(Photo: Evan Barcanic/WCSN)
This Saturday is the grand finale for Arizona State football in many ways. It’s the last game of the 2023 season, the last game of head coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season, and the last game for ASU (3-8, Pac-12: 2-6) as a member of the Pac-12. And there couldn’t be a better opponent to end things than Arizona (8-3, Pac-12: 6-2). The historic inter-state rivalry between the Wildcats and the Sun Devils has been a cornerstone for the Grand Canyon state for the past century.
Arizona leads the overall series 50-46-1, taking last year’s matchup 38-35. This weekend, they have a chance to do something they haven’t done in over a decade, and that’s retain the territorial cup. The last time Arizona secured back-to-back wins over ASU was Nov. 28, 2009. Future Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles was under center for the Wildcats then, and with the success of Arizona this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if ASU is facing similar future NFL talent.
The Wildcats are nationally ranked for the first time since 2017, which is the last time the program had a winning record, and they have their highest national rank since 2015. Arizona’s recent success has opened up a path for the program to reach it’s first Pac-12 title game since 2014 with a win and an Oregon loss. However, Dillingham and the program stand in their way with an opportunity to kill the Wildcats dream in Tempe, which amplifies the Sun Devils’ motivation by tenfold.
It’ll be a tough ask because of the sensational play by Arizona these past two months. Six of the last seven opponents for the Wildcats were ranked entering the matchup, and after losing the first two, Arizona went on a five-game stretch of dominance. The change in play starts with redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Fifitia.
Fifitia wasn’t the starter to begin the year but got his opportunity at the beginning of that rigorous seven-week stretch. During that span, against some of the top teams in the nation, he tallied 1,988 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. While only a handful of collegiate starts, Fifitia has done a stellar job of not forcing the action and limiting mistakes.
Arizona’s offensive stats don’t jump off the page; they are only slightly above most of the median. However, their success comes from its lack of mistakes, with only four turnovers in the past eight weeks. Throughout the second half of the year, the Wildcats have become much more disciplined as to not draw as many penalties as the first six weeks.
The program is top-15 nationally in 3rd-down conversions, and that’s because of great individual talent on offense. Sophomore wide receiver Tetario McMillian is top-15 nationally with 976 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Waimanalo, Hawaii native has four 100+ yard receiving games to his name, reaching the end zone in his last four games.
McMillian’s massive 6’5 frame makes him a threat every snap, but the sneaky touchdown threat is senior wide receiver Jacob Cowing. He leads the team with ten touchdowns, with his most notable performance coming against USC, where Cowing scored four touchdowns against the Trojans.
Last week against Oregon, ASU struggled to contain the air attack, with senior Bo Nix throwing six touchdown passes in the first half, the first two going to junior tight end Patrick Herbert. This week, the Sun Devils must contain another 6’5 beast in redshirt senior tight end Tanner McLachlan. Last season, he recorded the most receptions by an Arizona tight end since the great Rob Gronkowski.
McLachlan has already established a new record this season and has become an even bigger target in this Wildcats’ aerial attack. The Alberta, Canada native is third in receptions (35) and receiving yards (440).
Similar to Fifitia, sophomore running back Jonah Coleman didn’t start the year but, through his play, has earned the starting role. While in a pass-heavy offense, Coleman has still been able to leave his mark with his electric speed. Since getting the starting job in week 4, Coleman has averaged 91.63 rushing yards per game and 6.7 yards per carry.
The offense has stepped up during this five-game winning streak, but their defense has made them a nationally recognized program. Since allowing 43 points in its loss to USC, Arizona’s defense has allowed 17.8 points per game. These past few weeks have slingshot the Wildcats into one of the best defenses in the conference.
In the Pac-12, Arizona is in the top five in points allowed, rushing yards allowed, total yards allowed, and sacks. The front seven for the Wildcats has done a superb job winning the battle in the trenches. Graduate defensive end Taylor Upshaw is the head of that front with 8.5 sacks and ten tackles for loss.
Right behind Upshaw is sophomore linebacker Jacob Manu, who is second on the team with 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. Manu does lead the Wildcats with 100 tackles and nine quarterback hurries. The Santa Ana, Calif. native is T-26 nationally for total tackles, and his speed and play awareness make the entire field his sandbox to attack opposing offenses.
Other names, such as redshirt freshman defensive lineman Isaiah Ward, with eight QB hurries, and junior defensive lineman Tiaoalli Savea, with 5.5 sacks, are just some of the many playmakers in the front seven that have held opponents to under 100 yards rushing the past five weeks.
Arizona’s top defensive backs in its secondary use their size advantage to lockdown opposing receiving threats. At 6’4, sophomore defensive back Tacario Davis is third in the nation in passes broken up with 14. His partner on the other side of the field, junior defensive back Treydan Stukes, who stands at 6’2, has eight pass deflections for the Wildcats.
Arizona’s defense doesn’t force many turnovers, tenth in the Pac-12, but is always pervious in making a play, especially against ASU, which ranks ninth in the conference in turnovers loss with 17.
Saturday is the final time the legendary rivals will face off as members of the Pac-12. Will it be a fitting farewell or sour grapes to end their tenure? ASU has had a dreadful season with the self-imposed bowl ban, blowout losses, athletic director Ray Anderson resigning, and a laundry list of other disastrous events in 2023. However, in the words of Dillingham, every Sun Devils season is two seasons, the first 11 games and then the final one against that team down south. This Saturday, they look to finish the year 1-0.
