Who: Arizona State vs. UCLA
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
When: 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2
Series: UCLA leads 19-12-1 all-time
Last meeting: Sun Devils won 38-23 on Oct. 3, 2015 in Pasadena
How many Kalen Ballage touchdowns is too many? The limit does not exist. #October3rd https://t.co/zTJaSSdFaF
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) October 3, 2016
A 24-6 home record under head coach Todd Graham and a track record of bouncing back after losses to the USC and UCLA in recent years would, under normal circumstances, be sufficient reassurance for fans of ASU football.
The difference for the Sun Devils (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) and the Bruins (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) is this: between the two, the home team hasn’t won since UCLA edged ASU 29-28 in Pasadena in 2011, when Dennis Erickson and Rick Neuheisel were patrolling their respective sidelines.
And 2014’s loss – a 62-27 embarrassment in which the Bruins put up the most points ever by an ASU opponent at Sun Devil Stadium – hasn’t completely faded from the team’s collective memory.
“You better play well at home,” Graham said. That is one thing that we have always been able to do. For the last four years, we have played really well out here. You have to win at home; you better win them all if you want to compete in this league.”
Barring any unforeseen developments in the health of redshirt sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins between Thursday afternoon and Saturday night, redshirt freshman Brady White will make his first career start against UCLA, as Mike Bercovici did two years ago.
Every indication given by the Sun Devils suggests that White and the rest of the team are on the same page.
“We have great confidence (in White),” Graham said. “Brady is a guy who I talk to every week about being only one play away from being in the game and I think he went in very prepared. It’s tough in those games because every quarterback is different and the team has to adapt to their strengths.”
In addition to the challenge of a quarterback making his first start, there are the liabilities that plague the nation’s worst pass defense. The Sun Devils have allowed 396 passing yards per game and 9.2 yards per attempt, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
Graham said ASU will likely rotate in fresh legs at corner, including freshmen Robbie Robinson and Kyle Williams who, like De’Chavon "Gump" Hayes, have made the transition from offense to defense.
“We’ll see. We are trying to get James (Johnson) healthy,” Graham said. “But he’s just not there yet. We’ve been missing tackles back there but, it’s not because of a lack of effort. It is from a lack of technique.
"We have to get better at what we are doing and we are going to go out and compete. We will be competing throughout the week, and then we will be putting the best guys out on the field.”
Conversely, the UCLA defense that White will likely face is among the most experienced and deep in the Pac-12 from top to bottom. Anchoring a stout Bruins defensive line is senior defensive end Takkarist McKinley, one of the best pass-rushers in the country.
UCLA's Takkarist McKinley has generated 20 QB pressures on 84 pass rush snaps, giving him the Pac 12's top pass rush productivity so far. pic.twitter.com/t8usqM4LOF
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) October 6, 2016
"They've got some dogs up there at UCLA," said junior running back Demario Richard. "They've got some dogs on their D-line."
UCLA's secondary has allowed just 186 passing yards per game and 5.2 yards per attempt. Only Washington and Colorado have recorded better marks among conference opponents.
And the Bruins have done all this despite one of their top defensive backs, redshirt senior Ishmael Adams, switching over to wide receiver at the beginning of the 2016 season. Adams has caught 11 passes for 118 yards through UCLA’s first five games. He is questionable to play Saturday due to a shoulder injury, which would be a blow to the Bruins on special teams as UCLA’s primary kick returner. Redshirt senior Kenneth Walker III and redshirt junior Eldridge Massington are two of UCLA’s leading receivers and should remain Rosen’s top targets.
Then there's Josh Rosen. ASU defensive coordinator Keith Patterson called UCLA's sophomore quarterback "the best pure, pocket-passing quarterback that I've seen."
Rosen has been up and down in 2016, but has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of his starts, though he already has four interceptions to go along with eight touchdowns.
With plenty of talent to go around on each side, the game might just come down to who remains closest to mistake-free.
"Now it's just time to stop making the same mistakes over and over again," Richard said. "It's time to start improving and put we do in practice in practice on the field and make the big-time plays that we usually make."
Reach the reporter at smodrich@asu.edu or follow @StefanJModrich on Twitter.
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