BYU’s stay at No. 2 was brief, and now the Cougars are trying to steady themselves after a Week 8 loss to UCF dropped them to No. 8. They enter Week 9 at 6-1 and return home to face Arizona State, a 4-3 team that has split its last four games.
The Sun Devils have dropped games to Baylor and Texas Tech, but they’ve also picked up wins over Hawaii and Kansas State. That sets up a Big 12 matchup where BYU is the favorite, though not necessarily by enough to make this feel comfortable.
A big reason BYU still draws so much respect is Bear Bachmeier. He has thrown for 1,5114 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he’s also a real threat on the ground, ranking second on the team with 321 rushing yards and adding seven rushing touchdowns. Arizona State’s best path to hanging around starts with making life hard on him.
The case for the Sun Devils is rooted in defense. They’re not being talked about like a playoff team, but they have been solid enough to matter, ranking 37th in opponent EPA per play and 35th in defensive success rate. That kind of profile gives them a real shot to keep this game tighter than the market suggests.
BYU’s numbers are good, just not quite the kind that usually belong to a top-10 powerhouse. The Cougars rank 29th in EPA per play, 33rd in EPA per pass, and 30th in EPA per rush.
Strong marks, yes. Untouchable, no.
That’s why the points lean toward Arizona State here. If the Sun Devils can lean on their defense, they should have a chance to stay within striking distance.
In Other News...
ASU's Defensive Front Has Become The Big Question In This Stretch
Arizona States defense has entered the part of the season where the flaws are no longer easy to hide. Through Week 8, the Sun Devils sit 14th in the Big 12 in points allowed per game, and the issues have been especially noticeable up front, where stopping the run and generating consistent pressure have both been problems. The lows have shown up in losses to Baylor and Texas Tech, when opponents piled up rushing yards and put the defense on its heels.
There have been brighter moments, too, which is why the next stretch feels so important. In the win over Kansas State, the Sun Devils looked cleaner in tackling and found more disruption in the backfield, signs that the front can still settle in if the execution tightens up. Defensive coordinator Brian Ward and coach Kenny Dillingham have pointed to tackling and forcing turnovers as the central fixes, and with the schedule moving forward, how quickly that front answers is going to shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
ASU Women Suddenly Carry Bigger Big 12 Stakes Than Last Year
Molly Miller heads into her second season with Arizona States womens basketball program after a 24-11 debut that quickly changed the tone around Tempe. The Sun Devils also have a more visible place in the Big 12 conversation now, with senior forward McKinna Brackens returning after earning All-Big 12 third-team honors last season and getting work this summer with the USA 3x3 U23 national team. Add in transfers Ruby Whitehorn and Madison Morson, plus a freshman class that includes Averie Lower, and there is a different level of expectation attached to this roster.
Arizona State also showed up in the leagues preseason picture, landing fifth in the Big 12 media poll. That kind of respect does not guarantee anything once the games start, but it does raise the stakes for a team trying to follow one strong first year under Miller with something even more convincing. The blend of proven production, outside additions and new faces gives the Sun Devils more depth than they had a year ago, and it should make every step of the season feel a little more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Faces A Crucial Week 9 Question Before BYU
Arizona State enters the week with a familiar late-season problem: trying to figure out who will be available and how much that should matter when the Sun Devils line up against BYU. Head coach Kenny Dillingham pointed to New Mexico coach Jason Ecks use of Madden as a way to frame injury-management decisions, a reminder that the margins get tighter this time of year and every availability call can shape how a game is approached.
The Sun Devils have several players listed as questionable or probable, including starting safety Lyrik Rawls and quarterback Mikey Keene, which leaves a few important pieces in flux before a significant Big 12 test. BYU has its own personnel wrinkle after ruling out star running back LJ Martin with a lower-body injury, so both sides are dealing with lineup uncertainty at a time when Week 9 could carry real weight in the standings. [Read more 🡒]