Dillingham seeking first-ranked win against old team

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Arizona State football is preparing to face its third-ranked opponent in five weeks against No. 6 Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12). Its results against these marquee rivals are a mixed bag, earning an encouraging loss to undefeated No. 5 Washington and an absolute stinker to No. 16 Utah. The games in between the ranked opponents have showcased a scrappy and smart Sun Devils team escaping with the victories.

The mastermind behind each game has been the stellar coaching of Kenny Dillingham. His game plan allowed ASU (3-7, 2-5 Pac-12) to beat UCLA in the Rose Bowl for possibly the last time.

But, can he and the Sun Devils replicate that performance against his former team?

Dillingham was only with the Ducks for a season but helped foster one of the best offenses in the nation and turned senior quarterback Bo Nix into a Heisman-level talent under center. The last time these two teams squared off was a similar scenario to this upcoming one, with a ranked Oregon team coming to Tempe with its star quarterback for a nationally-televised game to face off against ASU led by a freshman taking snaps.

Famously, then Sun Devil Jayden Daniels was able to upset the Ducks and kill their college football playoff hopes. Dillingham and his offense will have the same opportunity this Saturday, but it’ll be a challenge against this talented Oregon squad.

As mentioned, Nix is on the shortlist for the elusive Heisman trophy because of his stellar play this season. The senior has led the Ducks to the best scoring offense in the Pac-12 with 47.4 points a game. Nix is top three in passing yards per game and is tied for first in the conference in touchdowns with 29.

Nix makes few mistakes, only surrendering two interceptions in 2023 so far. ASU’s defense doesn’t force many turnovers, but especially on interceptions, it has only secured two, which ranks dead last in the conference.

The main target for Oregon’s quarterback is junior wide receiver Troy Franklin, who, similar to Nix, ranks highly in the Pac-12 rankings. Franklin has tallied 1,093 receiving yards, six 100-yard receiving games, and averages 109.3 per game, which is second in the conference. His 6-foot-3 frame makes him a deadly red zone threat, as he has scored a Pac-12-leading 11 touchdowns this season.

Right behind Franklin is fellow junior wide receiver Tez Johnson, who is more of a speedster. Johnson has made opponents pay in the slot, securing 53 catches for 725 yards. His eight touchdowns on the year are sufficient enough to join his teammate Franklin in the top five in the Pac-12. Johnson is on a two-game streak with over 125 receiving yards and doesn’t look to falter soon.

ASU’s secondary has done an exceptional job all season to limit the aerial attacks from teams, as the program is third in passing yards allowed with 217. Veteran presence from senior defensive backs Jordan Clark and Chris Edmonds has honed this Sun Devil’s secondary into a no-fly zone.

While the marquee names are under center and out wide, an underrated part of Oregon’s offensive game plan is in the backfield with junior running back Bucky Irving. A bulk of the Ducks’ 539.8 total yards per game are on the shoulders of Irving, who has 939 total rushing yards this year. Irving helped Oregon to be one of two teams in the Pac-12 to average over 200 yards per game.

Irving has gone eight straight games with at least 80 rushing yards because of his power, and this touted Duck’s offensive line. It’ll be an excellent test for ASU’s defensive line, which has struggled mightily the last two weeks, allowing over 180 or more rushing yards. However, the bend but don’t break mentality will play into the Sun Devils’ favor as they held UCLA 1-of-3 on red zone opportunities.

Oregon’s defense has bolstered itself as one of the best in the nation as they sit promptly on top of a majority of Pac-12 defensive categories. Like Irving on the offensive side of the ball, the Ducks’ defense has yet to get the same spotlight as the flashier skills group but is crucial to why the program is a top-six nationally ranked team.

The most notable factor defensively is their talented front seven. Senior defensive end Brandon Dorlus leads the program with five sacks, but senior defensive back Evan Williams with 4.5 is not far behind. Dorlus’s massive 6 ‘3, 290 size overwhelms many offensive linemen and allows him to showcase his athleticism, swatting away balls as he has done this season with six pass breakups.

The duo accounts for only a third of Oregon’s 31 sack total, while junior defensive end Jordan Burch leads the program with 7.5 tackles for loss. Burch is one of the many defensive weapons that have eliminated the run game for opposing teams. The Ducks have only allowed over 100 rushing yards once since week two, bringing their average rushing yards under 100 and in the top three in the Pac-12.

ASU is in the conference’s bottom echelon of rushing attacks, just squeaking past the 100-yard average. Mr. Do-it-all junior running back Cam Skattebo has had to take most of the responsibilities with the revolving door of ASU quarterbacks throughout this season. Skattebo has recorded two 100+ yard games on the ground this season, but against this touted front seven, Dillingham and his Swiss army knife need to find a creative way around this immovable object.

Oregon’s secondary rivals ASU for best in the Pac-12, as it ranks above the Sun Devils and the rest of the conference in passing yards allowed. Senior defensive back Khyree Jackson and junior defensive back Tysheem Johnson have worn the cap of leaders in the cornerback room. The duo combined for half of Oregon’s eight interceptions and had nine pass breakups between them.

Jackson has more size and uses his length to overwhelm smaller targets, while Johnson’s speed allows him to stay hip-to-hip with anyone in the nation. Oregon has held the opposing cornerbacks to under 180 passing yards six times this year. Considering the lack of continuity under center for ASU, it’ll be challenging for the Sun Devils to poke holes anywhere in this Ducks’ defense.

ASU has won two of its last three but has failed to defeat a ranked opponent this season. Can the Sun Devils play spoiler and take its conference foe out of the College Football Playoffs? Only during the game will the world know what tricks Dillingham has up his sleeves this time to handle the raging Ducks offensively and defensively.