No. 25 Arizona State opens 2021 as heavy favorites against Southern Utah

No. 25 Arizona State football will finally play in front of its home crowd for the first time since 2019.

The Sun Devils start off the 2021 season in Tempe on Thursday against the visiting Southern Utah Thunderbirds.

ASU played just four games in 2020, as a COVID-19 outbreak within the team nearly cut its season in half. But most starters on both sides of the ball are back this year, including junior quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, already have a game under their belt. They lost to San Jose State 45-14 on Saturday and have a quick turnaround before heading to the Valley.

Essential Info

What: No. 25 Arizona State (0-0) vs. Southern Utah (0-1)

When: Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Betting line: ASU -44.5

TV: Pac-12 Network

Radio: 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station

ASU’s identity

Sun Devils offensive coordinator Zak Hill told the media this week that the key for Game 1 is for the team to focus on itself over its opponent. That if the Sun Devils are efficient and take care of the ball, they’ll be successful.

In four games, ASU gained 264.2 yards per game on the ground last year, which was seventh in the nation. Redshirt senior Rachaad White and sophomore DeaMonte Trayanum established themselves as dynamic halfbacks who provide different skillsets. White has incredible burst and pass-catching ability while Trayanum is a 235-pound wrecking ball with impressive speed and agility for his size.

Daniels can also run the ball, and he did for 6.8 yards per carry in 2020.

“We’re going to find a way to run the ball,” head coach Herm Edwards said this week. “You better be able to stop it. If you don’t, then OK, but we’re going to run the ball.”

ASU’s receiving corps is another year older, but still filled with highly-recruited underclassmen. Redshirt freshman Johnny Wilson is the Z, while redshirt freshman LV Bunkley-Shelton and redshirt sophomore Andre Johnson are competing for starting spots at the H and X.

The Sun Devil defense took a hit this offseason when it lost 2020 All-Pac-12 defensive lineman Jermayne Lole for 2021 with a triceps injury. But the unit is still stacked with veterans, as no underclassmen are starters on the depth chart.

“They understand one another,” defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce said last week. “Very mature group. They get it.”

Last year, ASU allowed just 23.2 points per game, fewest in the Pac-12. The secondary, anchored by redshirt senior Chase Lucas, is the second-most experienced in the country in combined games played.

About Southern Utah

“When you look at Sothern Utah from last year, they played six games and they were in a lot of close games,” Edwards said. “They just couldn’t finish in the end.”

SUU went 1-5 during the FCS season in the spring. Every loss was by one possession.

That was not the case Saturday as the Thunderbirds went down 38-14 at halftime and never got closer.

Edwards called SUU a veteran team that brings a lot of pressure up front while relying on man coverage.

Last week, San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel faced little stress as he picked apart the Thunderbirds defense for 394 yards and four touchdowns. Four receivers had at least 66 yards.

SUU redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Miller had a promising spring season, but the offense struggled to move the ball against San Jose State. The Spartans had eight tackles for loss and Miller gained just four yards per completion.

Final thoughts

The Sun Devils are heavy favorites to win their 22nd-straight home opener, not including last season. Edwards expects some ugly moments that naturally come during Week 1.

But the focus for ASU is simple: “Be yourself.”

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