The Arizona State Sun Devils face off against the Cincinnati Wildcats and are looking to go undefeated in October for the first time since the 2014 season. However, they will be without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Arizona State’s Offensive Coordinator Marcus Arroyo said Leavitt finished the game after fracturing his rib.
ASU Head Coach Kenny Dillingham named Jeff Sims as the starter after the Sun Devils’ Wednesday practice.
“I want Jeff to know how much confidence we have in him,” Coach Dillingham said.
Sims has started in 25 games in his collegiate career with a record of 8-17. Coach Dillingham noted that Sims has struggled with turnovers throughout his career, as he has thrown 29 interceptions, but turnovers are not always at the fault of the quarterback.
Cincinnati has forced eight fumbles (and recovered six) this season. However, they have only three interceptions, which is tied for the least in the Big 12.
The Wildcats’ defense ranks 14th in the Big 12 in total yards allowed per game (404.7). However, Cincinnati’s defense held UCF to 13 points last week in one of their most impressive games of the season.
Cincinnati’s offense has exploded this season, jumping from ninth in the Big 12 in total yards per game up to second.
“You just see some of the explosive touchdowns they’ve had this year,” ASU Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward said. “The speed that they have on offense, that's what jumps out.”
Arizona State’s offense, powered by Cameron Skattebo, has also taken a jump this season averaging almost 100 more rushing yards per game as a team than they did last season. Skattebo is currently fifth in the nation in rushing yards (773).
“That’s been our identity since the beginning,” Coach Arroyo said. “My whole career has been built on running the football and getting a guy in the backfield that can run.”
Although Leavitt is out, Skattebo’s workload will likely remain about the same.
“The offense doesn’t have to change. That’s the beauty of it,” Coach Arroyo said. “Sometimes, you have to pair back something. (Sims) can make every throw, he can make every run.”
Coach Dillingham voiced his concerns with the team traveling three time zones to play in Cincinnati, something that a lot of teams around college football have struggled with this season. ASU moved practice up one hour to prepare their bodies to play in an earlier time zone, but that led to some struggles in practice.
“It’s a combination of a few things,” Coach Ward said. “The early morning practice and getting guys going and locked in. It’s a mentality thing with a few of our guys.”
The key factors for Arizona State’s offense against Cincinnati will be Skattebo’s effectiveness and Sims’ ability to keep the offense moving. For the Wildcats, it will be about forcing Sims to make mistakes and taking advantage of them on the other end.
Arizona State is coming off their first ranked victory since Dillingham became the head coach, and would earn a spot in a bowl game with a victory over the Wildcats.