Devils in Detail
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ASU Football: Who’s the toughest opponents on the schedule?

By Sam Ficarro

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils leaps past Adarius Pickett #6, Jamel Cook #21 and Kenny Young #42 of the UCLA Bruins for a touchdown during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils leaps past Adarius Pickett #6, Jamel Cook #21 and Kenny Young #42 of the UCLA Bruins for a touchdown during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Nick Bawden #15 of San Diego State leads the team onto the field prior to the first half against Nevada at Qualcomm Stadium on November 18, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Nick Bawden #15 of San Diego State leads the team onto the field prior to the first half against Nevada at Qualcomm Stadium on November 18, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /

11. San Diego State Aztecs

San Diego State still sends shivers down the spines of ASU fans after Rashaad Penny torched the Sun Devils for 219 yards and three touchdowns as the Aztecs pulled off a 30-20 upset in Tempe last year.

Fortunately for Arizona State, Penny is now in the NFL after getting selected in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks.

The two meet again this year at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego as Arizona State will look to enact revenge on Sept. 15.

SDSU will have quarterback Christian Chapman under center for his senior year. Chapman threw for only threw for 73 yards and one touchdown last year because of Penny’s dominance.

Wilkins played great for the Sun Devils in last year’s meeting throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns, but the special teams were poor beginning with punter Michael Sleep-Dalton’s struggles and a kick-return touchdown scored by Penny.

Another component of ASU’s surprising home loss was the nonexistent running game with the team finishing with 44 rushing yards.

This will be a reunion of sorts for defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales after spending seven seasons with the Aztecs before taking the DC job with Arizona State in December.

Nobody would know San Diego State more than Gonzales and the Sun Devils are the more talented team. SDSU will be a much different team without Penny in the backfield.

I still expect SDSU to be a run-first team next season, but they’ll be more reliant on Chapman to move the offense.

This is the only non-conference road game for Arizona State as this begins a two-game road trip with a top-10 Washington team looming the following week in Seattle.

Arizona State really needs to secure wins against UTSA and SDSU if they want to put themselves in position to be bowl eligible.

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