TEMPE– This Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:00 p.m., Arizona State will take on the Morgan State Bears for the first time in history, officially kicking off the 2026-27 football season.

However, Saturday’s game is no ordinary matchup. 

Dating back to 2012, nine of ASU’s last 10 games against FCS opponents were in Big Sky, with the lone outlier being Southern Utah in 2023, which was in the UAC at the time. Southern Utah rejoined the Big Sky, where they had been from 2012-2021, in 2026.

This weekend will be the first time that the Sun Devils will match up against a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), and their first game against a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent.

The 2026-2027 season marks head coach Kenny Dillingham’s fourth season as head coach. 

As head coach, Dillingham has enhanced the program with an 11-2 record at home over the past two seasons. 

The anticipation is high as the Sun Devils hope to secure their 27th consecutive home-opener victory.

“We are chasing ourselves like there is nobody else. We are chasing our own perfection,” Dillingham said.

He claimed the first impression is key and strives to start the season on the right foot.

“You get one chance to make a first impression,” Dillingham said. “This is our shot.” 

The Sun Devils are participating in a financial guarantee, paying Morgan State $600,000 to compete at Mountain America Stadium.

Adding a new face of the franchise

On top of that, ASU will welcome their newest face of the program.

University of Kentucky junior transfer Cutter Boley will make his debut as starting quarterback in the maroon and gold. 

Boley had a decent career at Kentucky, starting in 11 games over a two-year-period, throwing for 2,498 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Sun Devils are eager to see what he’ll bring to the program and for his arrival.

“It’s a blessing and I just couldn’t be more happy with where I’m at and the team I’m on,” Boley said.

Morgan State’s Key Players

Morgan State has strong players to keep an eye on. On the defensive side, graduate linebacker Arturo Mattocks is a threat.

Mattocks was named to the Deacon James Trophy preseason watchlist (Top HBCU Division I Defensive Lineman). Senior defensive back Aki Harvey was also placed on the Aeneas Williams Award watchlist (Best HBCU Division I Defensive Backs).  

Knowing this, Boley should be alert and stay on his toes. 

Sun Devils Watchlist

However, Arizona State is projected to have a sharp defensive line with powerful starters like senior defensive tackle C.J. Fite and fifth-year defensive tackle Blazen Lono-Wong.

Fite is definitely someone to watch out for with 16 solo tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss last season.

Alongside Fite, Lono-Wong is forceful and was seen in 336 snaps with the d-line and 185 snaps on special teams in the 2025 season.

An additional exciting aspect of this game will be watching the chemistry between Boley and senior wide receiver Omarion Miller. 

Miller is a senior transfer from Colorado, just as former ASU wideout Jordyn Tyson was. He finished his last season with the Buffaloes leading in all three receiving stats with 45 receptions for 808 yards and 8 touchdowns. He came in first in the Big 12 in yards per catch last season.

“Once I got here, you know, I kind of found a better self of me,” Miller said.

After calling for a record-setting student attendance to start the year, Dillingham is eager to get the season underway.

“Hopefully that place is rockin’ when we come out of the tunnel, and Sparky plants his pitchfork right in the middle of the emblem, and we rock and roll,” Dillingham said.