San Diego State opened the season with a 38-17 win over UC Davis. Now the Aztecs head to what coach Rocky Long calls the “opportunity” portion of the schedule. Weeks 2-3 feature back-to-back games against a pair of Pac-12 teams. The Aztecs meet to Arizona State in Tempe on Saturday before returning to play No. 14 Stanford.

“They’re on there so that we can prove we can compete at that level,” Long said.

SDSU is still looking for its first win against ASU. The Sun Devils lead the series 10-0-1, including a 34-13 in 2007 at Sun Devil Stadium when the teams last met.

ASU is a 4-point favorite coming into the game.


About the Sun Devils

Arizona State head coach Todd Graham came into the season with the heat on him, and it had nothing to do with the Arizona sun. Graham compiled a 39-26 record after five seasons, but was feeling heat that outdoor misters can’t cool after the Sun Devils went 5-7 last season (2-7 in the Pac-12).

Criticism this season began as soon as last week’s season-opening 37-31 win over New Mexico State was in the books, observers questioning the Sun Devils’ defensive strategy in a game that was closer than anyone expected.

Coacheshotseat.com listed Graham on the second-hottest seat in the nation, behind only Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, coming into the season. Graham moved down to No. 3 this week, only because Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin moved to the hottest spot after the Aggies blew a 34-point lead Sunday night in a 45-44 loss to UCLA.

Arizona State was picked for fifth place in the Pac-12 South Division, ahead of only Arizona, in a preseason media poll. After two straight losing seasons, ASU didn’t extend Graham’s contract for the first time (he had received annual rollovers previously). He still is under contract through the 2020 season and any buyout would be 100 percent of what’s left on his contract ($3.2 million coming into the season) if he’s fired.


Will it come to that? Too soon to say, but the heat is on.

The offense

In ASU’s victory over New Mexico State, the Sun Devils displayed a vertical passing game that SDSU aspires to this season.

Junior quarterback Manny Wilkins completed 22-of-27 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Long compared Wilkins to former Cal quarterback Davis Webb, who was noted for his strong arm, quick release and mobility.

Wilkins’ performance last week included a 60-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver John Humphrey (7 catches, 123 yards), a transfer from Oklahoma, and a 53-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jalen Harvey (2-68). Sophomore wide receiver N’Keal Harry (6-69) is the most dangerous of the receivers. Harry stands 6-foot-4 and last season led the nation’s freshmen in receptions.


“It’s the most athletic team we’ve played since North Carolina in 2014,” SDSU defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said. “They’re big. They’re fast. They do a lot of really, really good things.”

There are some concerns with the Sun Devils’ running game, which collected only 129 yards on 40 carries last week against New Mexico. Running back Kalen Ballage, a 6-3, 230-pound senior who draws comparisons to SDSU’s Rashaad Penny, led the way last week with 18 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Demario Richard, who is coming off an injury-riddled season and had only one carry (4 yards) against New Mexico State, should contribute as well.

A youthful and inexperienced offensive line is likely responsible for the rushing struggles. It also shares some of the blame for Wilkins being sacked seven times against the Aggies.

The defense

New ASU defensive coordinator Phil Bennett raised some eyebrows when he made no first-half substitutions — and only two in the third quarter — against New Mexico State in a game that was 101 degrees at kickoff.


“I wanted to see how they handled it,” Bennett told arizonasports.com. “When it was 14-13 (at halftime), I wanted to see how they responded. That was important to me. Were they going to man up and get the thing under control? The next thing you know it was 37-13.”

A big third quarter allowed the Sun Devils to pull away, but New Mexico State drove down the field in just over a minute in the fourth quarter against the second unit. Two other touchdowns came late in the game after the first-string returned to the field. Some questioned whether the defenders were worn out by that point from playing too much earlier in the game. Others wondered if the first string stayed in so long because there is so little confidence in the backups.

ASU defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood and linebacker Keron Crump each had two of the team’s six sacks. Defensive backs Kobe Williams and Joey Bryant each had interceptions, Williams going 49 yards for a touchdown on his return.

Saturday’s forecast is for the low 90s by kickoff, but not giving the starters a few breathers against SDSU’s ball-control offense doesn’t sound like a recipe for success.


Did you know?

Arizona State unveiled a statute of Pat Tillman last week at Sun Devil Stadium. Tillman starred at linebacker for ASU from 1994-97 before embarking on an NFL career as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2002, Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract to become an Army Ranger. He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan two years later.


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kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com / on Twitter: @sdutkirKDKenney