Sun Devils gearing up for historic matchup against Kansas from Wembley Stadium
Coming off Saturday's 48-20 defeat in College Station, Arizona State had little time to rest before their next test.
That's right, London is calling this week, pitting the Sun Devils against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first NCAA game held in London.
Kansas is coming off a second half drop off of their own, falling in the Border War by a 38-21 final to Missouri last Friday. Both teams will be looking to turn the page on lopsided defeats to claim their first win in the conference standings.
Travel fatigue will be the biggest factor to watch in this matchup. The Sun Devils flew straight to London from Texas, while Kansas kicked off their travel on Tuesday. Early indications would give the acclimation edge to Arizona State after beginning their practice sessions on Tuesday.
On the field, the clear key to the Sun Devils' offense will be Cutter Boley's play against the Jayhawks' secondary. Boley leads the Big 12 in passing with 641 yards and 8 touchdown passes, helped in no small part by the new addition of wide receiver Reed Harris. Boley's favorite target, Harris also leads the Big 12 in receiving yards (326) and touchdowns (4), averaging an incredible 21.7 yards per catch.
Kansas will rely on safety Corey Gordon to contain Harris, responsible for 8 total tackles and 1 pass defended in his first two games. Also look for defensive end Leroy Harris to be a factor in disrupting Boley's timing, already with 4 tackles-for-loss, 2 pass breakups, and a blocked field goal on the season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Arizona State's front seven will be faced with a run-heavy attack, starting with sophomore quarterback Isaiah Marshall and an option-focused playbook. Marshall has called his own number for most of the runs, but is supported by junior Yasin Willis (90 yards and 2 TDs), as well as Swiss army knife Dylan Edwards, who has posted 122 yards of total offense as a pass-catching back. Despite the lopsided final score, the Sun Devils limited Texas A&M to 14 first downs, showcasing disciplined play that kept a more powerful offense in check.
Eyes from across the country and around the world will be on the Sun Devils and Jayhawks in Saturday's historic matchup. Kickoff is set for 9am from Wembley Stadium, and will air on FS1.
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