of the total yards available this season - the 23rd-best tally in the FBS. The team is deadly with a short field (from its own 40 inwards), gaining 80.8 percent of the total yards available - fourth-most in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils are 35th in the FBS with 156 plays over 10 yards this season and second 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 analytic site credits ASU's offense with a positive play 49.0 percent of the time - the third-best ratio in the nation.
  • ASU is 15th in the nation in averaging 9.9 points per second half against FBS teams.
  • ASU has had a 3-and-out on only 12.6% of their possessions this season, 7th best in FBS

THIRD TIMES THE CHARM

  • ASU has a third-down conversion rate of 45.3 against FBS opponents, good for 24th in the country.
  • With Southern Utah included, ASU's third-down conversion rate still sits at 44.9 percent - 32nd 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 82.6 percent of its opportunities (19-of-23) with one or two yards to go on third down - sixth in the FBS.

A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR

  • ASU has forced 51 turnovers in its last 21 games dating back to 2019, good for second-most in the nation over a 21-game span behind Iowa (53).
  • ASU has forced 58 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 13th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
  • ASU has outscored opponents 823-444 in points off takeaways since 2012. 
  • Since 2012, ASU has scored 63.0 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (138 of 219) while finding the end zone 102 times in that span (46.6 percent).
  • Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.4 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (75 of 155) with 57 touchdowns (36.8 percent).
  • With two this year, ASU has 20 interception returns for touchdowns since the 2012 campaign - a tally good for second in the Pac-12 (Utah, 21) and sixth in the FBS in that time span. 
  • A couple streaks that likely will come to an end without some turnaround in the final three games: 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.  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.

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 and two fewer than any other team. 
  • The team has the second-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just nine.
  • ASU is one of just two teams in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play on the year (Texas State).
  • ASU extended its streak to 12 games without allowing a 50-yard play, the longest active streak in the FBS to only Oregon.
  • The Sun Devils are 18th in the FBS and first in the league in allowing just 322.1 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 (5 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 5.23 yards per play this season, good for 29th in the country.
  • In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gain 7 or more yards on a play just 18.6 percent of the time (14th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.2 percent of the time (15th in the FBS).
  • The Sun Devil defense has been credited with just 96 missed tackles this year - the 31st-best tally in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12.
  • ASU has held opponents to 400 yards or less in 8 of 10 games this season. That surpasses the total for the 2020 season (7 in 13 games). Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 22 occasions over 40 games (55.0 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 40 games. The .18 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.12 per game on 5 plays over 41 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 12 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 14 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/40 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 second in the FBS.

KEEP 'EM OFF THE BOARD

  • Currently, ASU is 29th in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 21.2 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 seventh in the FBS in allowing just 8.0 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU is outscoring teams 151-79 in the second half of games this year and 96-35 in the fourth quarter. 
  • Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 97 times on 327 drives, a 29.7 score percentage that is the 23rd-lowest in the FBS.
  • Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 25.3 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (42 of 166) - the 13th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The Sun Devils have allowed just 114 offensive touchdowns (2.9 per game/40 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 50 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 - 12th fewest in the FBS. It has allowed just 32 second half touchdowns since 2019 - 9th-fewest in the FBS.
  • ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 27 of 40 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 15 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 fifth in the FBS this season with 14 interceptions. 
  • Among all active FBS players, Chase Lucas is tied for ninth in the nation with 34 career passes defended. Lucas will break Dexter Davis' school record with his 48th career start 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 Devil defensive backs (safeties and corners only) have been lock down with there being an open target allowed just 39.1 percent of the time - the 21st-lowest in the FBS.
  • Other teams are earning a first down through the air just 36.5 percent of the time against ASU - 24th in the FBS.
  • Opponents have an NFL quarterback rating of just 71.8 this season - 6th-lowest in the FBS.
  • ASU is 25th in the nation in allowing just 196.0 passing yards per game.
  • ASU's coverage has a forced incompletion rate of 11.6 percent - 7th in the FBS.
  • Since 2020, ASU has allowed an explosive passing play (15+ yards) just 12.8 percent of the time (70 on 545 attempts) - among the 30 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 nine of 10 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. 
  • More impressively, only three of ASU's sacks allowed this season has been credited to the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus - the fifth-lowest tally in the FBS.
  • All told, the ASU offensive linemen alone have allowed just 48 quarterback pressures this year - 11 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 14th-fewest in the FBS.
  • As a team, only 19 pressures this season have come unblocked, good for the 11th-lowest total in the FBS.
  • ASU has allowed a pressure on just 25.7 percent of quarterback dropbacks this year as a team, the 21st-lowest total in the FBS.
  • ASU quarterbacks have been knocked down just 20 times this season - 12th-lowest in the FBS.
  • The team has a 77.0 overall score as a pass blocking unit, 15th in the nation and second in the Pac-12.
  • Kellen Diesch is currently the highest graded tackle in the Pac-12 and the 12th-highest graded tackle in the FBS this season while also being the highest graded offensive lineman in the league and fourth-highest graded tackle in the FBS as a pass blocker. Dohnovan West is 17th among FBS centers as a pass blocker while LaDarius Henderson is 30th 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 36.3 percent of opponent passing plays - the 19th-highest in the FBS in that span. This feat is made more impressive considering ASU has blitzed just 22.0 percent of snaps in that time - 18th-lowest nationally.
  • The team is averaging 6.2 tackles for loss per game, good for third in the Pac-12. The team is third in the league in averaging 2.10 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 highest graded interior lineman overall (76.2)  - 19th in the FBS - and highest graded interior linemen in run defense this year (80.5) - 9th in the FBS.
  • Davidson is credited with 27 defensive "stops" on run defense, tops in the nation among interior linemen.
  • Tyler Johnson is ASU's active leader in tackles for loss (28.5) 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. 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 68 tackles this season in addition to leading the team with 8.5 tackles for loss - sixth-most in the Pac-12 and second among true linebackers. 
  • He has 17 tackles for loss OR no gain, second-most in the Pac-12 and tied for fourth among all FBS linebackers.
  • Butler has 33 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 87.7 - fifth 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. Joining him on that list now in Merlin Robertson, who also has three. ASU's seven interceptions as a linebacker unit this season are the most for any linebacker group in the FBS.

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