We've come to it at last, folks. Week 1 of the 2025 season is upon us, and meaningful football will be played once again.
Must be a sign it’s game week ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/n9elzSehoa
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) August 26, 2025
Get ready to Stomp The Bus, as Mountain America Stadium will play host to the 42nd meeting between the Sun Devils and the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona University. Meeting for the first time since 2022, both teams are coming off seasons that exceeded expectations, looking to prove that last season was not a fluke.
Both members of the Border Conference until 1952, this secondary in-state rivalry dates back to the 1915 season when the then Tempe Normal Owls delivered a crushing 72-3 defeat to the Northern Arizona Teachers College Lumberjacks in the first season of college football up in Flagstaff. Since then the Sun Devils have controlled the all-time series, possessing a 24-14-3 record with NAU's most recent win coming in 1938.
Meeting for the 5th time since 2010, the Devils have not failed to reach the 40 point mark against their FCS opponents. But this year isn't your ordinary Lumberjacks team. Coming off their first trip to the FCS playoffs since 2017, the Lumberjacks enter the season ranked No. 19 in the preseason Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
With ASU ranked No. 11 in the preseason AP poll, this marks the first time in series history that both schools have been nationally ranked when playing each other, and just the second time that NAU has been ranked coming in to Tempe (No. 18 in 2016).
Much has been made about how many players are returning to the Sun Devils this season, but the Lumberjacks are returning 14 starters of their own. NAU's offense is led by quarterback Ty Pennington (no relation to former Jets and Dolphins QB Chad Pennington), who was named the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Pittsburg State to follow head coach Brian Wright, and earned himself a spot on the Preseason All-Big Sky team.
DON'T BLINK🤯
— NAU Football (@NAU_Football) November 2, 2024
Ty Pennington scores with a 76 yard rush on the OPENING PLAY OF THE GAME!!!!#RaiseTheFlag | #ALLIN | #BigSkyFB pic.twitter.com/YoWLLTDVn7
Joined by Seth Cromwell and Darvon Hubbard, the Lumberjacks return a three-headed running attack that accounted for 1,554 of the team's 2,342 rushing yards, which ranked 21st in FCS last season. NAU also returns their second leading receiver in Kolbe Katsis (35 catches for 498 yards and 2 TDs in 11 games) as well as offensive linemen Seth Smith, Ethan Kramer, and Connor DePrez,
Defensive lineman Micah Carreon headlines the six returning Lumberjacks on defense after a 2024 season that saw him record 46 tackles, including a team-leading 7 tackles-for-loss, earning himself a spot on the preseason All-Big Sky team alongside linebacker Brandon Wong. Mikale Greer is the standard bearer in the secondary, coming off a team-high four interceptions in 2024.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham is not underestimating the Lumberjacks, commending head coach Brian Wright for inspiring his team to not play scared against any opponent, driving home how the Lumberjacks, especially when on defense, force opponents to be in constant communication.
"Going in to a Week 1, those are the teams that you don't want to face because it's communication."Kenny Dillingham
The other key point from the coach is that last year's success does not change how he feels entering the 2025 season.
Coach Kenny Dillingham on how he feels coming into this season versus going into last season.
— Andrew Hayslett (@AndrewJHayslett) August 25, 2025
“The exact same.”@Devils_Detail pic.twitter.com/0Ys4GcQPzJ
While the leadership perspective is the same entering this season, the preseason hopes and accolades couldn't be more different. The Sun Devils return 16 starters, tied for the most in FBS this season, led by sophomore Sam Leavitt at quarterback. He enters the season on the watchlist for five awards, including the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, and Johnny Unitas Awards. Aided by the return of a healthy Jordyn Tyson, they present one of the most potent QB-WR duos in college football.
Defensively, the Sun Devils are stacked, returning 9 of 11 starters, including the entire starting secondary. All throughout camp it has been opined that the best defense the Devils could be facing this season will be their own teammates. Keyshaun Elliot (Butkus), Xavion Alford (Jim Thorpe), and C.J. Fite (Nagurski) have all been named to preseason defensive award watchlists.
“We’re not just facing opponents, we’re facing 50 years of history.” On the challenges being set forth for this team and emphasizing this being a player-led team.@Devils_Detail pic.twitter.com/rXuewQacqD
— Tom Hardon (@tbhardon90) August 17, 2025
As previously mentioned, this season's Lumberjack team is not your ordinary Week 1 FCS matchup, and they will be looking to replicate their performance from four years ago in Tucson. The Sun Devils on the other hand will be fighting against 50 years of history when entering a season with lofty expectations.
The stage is set and it's finally time to rumble. Limited tickets remain for Saturday's opener, so grab a friend, a coworker, anyone, and fill Mountain America Stadium to capacity to cheer the Sun Devils "Onward To Victory"!