Arizona State kicks off 2026 looking to extend home opener win streak to 27 games

(Photo: Kaylee Wilkerson/WCSN)

TEMPE — It’s been almost 250 days since Arizona State last played a football game, and more than 280 days since ASU’s most recent win.

The Sun Devils’ 2025 season ended on a sour note, falling 42-39 to Duke in the Sun Bowl. On Saturday, fans will see some of the players who donned the maroon and gold in El Paso, but with more than 45 additions to the team, much of the lineup won’t be immediately recognizable.

Roster continuity becomes less certain with each passing year in college football. But regardless of who suits up for ASU, winning the home opener has remained a constant. The Sun Devils bring a 26-game home‑opener win streak heading into their clash against Morgan State.

“I expect the environment to be rocking,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “This is the first time about 40 guys will step in that stadium, including freshmen. I want them to feel the stadium when we run out.”

Saturday will mark the first time the Sun Devils face an HBCU and a program from the Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference in program history. Before this season, every FCS opponent ASU had ever played came from the Big Sky Conference.

Unlike the Sun Devils, the Bears have one game under their belt. Last Saturday, Morgan State defeated North Carolina A&T, a fellow HBCU, 17‑7.

“It’s always helpful when you see what you’re gonna be up against,” ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward said. “It doesn’t matter the level that you’re coaching at, these guys have a plan.”

Through three quarters, Morgan State mustered just a field goal. The offense came alive when fourth-year quarterback Cameron Edge uncorked a 68-yard touchdown pass to fourth-year receiver Joseph Towler.

Fifth-year running back Jordan Barnett shined for the Bears. He finished with 114 yards on 12 carries, capped off by a 22‑yard touchdown with a minute left. Morgan State’s 14 unanswered points in the fourth propelled it to victory.

“You never can fall asleep,” Ward said. “They try to manage the clock, play ball-control offense, try to get you to fall asleep and hit you with big plays from behind.”

One of the Sun Devil defenders tasked with slowing down Barnett will be junior linebacker Martell Hughes. Hughes made his first career start in the Sun Bowl, and when ASU released its depth chart on Wednesday, his name appeared in bold, signaling he’ll open the season as a starter. The linebacker flashed with plays on defense and special teams over his first two years in Tempe, helping him earn the nod.

“We got a good group at linebacker,” Ward said. “You can prepare for your opportunity, but you can’t plan for it. You don’t know when it’s gonna come. We try to have that mindset with our linebackers.”

As for the Sun Devil offense, all eyes are on junior Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley. The 6-foot-5 signal caller was named ASU’s starter after a long offseason quarterback battle. His physical tools are undeniable, but turnovers have followed him throughout his young career.

Boley’s career touchdown-to-interception ratio is 17-to-16, and was 15-to-12 last season. Boley’s turnover‑worthy‑play rate of 4.9 percent was eighth-most among 82 Power Four quarterbacks with at least 116 dropbacks in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.

Despite numbers that paint him as turnover‑prone, Dillingham hasn’t shown much concern. He’s noted that most of Boley’s turnovers came in situations where aggression is encouraged, offering context to the raw statistics. Dillingham has also applauded Boley for his growth in the ball-control department since he arrived in the Valley.

“If it’s fourth down and you throw a pick 25 yards down the field in the fourth quarter of a game, I’m not going to be too upset. If it’s third and eight on our 25 in the first quarter and you scramble out and throw an interception, you just cost us a minimum of three points. That can’t happen,” Dillingham said.

In 2025, there was a night‑and‑day difference between Boley when kept clean and under pressure. His PFF grade in a clean pocket was 72.3, drastically higher than his 32.3 grade when pressured.

Part of the Sun Devils’ game plan will focus on sophomore defensive end Donovan Moyer. He lived in the Aggies’ backfield last Saturday, totaling seven pressures and two sacks. The offensive line that will be tasked with stopping him features no starters from last year’s season opener.

“We are focused on creating the best plan possible,” Dillingham said. “Mid-game, we miss a block and there was a free guy in our face. What do we do as a quarterback?”

The last Sun Devil football game featured fireworks from both offenses. There will be pregame fireworks at Mountain America Stadium, but by the time kickoff rolls around, ASU will hope the only explosive plays come from its offense.

The Sun Devils also hope to cap the night by stretching their home opener win streak to 27. With ASU as heavy favorites, it’s fair to assume every fan in the building expects a win.

Those fans have spent more than eight months longing for Sun Devil football. At 7 p.m. MST on Saturday, the wait finally ends.

“Fans, show up, be loud, support our guys,” Dillingham said. “The students have grown up with a pretty competitive football team now, so they should be excited to get back to the stadium.”