2026 Week Eight Preview
Kansas State (6-0) @ Arizona State (3-3)
The Devil's Due Mailbag — Week Eight Preview
By: Emilio Suarez
Published: October 23rd, 2026
The Collin Klein era in Manhattan has started with a bang as the former K-State alum has the Wildcats off to a sparkling 6-0 start. The Sun Devils are hoping to fully embrace their new role of spoiler, and put the first mark in the loss column for Klein when the Wildcats make the trip to Tempe to face off against the reeling Sun Devils.
With three losses, and two of them being in conference, the Sun Devils hopes of crashing the College Football Playoff again are up in flames and their Big 12 championship aspirations won't be far behind with another loss, making this a must-win for ASU.
Pitchfork Points
Mikey Keene is presumably taking over, but should he?
Before I get my inbox flooded with hate mail. I am not saying Cutter Boley should be returning to the starting line up. He has promise, but the poise isn't there. Once he gets rattled, he stays rattled. No, instead I'm suggesting that maybe Keene isn't the guy who should be relieving him. Keene was solid last week, but there was no pressure since the game was already out of hand. We've seen what Keene can do at four different stops. He isn't going to be here next year. Let's give the reps to Fette. He's young, he's hungry, and unless we find something better through the portal, he's likely the future. Kenny Dillingham hasn't announced the starter yet, but I for one am praying that Fette takes the snap. Let the youngin get his feet wet, Kenny. C'mon.
The defense needs to figure something out.
Pick one. Be a terrible secondary that gets after the quarterback. Get shredded through the air, but hold steadfast on the ground. At least be good at
one thing. The Sun Devils have done that in their wins this season. Their losses? Not so much. I understand the turnovers put them in a precarious spot, but one sack? Still no interceptions? Eight yards a carry? We could have no turnovers and still lose with that effort. We need to at least pick one thing to excel at and really get after it. I for one hope the pass rush finds its groove with the return of Emar'rion Winston.
The run game needs more consistency against top-tier opponents.
The Sun Devils have been pounding the rock this season with the 7th most rushing yards per game nationally. The problem in our losses, like against Texas Tech last week, was if we didn't get the big run, we didn't get anything at all. Kyson Brown has been dynamic, but only averaged 3 yards per carry against Texas Tech. Not to absolve Boley, but it's hard to succeed against a stout defense like TTU when you're facing 3rd-and-7 all game. We have to get more than just the chunk plays to keep the chains moving, the play action game working, and the RPO firing on all cylinders.
Big XII Week Eight Matchups
West Virginia (5-2) @ TCU (4-2)
#24 BYU (4-2) @ UCF (4-2)
#7 Texas Tech (5-1) @ Cincinnati (2-4)
Iowa State (2-4) @ Arizona (3-3)
Colorado (3-3) @ #21 Oklahoma State (5-1)
Baylor (4-2) @ Kansas (2-4)
Houston (5-2) @ #19 Utah (5-1)
Must See Week Eight Showdowns
#10 Duke (6-0) @ #14 Virginia (5-1)
#3 Tennessee (7-0) @ #16 South Carolina (5-1)
#9 Ole Miss (5-1) @ #12 Texas (4-2)
By the Numbers
Arizona State Sun Devils Kansas State Wildcats
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79 Overall // 79 Offense // 81 Defense | Team Rating | 79 Overall // 79 Offense // 81 Defense
Kenny Dillingham (26-20) | Head Coach | Collin Klein (6-0)
Marcus Arroyo | Offensive Coordinator | Jordan Peterson
Multiple Offense | Offensive Scheme | Power Spread
Brian Ward | Defensive Coordinator | Sean Gleeson
4-2-5 | Defensive Scheme | 4-2-5
37.2 (14th) | Offensive Points Per Game | 32.0 (40th)
33.3 (131st) | Defensive Points Per Game | 18.2 (19th)
499.7 (4th) | Offensive Yards Per Game | 465.0 (10th)
350.3 (36th) | Defensive Yards Per Game | 308.3 (10th)
Arizona State Sun Devils Kansas State Wildcats
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41-27 | Combined Record | 33-35
FCS W 63-17 | Week One | FCS W 24-3
Texas A&M (5-2) L 41-35 | Week Two | Washington State (2-5) W 35-33
@ Kansas (2-4) W 35-29 | Week Three | Tulane (2-4) W 38-14
BYE | Week Four | @ Cincinnati (2-4) W 33-18
Baylor (4-2) L 38-17 | Week Five | BYE
Hawaii (0-7) W 59-27 | Week Six | Houston (5-2) W 38-24
@ Texas Tech (5-1) L 48-14 | Week Seven | Kansas (2-4) W 24-17
Arizona State Sun Devils Kansas State Wildcats
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N/A | Injuries | N/A
Arizona State Sun Devils Kansas State Wildcats
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SO Cutter Boley 131/188 (65%), 1,362 Yds, 16 TD, 11 INT | QB | SR Avery Johnson 124/198 (62%), 1,616 Yds, 9 TD, 2 INT
JR Kyson Brown 70 Att, 496 Yds, 4 TD | HB | JR(RS) Joe Jackson 95 Att, 539 Yds, 2 TD
SR Omarion Miller 34 Rec, 451 Yds, 7 TD | WR | SR Jaron Tibbs 32 Rec, 379 Yds, 2 TD
SO Raiden Vines-Bright 31 Rec, 264 Yds, 4 TD | WR | SR(RS) Brandon White 30 Rec, 406 Yds, 2 TD
JR MLB Owen Long 44 Tkl, 10 TFL, 3.5 Sack | DEF | SR(RS) MLB Mekhi Mason 35 Tkl
JR(RS) DT Zac Swanson 12 Tkl, 9 TFL, 2.5 Sack | DEF | JR(RS) DE Jordan Allen 23 Tkl, 10 TFL, 4.5 Sacks
SR(RS) DE Emar'rion Winston 11 Tkl, 6 TFL, 4.5 Sacks | DEF | SO(RS) DE Wendell Gregory 19 Tkl, 10 TFL, 7.5 Sacks
SR(RS) SS Lyrik Rawls 48 Tkl, 5 TFL | DEF | SO(RS) FS Koy Beasley 26 Tkl, INT