2026 Week Two Preview
Arizona State (1-0) @ #7 Texas A&M (1-0)
The Devil's Due Mailbag — Week Two Preview
By: Emilio Suarez
Published: September 11th, 2026
The Arizona State Sun Devils took care of business, even with a shaky first quarter, last week against the Morgan State Bears. But the stakes ratchet up to 11 this week with a trip to College Station and daunting Kyle Field to face the Texas A&M Aggies.
The Texas A&M Aggies made their first College Football Playoff appearance last year and enter the Week Two contest as heavy favorites over the scrappy Sun Devils. While many expect the Sun Devils to end up catching their first L of the season, we do need to see some fight from these Sun Devils. A&M may be the biggest opponent on the slate this year, but they are nowhere near the most important.
If Arizona State wants to prove they are legitimate contenders in the Big XII with Utah, BYU, and Texas Tech; it starts with a competitive game tomorrow evening at Kyle Field.
Pitchfork Points
Can the ASU defense disrupt Reed and Co.?There's no denying it, the first quarter against Morgan State was bad. Like, fire someone bad if it kept at that pace. The Bears put up 17 points and 151 yards of offense in the first quarter alone. Yes, the Sun Devils figured it out for the remaining three quarters. It was a relief, but the bad taste of that first quarter lingers. Let's not make it a habit, or it'll be a long season.
Will the running game be as effective against A&M?No matter who lined up under center last week, the directive was the same. Use the run to set up the pass. Three ASU backs surpassed 50 rushing yards, and Cardae Mack hit 25 in his limited action. The four-lane highway the Sun Devils enjoyed last week is going to get trimmed down to a one-way road with a non-existent curb in College Station. Can they still take advantage of their talented backfield, or will Cutter Boley have to put the game on his back?
Are we sure Cutter Boley is the real deal?Listen, I'm not denying he was the most polished of the three quarterbacks last week. That's undeniable. I'm just saying, the ugly interceptions that plagued him in Lexington have already shown up. The touchdown throws were great, especially the back-shoulder throw that turned into a toe-tap by Omarion Miller, but that one interception was as ugly as it could get. The safety was RIGHT THERE and he still threw it. Those are the kind of mistakes we can't have against A&M, or we'll be the ones burnt by the Hellfire.
Big XII Week Two Matchups
#24 Missouri (1-0) @ Kansas (1-0)
FCS @ TCU (0-1)
FCS @ Baylor (1-0)
FCS @ West Virginia (1-0)
FCS @ #20 Houston (1-0)
FCS @ Colorado (1-0)
Iowa State (1-0) @ Iowa (0-1)
UCF (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (1-0)
Washington State (0-1) @ Kansas State (1-0)
#15 Oregon (0-1) @ Oklahoma State (1-0)
Arkansas (1-0) @ #18 Utah (1-0)
Arizona (1-0) @ #11 BYU (1-0)
FCS @ Cincinnati (0-1)
#16 Texas Tech (1-0) @ Oregon State (0-1)
Must See Week Two Showdowns
#1 Ohio State (1-0) @ #6 Texas (1-0)
#9 Oklahoma (1-0) @ #13 Michigan (1-0)
By the Numbers
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 79 Overall // 79 Offense // 81 Defense | Team Rating | 86 Overall // 86 Offense // 88 Defense Kenny Dillingham (23-17) | Head Coach | Mike Elko (20-7) Marcus Arroyo | Offensive Coordinator | Holmon Wiggins Multiple Offense | Offensive Scheme | Power Spread Brian Ward | Defensive Coordinator | Lyle Hemphill 4-2-5 | Defensive Scheme | 4-2-5
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10-2 | Combined Record | 11-1 Morgan State W 63-17 | Week One | Missouri State (1-1) W 42-13
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- N/A | Injuries | N/A
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SO Cutter Boley 16/21 (76%), 188 Yds, 4 TD, INT | QB | JR(RS) Marcel Reed 26/33 (73%), 274 Yds, 4 TD JR Kyson Brown 16 Att, 117 Yds, TD | HB | JR(RS) Rueben Owens II 18 Att, 169 Yds, TD SR Omarion Miller 5 Rec, 104 Yds, 3 TD | WR | SO(RS) Ashton Bethel-Roman 8 Rec, 98 Yds, 2 TD SO Raiden Vines-Bright 6 Rec, 83 Yds, 2 TD | WR | SR(RS) Isaiah Horton 6 Rec, 59 Yds JR MLB Owen Long 10 Tkl, 4 TFL, Sack | DEF | SR DT DJ HIcks 7 Tkl, TFL JR(RS) DT Zac Swanson 5 Tkl, 4 TFL, Sack | DEF | SR LB Ray Coney 8 Tkl, 2 TFL SR(RS) DE Emar'rion Winston 3 Tkl, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks | DEF | SR(RS) DE Anto Saka 4 Tkl, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks SR(RS) SS Lyrik Rawls 6 Tkl | DEF | JR(RS) SS Tawfiq Byard 7 Tkl
