Log in

Kansas, Arizona State looking to push past recent struggles, win first Big 12 game of the season

Posted 10/3/24

Arizona State and Kansas are two teams trying to find their footing in the Big 12 after rough starts to conference play. Arizona State won its first three games in non-conference play, but fell 30-22 …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Kansas, Arizona State looking to push past recent struggles, win first Big 12 game of the season

Posted

Kansas (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) at Arizona State (3-1, 0-1), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 2 1/2.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The Sun Devils and Jayhawks are two teams trying to find their footing in the Big 12 after rough starts to conference play. Arizona State won its first three games, but fell 30-22 to Texas Tech on Sept. 21. They've had two weeks to prepare for Kansas, which is on a four-game losing streak. It's been a precipitous fall for the Jayhawks, who were ranked No. 19 in the country after their season-opening win, but have followed that with losses to Illinois, UNLV, West Virginia and TCU. Three of the losses have been by less than a touchdown.

KEY MATCHUP

Kansas can move the ball on the ground, averaging more than 220 yards per game. Devin Neal has run for a team-high 513 yards and four touchdowns while Daniel Hishaw has run for 262 yards and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry. The Jayhawks will go against an Arizona State team that has been pretty good against the run during coach Kenny Dillingham's two-year tenure.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kansas: QB Jalon Daniels. It's been a rough start to the season for the junior, who is completing just 53% of his passes for five touchdowns and eight interceptions. If the Jayhawks are going to turn around their season, he's probably got to play better.

Arizona State: RB Cam Skattebo. The Sun Devils' offense is hugely reliant on Skattebo, who is the team's leading rusher and its second-leading receiver. He's averaging more than 108 yards on the ground, averaging 5 yards per carry. He's also caught 13 passes for 190 yards.

FACTS & FIGURES

Neal ran for the 40th touchdown of his career with a 2-yard score late in the first quarter in last week's game against TCU. He has 37 rushing TDs and three receiving TDs. He's now No. 2 on the KU career touchdowns list, passing Bobby Douglass. ... WR Luke Grimm leads the Jayhawks with 30 catches for 317 yards and four touchdowns. ... Senior cornerbacks Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson both have 10 career interceptions for Kansas. ... Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt is averaging 214 yards through the air per game, throwing three touchdowns and two interceptions. He transferred to Tempe after spending his first year at Michigan State. ... Arizona State has a 2-9 record following a bye week over its last 11 chances, including a five-game losing streak.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football