Baylor travels to Arizona State for its first true road test Saturday night in a Big 12 game with both teams unbeaten in conference play. The matchup pits Baylor’s elite pass rush against Arizona State’s efficient passing offense at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, with kickoff set for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Baylor vs Arizona State game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Mountain America Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- TV: ESPN
- Series: Big 12 Conference matchup
How do these teams arrive at this matchup?
Arizona State (2-1, 1-0 Big 12) returns from a bye after opening conference play with a 24-17 win over Kansas in London on Sept. 19, following a 48-20 loss at Texas A&M. Baylor (3-1, 1-0) has won three straight since dropping its opener to Auburn 17-16, most recently beating Colorado 23-13 in Waco for its Big 12-opening win.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham credited Baylor as a near-elite team this week, telling reporters, “If they reach the ball 4 more inches, this is a Top 25 team coming to town,” referencing the Auburn defeat, per CBS Sports. Dillingham also recalled last season’s 27-24 win at Baylor, saying the Bears “stoned us for most of the game.”
Who starts at quarterback, and what shape is each offense in?
Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway, a Florida transfer, is expected to start. He completed 19 of 39 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against Colorado, per CBS Sports. Nate Bennett, the season passing leader at 45 completions on 60 attempts for 567 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions, provides depth. Rushing leader Dawson Pendergrass has 287 yards on 73 carries.
Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley, also an SEC transfer by way of Kentucky, is expected to start and has completed 53 of 84 passes for 736 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions this season. Boley has added a rushing dimension this season. Reed Harris and Omarion Miller have combined for 39 of the Sun Devils’ 58 receptions, according to CBS Sports, with Harris individually totaling 19 catches for 374 yards and five touchdowns.
Can Baylor’s defensive front disrupt Arizona State’s passing attack?
This is the matchup Baylor coach Dave Aranda is counting on. Against Colorado, Baylor recorded five sacks, 13 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery, per CBS Sports. Aranda credited the depth at defensive line, saying a three-deep rotation “is different from what it’s been.” The Bears have 15 sacks through four games, averaging 3.8 per game.
Arizona State has allowed five sacks in three games and ranks 11th in the Big 12 in passing yardage despite averaging 260.3 yards per game through the air, according to Sports Illustrated. The Sun Devils’ offense has produced 426 total yards per game and scored 38 points per game, numbers that will test whether Baylor’s front can get home against a quarterback who has thrown nine touchdown passes.
On the other side, Arizona State’s secondary has allowed just 484 passing yards through three games, the fourth-best mark in the country, per Sports Illustrated. That sets up a direct test for Lagway and Baylor receivers Gavin Freeman and Jayden McGowan, with Freeman leading the team at 35 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns.
By the numbers
- Points per game: Baylor 29.8, Arizona State 38.0
- Total yards per game: Baylor 435.8, Arizona State 426.0
- Passing yards per game: Baylor 285.0, Arizona State 260.3
- Rushing yards per game: Baylor 150.8, Arizona State 165.7
- Sacks per game (defense): Baylor 3.8, Arizona State 1.7
- Third-down conversion rate: Baylor 39.39%, Arizona State 30.77%
- Turnover differential: Baylor 0, Arizona State +1
- Total penalty yards per game: Baylor 74.8, Arizona State 49.7
What to watch
Baylor is riding a three-game winning streak since the Auburn opener and looks to validate Aranda’s defensive buildup against a Power Four offense with real firepower. Arizona State aims to build on its conference-opening win with another victory at home. Baylor coach Dave Aranda acknowledged the challenge of playing in Tempe, saying, “It’s very tough to play.
It’s just loud, and at night it can be electric,” per CBS Sports. A win would put either team at 2-0 in Big 12 play early in the season.It’s very tough to play (at Tempe).
A win would push either team to 2-0 in conference play early in the Big 12 race.
Reporting from CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
