Arizona State heads into Saturday’s Big 12 matchup with Kansas State trying to steady itself after a rough night in Lubbock and a quarterback question that still isn’t settled.
The Sun Devils are back in Tempe, Ariz., coming off a 53-25 loss to then-No. 10 Texas Tech, while Kansas State arrives after picking up its first conference victory of the season, a 35-24 home win against rival Kansas.
The biggest storyline for Arizona State is under center. Coach Kenny Dillingham pulled starter Cutter Boley at halftime against Texas Tech and turned to senior backup Mikey Keene.
Boley was picked off twice, with one of those turnovers going back for a touchdown, while Keene gave the offense a lift after the break. He finished 25 of 34 for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
Even with that second-half spark, Dillingham wasn’t ready Monday to reveal who will start against the Wildcats.
"Conference opponent, I'm not gonna get into much detail about that," Dillingham said. "Our players will know.
Who knows, it may leak it out. I hope not."
Dillingham also said he and his staff spent almost four hours Sunday going over where this year’s team has fallen short and how to avoid "falling short in our plan again" next season.
Arizona State’s issues against Texas Tech were clear in the box score. The Sun Devils were held to 35 rushing yards and gave up 260 on the ground.
Kansas State showed the kind of balance Arizona State will have to deal with. Against Kansas, the Wildcats piled up 568 total yards, with 359 coming on the ground. Avery Johnson passed for 209 yards and rushed for 132, while Joe Jackson led the team with 159 rushing yards.
The Wildcats have also been highly efficient on third down, converting 59.3% of their attempts, which ranks second nationally this season.
"We have to keep building, we have to keep improving, and keep working our process and keep moving it forward because there's a lot out there for us," Wildcats coach Collin Klein said Monday in his weekly press conference. "We got a big challenge this week in Arizona State.
It's a very talented group. ... A lot of respect."