Sun Devils look to take advantage of Big 12 chaos on the road vs. No. 8 BYU

(Photo: Jack Simon/WCSN)

TEMPE — In the landscape of NCAA Division I FBS football, it often takes just one week for the prevailing narratives surrounding a team to completely shift from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Week 7 of the 2026 season saw Arizona State suffer a crushing 53-25 defeat against then-No. 10 Texas Tech in Lubbock. Meanwhile, then-No. 8 BYU stunned then-No. 2 Notre Dame in Provo, Utah, for one of the biggest victories in program history.

Fast forward seven days, however, the Sun Devils were the ones relishing a home win over Kansas State that brought them their first in-conference victory since traveling to London on Sep. 19. At the same time, over 2,000 miles away, the Cougars came out on the losing end of a double-overtime thriller at UCF.

This Saturday pits a No. 8 BYU (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) squad determined to stay the course in competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff against an ASU (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) team hoping that the recent victory was a tangible step in the right direction in the confines of LaVell Edwards Stadium.

“If you can get 11 people 90% of the time on all three phases to play the game with perfect fundamentals and execution or great fundamentals and execution, you’re probably going to win a lot of games as long as that 10% isn’t catastrophic,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “That was the best we’ve been, but still not to the standard that we’re trying to hit.”

The upcoming trip to Provo reflects the third instance of the Sun Devils going up against a top-ten opponent on the road this season. In two games against Texas A&M and Texas Tech, they allowed a combined 101 points while putting just 43 of their own on the scoreboard.

This time around, ASU is trying to change the narrative while awaiting the answer to a clear burning question: Who is going to be the team’s starting quarterback?

Dillingham indicated on Saturday and Monday that first-year Jake Fette will be the likely option after an injury to sixth-year Mikey Keene and third-year Cutter Boley producing just two first downs on three separate drives led to the El Paso native taking over in the fourth quarter.

Before finalizing his decision, the coach is waiting to evaluate Keene’s health during the week.

“Mikey is honestly questionable,” Dillingham said. “He’s not doubtful. He is questionable today, and he’ll go out there and we’ll see what he does in practice tomorrow. But that’s a tough competitor and a fighter, and I know he’s going to want to be on the field.

“We’ll see what happens throughout the week, but if he’s not in, it’s going to be Jake.”

Fette finished the game with three completions for 45 yards across four drives. For a quarterback that was given “three, four minutes” notice before taking the field, he flashed the mobility and arm strength that made him a four-star recruit on several occasions.

Although the coach stated his intention to prepare a game plan that is applicable to whoever ends up under center for the Sun Devils, Dillingham has a sense of trust in the true freshman to get the job done after impressing him during his short sample size of on-field action.

“The way he was able to progress in the game and his communication to the sideline gave me a lot of confidence,” Dillingham said. “I never really ask a quarterback when they get to the sidelines, ‘Why didn’t you throw that fade?’ I ask them what did they see? What did you see because I want to know what was going through their head in the process. I really liked where his head was at. I liked what he was saying.”

If he does receive the nod from Dillingham, Fette will be the first true freshman quarterback to start for the Sun Devils since Jaden Rashada in Week 1 of the 2023 season. The main difference between the two signal callers is that the former will have to do so in the face of one of the most hostile road environments the sport has to offer.

The Cougars have averaged 64,500 fans through their first four home games of the season, and since 2024, the program has rewarded residents of Provo with a 29-5 record and 11 appearances inside the top 10 of the AP Poll.

“This is one of the best fan bases, the most consistent fan bases in college football,” Dillingham said. “This is one of the best coaching staffs in my opinion, most consistent coaching staffs from the top in college football. I think when you have the consistency that they have as a program from the top, they’re reaping what they sow from that perspective.”

Second-year quarterback Bear Bachmeier was once in a similar situation as Fette when he became the first true freshman quarterback to start a season opener in BYU program history.

The 2025 Big 12 Freshman of the Year has thrown for 1,514 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 63% of his pass attempts. He’s also a dangerous weapon in rushing situations with 321 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bachmeier’s penultimate strength lies in his decision-making as he’s only thrown 10 interceptions in 21 games played, thanks in large part to an offensive line that has allowed four sacks this season.

“I think for him, he’s really good at the things that win games, and I think that’s the greatest compliment you can give a quarterback is you’re good at the things that win games, and he plays his best in the biggest moments, which is why they’ve won so many close games this year and last year with him,” Dillingham said.

BYU’s other calling card is one of the top defenses in the Big 12, ranking second with 301.6 yards allowed per game and fifth with just 18.6 points allowed per game on average. In particular, the Cougars possess the 17th-best rushing defense in Division I FBS to the tune of only 98.1 yards allowed on the ground on average.

This marks the third consecutive season head coach and reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year Kalani Sitake has his defensive unit ranked inside the top 50 in total defense.

For comparison, ASU averages 411.6 yards per game (fifth-worst in Big 12) and 30.9 points per game on average (fifth-worst in Big 12). Even after a contest in which the Sun Devils scored four rushing touchdowns, they are still the third-worst rushing offense in the conference with 144.1 yards per game.

“It’s very confusing because they play so many different coverages, and then they line up with three high safeties,” Dillingham said. “They line up in regular odd, they line up in odd stack, they line up in four down. This is one of those teams that lines up and does so many things defensively to create chaos and to create miscommunication. That’s why they’ve been so successful, and that’s why I think Coach Sitake is one of the best coaches in college football.”

On the other hand, ASU showed significant improvement in terms of preventing the run. A unit that had previously allowed an average of 156.8 rushing yards per game held Kansas State to 84 yards on 32 carries.

A similar trajectory will be critical against the country’s 31st-best rushing offense with 193.7 rushing yards per game and 18 total touchdowns. The Cougars’ backfield has also rushed for at least 116 yards in each of their last three games despite the absence of fourth-year running back LJ Martin.

“You’ve got to be able to stop the run, you’ve got to be able to run the ball,” Dillingham said. “That opens everything up. That allows you to be consistent in the game, keeps you in good down and distances.”

The Sun Devils’ own rushing attack experienced a breakthrough on Saturday in the form of first-year running back Cardae Mack. His performance of 159 yards and four touchdowns makes him the team-leader in rushing yards and scores, while also providing a needed spark to the conference’s third-worst rushing offense.

“Really good short area quickness, really good explosiveness and he has really good contact balance,” Dillingham said. “Everybody in this building has the utmost confidence in that kid to make plays, and to put him back sometimes and let him take a direct snap.”

With five weeks remaining in the regular season, the race for a spot in the Big 12 title game is in the aftermath of a serious shake-up. BYU is now a part of a four-way tie for second place, and another slip-up may dash any chance of competing for a national title.

A 4-3 overall record and 2-2 in-conference record already puts ASU in long shot territory, but in a sport where anything is possible week-to-week, Dillingham’s only concern is making sure his team is ready to play no matter the circumstances.

“It’s college football nowadays, it’s way different than it used to be,” Dillingham said. “You have parity and the ability to create consistency is harder, and that’s the challenge.

“Let’s go play our best game this week. Repeat, repeat and get better and repeat and see what happens every Saturday. But be prepared to the best of your ability.”