The Arizona State Sun Devils are gearing up for their season opener against the Morgan State Bears on September 5 at Mountain America Stadium. This matchup is particularly notable as it will be the first time in program history that ASU faces a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Coach Kenny Dillingham, now in his fourth season, is looking to lead his team to victory with a new roster that includes several key transfers.
In the preseason, Arizona State has been projected to finish between sixth and ninth in the Big 12 Conference, which has placed them somewhat under the radar. The Sun Devils will debut a new starting quarterback, junior Cutter Boley, who was named to the position just a week prior to the game. Boley, who transferred from Kentucky, is eager to make an impact and has emphasized the importance of making smart decisions on the field, especially after struggles with turnovers last season.
On the other side, Morgan State is coming off a 17-7 victory against North Carolina A&T, improving their record to 1-0. The Bears, who finished the previous season with a 4-8 record, compete in NCAA Division I FCS as part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This game against Arizona State will mark a significant change for the Sun Devils, who have historically only faced teams from the Big Sky Conference when playing FCS opponents.
The matchup will kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Sun Devils are heavily favored, with a spread of 43 points, which reflects the expectations surrounding the team this season. However, Dillingham has cautioned against complacency, stressing the need for a strong performance to engage their fan base and set a positive tone for the season ahead.
In terms of player highlights, Morgan State's quarterback Cameron Edge, who previously played at Eastern Michigan, will be leading the Bears. He is looking to build on a strong opening game where the Bears scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to secure their victory. Meanwhile, Arizona State will also see the debut of other notable transfers, including wide receivers Omarion Miller from Colorado and Reed Harris from Boston College, as well as cornerback Ashton Stamps from LSU.
The coaching matchup features Damon Wilson of Morgan State, who is in his fifth year with a record of 18-27, and Dillingham, who boasts a 22-17 record at ASU. Wilson has a successful background, having led Bowie State to multiple playoff appearances during his tenure there. Dillingham, on the other hand, has transformed the Sun Devils from a 3-9 team to Big 12 champions in just one year, raising expectations significantly.
Injury concerns for Arizona State include defensive lineman My'Keil Gardner, linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu, and cornerback Nigel Pringle, all of whom are out for the season. Tight end Khamari Anderson is questionable for the game as he recovers from a broken leg sustained in the spring.
As the Sun Devils prepare for this historic matchup, the focus will be on executing their game plan effectively. Dillingham has expressed a desire to see his players rise to the occasion and make impactful plays, especially in critical moments. With the season opener approaching, all eyes will be on Arizona State to see if they can deliver a strong performance and set the tone for the rest of the season.
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