Teams seem to pull tricks when the Sun Devils hit the road. ASU is undefeated at home and averages 35 points per game, but is just 1-2 on the road while scoring 22 points a game.
Stillwater, Oklahoma, will be the next destination where ASU hopes to find treats as the team takes on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday. ASU is still seeking its first Big 12 road win.
The Cowboys are led by head coach Mike Gundy, a 20-plus-year program builder. ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham understands the excellence at OSU despite the Cowboys' 3-5 overall record and winless Big 12 stretch.
"This is a team that's won seven games for I think almost 20 years in a row," Dillingham said. "It's their homecoming and they still can achieve that and to keep that streak going. We're going to get their very best."
ASU will receive a treat before taking the field as redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt will start after missing the Cincinnati loss with a rib injury.
Offense
OSU has a monster in the backfield in junior running back Ollie Gordon II. He entered the year as a Heisman candidate after running for 1,732 yards a season ago but hasn't lived up to the hype.
The Cowboy offense is led by fifth-year offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn. Dunn has seen a lot of success at OSU and helped produce a quality rushing attack last season. This season has been a different story as the unit has only rushed for 890 yards and ranks 115th in the country.
"They're a dynamic offense," sophomore defensive back Keith Abney II said. "They're gonna try to get the ball to their playmakers as they should. We just got to come out there and just make players and execute the defense."
The Cowboys have seen success through the air in 2024. The OSU passing offense is ranked 19th in the country and averages 288 yards a game. The game will be the second straight in which the Sun Devils line up against a top-25 passing attack.
Senior quarterback Alan Bowman has played well in his seventh year of college football. He's passed for over 2,000 yards this season and has thrown 14 touchdowns. The ASU secondary should get sophomore defensive back Javan Robinson back, who could help slow the air attack.
"This is a veteran that won the job last year and he's won the job at a prior school," Dillingham said. "He's thrown for 500 yards in a game before. This is somebody who definitely is capable of putting up big numbers."
Defense
The Cowboys are led by veteran defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo. The OSU defensive unit hasn't succeeded this season and is ranked second to last in the country in total defense, giving up 499 yards a game.
The unit has suffered key injuries this year, including senior linebacker Collin Oliver. In the middle of the season, the Cowboys changed from a three-down front to a four-down front, and Dillingham knows that Gundy can maximize his personnel's talent.
"They're changing quite a bit from earlier in the year to now," Dillingham said. "So you have to prepare for what they're currently doing, but for what they have in their arsenal."
The Sun Devil offense has already seen a scheme like the Cowboys' system. Dillingham said the next closest defense was Utah and the ASU rushing attack could have another dominant showing, as the Cowboys rank bottom five in the country in rushing defense.
The ASU offense knows it'll be a dogfight. The Cowboys are still after their first Big 12 win, and their homecoming game is a good start.
"They're a good team," sophomore receiver Jordyn Tyson said. "I know they're probably preaching giving effort because they haven't been giving effort. I've seen it on film. It doesn't look good, but they're gonna give effort this week, and I'm expecting it."
Edited by Jack Barron, Abigail Beck and Madeline Schmitke.
Reach the reporter at danielr1102@gmail.com and follow @daniel_rios72 on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Daniel is a senior studying sports journalism. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at WCSN, OC Riptide, 1550 Sports and AZPreps365.
