Happy Thursday! Almost to the end of the week!

I’ll get to the Sun Devils below, but first, how about those Suns? Phoenix won its season opener 120-116 last night to get Jordan Ott his first win as head coach, and it was pretty impressive considering Jalen Green was not in the lineup. Full recap in the Quick Hits section below, but TLDR: Phoenix outscored Sacramento 66-45 in the second half to come away with the W.

On to the show!

Sun Devils’ Task Just Got Taller; Wildcats Resting Up

The Sun Devils’ path to victory over the 6-1 Houston Cougars just got a little more difficult.

Star receiver Jordyn Tyson has been ruled out for Saturday’s clash against the Cougars, who have proven to be quite an opponent in the Big 12 this season. Houston’s 6-1 record includes a 3-1 mark in the conference, with the only loss coming to No. 11 Texas Tech — a team ASU beat last weekend.

On top of that, edge rusher Prince Dorbah is listed as doubtful.

No pressure, but a win over the Cougars is another (necessary) step toward successfully defending the Big 12 crown. A loss? Well, that’ll come pretty darn close to putting an end to those thoughts.

The Wildcats are off this week, and it’s a good time to reset after falling to the Cougars in heartbreaking fashion last weekend. Arizona has dropped three of its last four games, and is back in action next weekend at Colorado with a chance to get back into the win column.

This week though, the spotlight is solely on the Sun Devils.

2 Sun Devils Storylines Heading Into Week 9

Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) at No. 24 Arizona State (5-2, 3-1)
Game info: Saturday, 5 pm, ESPN2
bet365 odds: Arizona State -7.0
Last Meeting: L, 62-45 (Dec. 2, 1990)

Just when it seemed like fans could exhale following Sam Leavitt’s return to the lineup, Tyson is slotted to miss a critical game. Still, the Sun Devils have a path to victory this weekend against a Cougars team that ranks sixth in the Big 12 in both yards allowed per game (317.1) and points allowed per game (19.0).

• What Receiver Will Step Up?

Tyson’s absence is a big hit for the offense, especially when you consider the second-highest receiving mark on the team is tight end Chamon Metayer’s 226 total yards — over 400 fewer than the team leader. Tyson’s 57 catches are far above any other wide receiver on the roster, and add up to more than the next three players combined: Running back Raleek Brown (25), Metayer (21) and running back Kyson Brown (8).

Tyson also has caught eight of the nine receiving touchdowns this season, with Metayer nabbing the other one.

That’s certainly not something that can simply be replaced, but there is opportunity for other receivers on the roster to step up.

Jaren Hamilton’s 145 receiving yards are fourth-most on the team, but that has all come on four catches. Hamilton is the most likely to see an increased workload on Saturday, but keep an open eye to see who steps up when the team needs it most.

• Keep the Cougars’ Offense in Check

The Sun Devils’ defense did what it needed to do against the top offense in the conference last week, though the Red Raiders were without their starting QB. Regardless, Leavitt and Co. need the defense to put on a similar performance, especially given Tyson’s absence.

Houston doesn’t possess a juggernaut offense by any means — it ranks 12th in the Big 12 in yards per game (380.9) and 10th in points per game (29.4), but quarterback Conner Weigman has been efficient and smart with the football, throwing for 1,380 yards, 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Running back Dean Connors ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 538 rushing yards.

My Take: I’m not sure how much the betting line may change following the announcement of Tyson’s impeding absence, but I honestly believe the Sun Devils are going to pull this one out. Leavitt has steadily improved as the season has worn on, and he validated all of the preseason hype when he led ASU on a game-winning drive over Tech last weekend. This is the type of adversity that championship contenders find a way to overcome, and I think the Sun Devils have that in their DNA. We will see — enjoy the game!

DB Squared: Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks combined for 53 points in the Suns’ season-opening 120-116 win over Sacramento last night, helping the team overcome a lackluster first half en route to the win. Brooks was part of the deal that sent Kevin Durant to Houston, and his contributions were even more meaningful yesterday considering the absence of Jalen Green.

Quick reminder that last year’s team started 8-1, so let’s not plan the parade just yet. But still, you can’t fault them for showing off that gritty mentality that we saw on display in preseason by overcoming a 17-point half time deficit. Booker and Brooks were solid from the free throw line when it mattered most, but it was a true team effort.

Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and Collin Gillespie all chipped in down the stretch, and it’s a solid start for coach Jordan Ott and the Suns.

Who Do You Pick?: Kurt Warner joins Johnny and Bo to talk the Kyler Murray vs Jacoby Brissett dilemma for the Arizona Cardinals as the 2025 season appears to slip away. Should Jonathan Gannon fire OC Drew Petzing? Can Nick Rallis fix his Cards 4th quarter defense? Will Marvin Harrison Jr. have a BIG second half? Can Walter Nolen be back in time for Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys? Give it a watch now!

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