Know Thine Enemy: Texas A&M/Arizona State Q&A with Sun Devil Source
· Yahoo Sports
The 2026 really kicks into high gear this Saturday, as the Aggies face their first power conference opponent in the form of the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Aggies enter the weekend as a 14.5-point favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook, and the over/under currently sits at 50.5.
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While they’re a Big 12 team, they’re a team Texas A&M has only faced once it our history (who has never come to Kyle Field). So it’s safe to say, there’s a lot we can learn about the Sun Devils. To aid in that, I reached out to Chris Karpman of Sun Devil Source, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions headed into Saturday’s matchup.
The result of Week 1 cupcake matchup may have been a foregone conclusion, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things we can learn. What do you think you learned about the 2026 ASU team last week, be it positive or negative?Who are the top playmakers for the Sun Devils on each side of the ball?“Mostly, it confirmed things we already knew or strongly suspected from practices being nearly fully open to media members. The wide receiver group, headlined by top-five transfers Omarion Miller and Reed Harris, is physical and potent. Quarterback Cutter Boley is capable in the quick game and accurate when he has time to throw. The defensive line is deep and versatile. Offensive tackle is a concern area, with left tackle Luke Baklenko giving up a blind-side sack that resulted in Boley losing a fumble, ASU’s lone turnover. Cornerback, with new starters Ashton Stamps, a previous starter at LSU in 2024, and Rodney Bimage, was fine, but not quite as sharp as expected, particularly on a second-quarter drive that yielded consecutive first-down receptions and Morgan State’s only points.”
Obviously the Playoff berth in 2024 was an unmitigated success, but what is the outlook for the Sun Devils in 2026? Does this feel like a pivotal year for Kenny Dillingham?“Miller and Harris combined for 14 catches, 239 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the opener. They’re potential high-end NFL Draft picks with an impressive blend of size, athleticism, versatility and play strength. Boley was a starter last season as a redshirt freshman at Kentucky, where he had several impressive performances and several shaky, multi-turnover performances for a total of 12 interceptions and two lost fumbles, tied for the second-most interceptions in the SEC. Center Tana Alo-Tupuola and left guard Maki Stewart, one of ASU’s best interior linemen in many years, are typically good in pass protection and the run game. Tight end Khamari Anderson is one of the best all-around blockers at the position in the Big 12. ASU has a deep and versatile running back group, but no elite or near-elite performers.
Senior nose tackle C.J. Fite, a preseason all-conference pick, helped ASU finish as one of the top-three run defenses in the Big 12 in each of the last two seasons. Linebacker Owen Long, a highly cerebral player, was ASU’s highest-profile defensive transfer after he led FBS with 151 tackles last season at Colorado State. Senior boundary safety Lyrik Rawls led Kansas in unassisted tackles last season and was quickly added to ASU’s leadership council. Defensive ends Jalen Thompson (Michigan State) and Emar’rion Winston (Baylor) were quality additions who’ve added more physicality to the edges. Stamps was an underclassman starter at LSU for most of two seasons and has experience against high-end SEC teams.“
What’s the general outlook of the fanbase right now? Are folks expecting a step back without Sam Leavitt, or is there optimism for the Cutter Boley era? I guess what I’m asking is, do we need to “watch out for them devils?”“I expect ASU will have a good defense, perhaps even a top-tier Big 12 defense, and enough offensive balance and potency to put together a winning season against the toughest-ranked schedule in the Big 12, according to a consensus of computer models. ASU doesn’t have unlimited money for its roster. It couldn’t retain Leavitt and surround him with a bevy of elite skill players and pass protectors, and maintain a defense as good as the one it fielded in the last two seasons. The decisions were calculated to spend less at quarterback, spend more at wide receiver and maintain the defense. Time will tell if those decisions look good in retrospect, but it was a logical strategy based on who the team added in the portal and how the team looked in the preseason.”
As ASU fans descend upon College Station this weekend, is there anything in particular we should know about them?“Dillingham is highly regarded among fans in Tempe. ASU sold out every game last season for the first time in modern history. He turned down serious interest from Michigan and signed a contract extension for the second straight year. It was a somewhat disappointing 2025 season, a result largely due to major injuries to several key players. ASU lost many starters to eligibility exhaustion and saw a few starters transfer for financial considerations. The 2026 schedule includes road games against three preseason-ranked teams and nine straight games without a bye week to end the regular season. A strong majority of ASU’s starters have remaining eligibility and there is reason to believe that next year’s team could be very good. Expectations for this year generally include a winning season. Most fans wouldn’t view ASU missing the Big 12 Championship Game as a sign of trouble for Dillingham. For that to be the case, it would probably take a .500 or worse record.”
Between a raucous Kyle Field environment and boarding a trans-Atlantic flight immediately afterward, this game presents some unique challenges for ASU before the game even starts. How do you think they’ll handle it?“ASU’s fans travel reasonably well to high-profile games and love to have a good time. They’re not an antagonistic group who will cause problems, especially when they’re visiting such a mecca of college football.”
Alright, tell me how you see this game playing out, including a score prediction.“Candidly, I don’t know. The team I watched in practice every day was disciplined, not prone to procedural penalties or hot-headed mistakes. Boley played in the SEC last season. Alo-Tupuola played for Georgia Tech against Georgia in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. They won’t be new to playing in loud stadiums, but Kyle Field will be the toughest they’ve faced. Proving readiness in an extremely hostile environment is much tougher than doing so in scrimmages or against an FCS team. Boley is the key player to watch. If he has a multi-turnover day, ASU has virtually no chance to win. If he plays a very clean game, it should be close, unless ASU’s defensive backs give up a couple of cheap ones.”
Thanks so much to Chris for taking the time to chat with us. Be sure to give him (ChrisKarpman) a follow on X, and read his work at SunDevilSource.com.“The starting quarterbacks for each team tied for second-most interceptions in the SEC last season. As always, that will be one of the most important stats on Saturday. Red zone productivity will be crucial. ASU can’t get in too many third-and-longs, or it’ll be a long day. I think it’ll be a close game if ASU runs the ball reasonably well and can get some of its man-beaters to work in the passing game, unless it loses the turnover margin by two or more. I’m picking Texas A&M to win 27-23, with Marcel Reed’s escapability and off-platform throws being an advantage in this type of game.”