Football Hosts #6 Ducks in Penultimate Game of Season

THE GAME –  Sun Devil Football will host the penultimate game of the 2023 season this weekend as it welcomes No. 6 Oregon to Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 18. Scheduled for a 2 p.m. AZT kickoff, the contest will be broadcast on the FOX (Jeff Levering, Mark Helfrich) and available over the airwaves locally on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE DUCKS –  After riding a 10-game winning streak against ASU from 2005-16, Oregon leads the all-time series, 20-18, though ASU has taken two of the last three – both victories coming in Tempe  against Top-25 Oregon teams in 2017 and 2019. The 2019 win was the last contest between the two squads (did not play in COVID-19 shortened 2020 and missed Oregon in the Pac-12 rotation in 2021 and 2022) – also against a No. 6 Oregon team and also in the penultimate game of the season as ASU upset the Ducks and Justin Herbert, 31-28.

KICKING OFF

• ASU has now held opponents to less than 30 points in 41 of 65 games since 2018 (63.1 percent), notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of the 43 previous games (74.4 percent) in a span from 2013- 17.
• Since 2018, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 36 occasions over 65 games (55.4 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
• The Sun Devils have forced 130 missed tackles on offense this season, good for 23rd among all FBS teams. Conversely, the defense/special teams have just 99 missed tackles this season, good for the 25th-lowest tally in the FBS.
• On 43 opponent red zone drives this season, ASU has allowed just 21 touchdowns – a 48.8 percent touchdown conversion rate that is 19th-lowest in the FBS despite facing 124 red zone plays – the 11th-highest tally in the FBS.
• Among active FBS receivers since 2021, Badger’s 51 missed tackles forced on receiving plays are 6th – though his have come on significantly fewer receptions than those in front of him with the top five having between 40-100 more career receptions than Badger.
• Despite being the-most targeted cornerback in the Pac-12 (59 targets), Jordan Clark is one of only seven league corners with 200 coverage snaps to not allow a touchdown this season. In fact, of 136 total FBS corners to be targeted 41+ times, he is one of just 18  to not be credited with a touchdown.
• A semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy (nation’s top player that started…