ASU’s physicality will be key against Utah

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State is coming off its first conference win of the season, upsetting Washington State 38-27. The Sun Devils exploded offensively for more than 509 total yards, a season-high, including 235 rushing yards, their most since 2021. The key to the offensive explosion was physicality to get the run game going and set up the play-action pass.

ASU’s offensive line has battled injuries all season, making it hard for the same five guys to lineup together week after week. But Saturday they came out with a different level of intensity and physicality that opened up gaping holes for the offense. They’ll need that same mindset and production against a stout, physical Utah team.

“They’ve just shown grit the entire year,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “Those guys have just been fighting and fighting and fighting and working and working and working, getting better and better and better together.”

On the final play of the game, the Sun Devils had a third and seven, and a first down would allow them to kneel out the rest of the clock. Washington State essentially loaded the box with nobody back and junior running back Cam Skattebo ran for nine yards to seal the game.

“I think just the last play of the game, you know…that’s a testament to those guys,” Dillingham said. “The work they put in, the film study they put in, and the resilience.”

ASU had not rushed for more than 145 yards in a game this season prior to the 235-yard output against the Cougars. Although, its 145-yard outing was the week prior against Washington, so it looks as if it’s headed in the right direction. But Utah will be the biggest test yet for the Sun Devils offense.

Arizona State’s biggest physicality test of the season

“It’s a great challenge for us to see where our physicality stands,” Dillingham said. “This (Utah) football team’s identity is physicality and they’ve had 19 years to establish it.”

The Utah defense allows the eighth fewest rush yards per game in the country. They also allow the second-fewest rush attempts in the country because they gain a lead early, stop the run enough for teams to fall away from it, and control the clock with their offense to limit possessions for the opposing team.

“Utah is one of the most aggressive and violent teams defending perimeter runs in the country,” Dillingham said. “I’ve been talking to our guys about this game for a long time, showing clips of what it takes to win at this level, at a high level, and I’ve been using Utah as the example.”

Utah’s defense has been its staple for many years, and Dillingham talked very highly of its defensive schematics and effectiveness. They match the guys you put out on the field with those they send out to defend you.

“If you put a fast guy in, they put a fast guy in, you put a big guy in, they put a big guy in. It’s a very, very NFL mindset,” Dillingham said. “They say we’re going do what you want to do better than you. You put in a big guy, we’re going to hit them, you put in small guy, we’re going to run better than you.”

The goal is to get better every week

ASU played its most complete game by far on Saturday. The defense played well despite the high score and the offense finally put everything together. Meanwhile, Utah is a massive test for the Sun Devil’s offense. We’ll see how physical they are, how much they’ve grown, and if they can compete with one of the best defenses in the conference.

The Sun Devils have checked off their first conference win, but Dillingham knows they need to keep getting better.

“We won one game. Let’s relax,” Dillingham said. “We’re going to continue to get better, that’s the challenge every single week.”

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