Arizona State football’s 2023 season by the numbers

TEMPE, Ariz. — We’re exactly halfway through Arizona State football’s 2023 season. ASU is 1-5 and winless in Pac-12 play. However two of the Sun Devils’ losses were by three points, and in their loss to Oklahoma State, they led at halftime. A few mistakes are the difference between 1-5 and 4-2.

Let’s take a look at how Arizona State is fairing so far this season, statistically, beyond their record.

Arizona State’s 2023 season by the numbers

The offense:

The Sun Devil offense has struggled this season, but they’ve looked significantly better in conference play. Kenny Dillingham taking over as play-caller seems to have helped. Despite that, their overall season numbers are on the lower end.

• Third down conversion rate – tied for 110th (33.7%)
• Fourth down conversion rate – tied for 66th (52.6%)
• Completion percentage – 94th (58%)
• Total penalties – 59th (33)
• Penalty yards per game – 65th (51 yards)
• First down offense – 79th (111 total first downs)
• Fumbles lost – tied for 106th (five fumbles lost)
• Interceptions thrown – tied for 117th (eight thrown)
• Passing offense – 45th (258 yards per game)
• Passing yards per completion – 82nd (11.66 yards per completion)
• Red zone offense – 18th (93.8%)
• Rushing offense – 125th (83.7 yards per game)
• Scoring offense – 122nd (18.7 points-per-game)
• Team passing efficiency – 113th (116.63)
• Sacks allowed – 117th (22 total)
• Tackles for loss allowed – 108th (42 total, or seven per game)
• Time of possession – 82nd (29 minutes per game)
• Total offense – 103rd (342 yards per game)

The defense:

Arizona State’s defense, led by new defensive coordinator Brian Ward, has been a bright spot this season. The stats may not completely reflect it, but they’ve been put in difficult situations thanks to the incompetent (at times) Arizona State offense.

• Third down defense – 71st (39%)
• Fourth down conversion defense – tied for 122nd (75%)
• First down defense – 60th (111 first downs given up)
• Fumble recoveries – 107th (One fumble recovery)
• Interceptions – Last (Zero interceptions)
• Passing yards allowed per game – 55th (217 yards per game)
• Red zone defense – 97th (87.5%)
• Rush defense – 45th (122 rushing yards per game)
• Scoring defense – 85th (28 points per game)
• Team pass efficiency on defense – 68th (131.03)
• Sacks per game – Tied for 19th (Three per game)
• Team tackles for loss per game – Tied for 41st (6.3 per game)
• Total defense – 41st (339 yards per game)

Special teams:

• Blocked kicks allowed – tied for 112th (2)
• Net punting – 113th (35.67 yards per punt)

Turnover issues

One of the biggest issues this season is the turnover problem, on both sides of the ball. The offense can’t stop coughing it up, averaging over two turnovers per game. On the other side, the defense has struggled to create any turnovers this season. The lone fumble recovery comes from a botched handoff by Caleb Williams in the USC game.

These issues are reflected in the stat books. Arizona State is dead last in the FBS in turnover margin, sitting at -12. It’s extremely hard to win football games when the opponent constantly has more possessions.

“We’re not creating turnovers,” Dillingham said after the Colorado game. “When the ball hits our hands there’s times where we don’t catch it. Then when the ball does come out, there was a fumble today that we didn’t recover… they’ll come, the turnovers will come. Unfortunately, they haven’t come yet. I think we’re dead last in the country, or we’re definitely low in the country in turnovers created. Our defense is playing great, but that’s a category we have to get better at.”

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