2027 Week Ten Preview
#5 Arizona State (8-0) @ Houston (3-6)
The Devil's Due Mailbag — Week Ten Preview
By: Emilio Suarez
Published: November 5th, 2027
The Sun Devils roll into Houston as one of the hottest teams in the country after a dramatic 42-34 victory over Texas A&M vaulted them to the fifth-overall ranking, but the Cougars lie in wait hoping to be the first team to hand Charlie Weis Jr. a loss.
The Cougars have struggled against winning teams this season, with their only wins coming against teams languishing under .500. Last week's loss was especially heartbreaking, surrendering a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in the 25-24 loss to the struggling Red Raiders. They'll look to finish the job this week at home.
Pitchfork Points
Don't get high on your own supply.Arizona State now has a perfect 4-0 record against ranked teams this season. Houston is far from a ranked opponent, but the Sun Devils have to remain focused to avoid falling into the common trap for teams finding unprecedented success, overlooking a beatable opponent. Houston has enough talent on the other side to give ASU a run for their money. Here's to hoping Weis Jr. has the boys locked in with four games left.
How big is the loss of Martell Hughes?Martell Hughes was an All-American last year at linebacker before moving to a hybrid safety role this year. While his numbers may appear to be down on paper, that's simply because his role has changed. Ask anyone in Tempe and they'll tell you, Hughes is the leader of this defense. Unfortunately for the defense, it was announced this week that Hughes would be ineligible for the next three games to an academic violation. The suspension is going to test the communication skills of the defense. If this had happened earlier in the year, I'd be worried. But now, the guys have some familiarity with each other and know their roles. It's worth monitoring though, especially if the game gets away from the Sun Devils defense early.
Keep finding the open man, Mack.I know, I know. All season I've been pounding the table begging for someone else to step up. But I've finally turned the corner. Maybe what makes our offense great is that you can't key on any one guy. Sure, Kyson is going to get his looks. Same with Carlisle and RVB. But outside of that, it's not like you can look at one player and say he's getting the ball. And that may be our best weapon.
Big XII Week Ten Matchups
Oklahoma State (4-4) @ Utah (4-4)
#21 Baylor (8-1) @ Kansas State (5-3)
Iowa State (4-5) @ West Virginia (3-5)
Cincinnati (1-7) @ #14 Notre Dame (7-2)
UCF (3-5) @ Arizona (4-4)
Kansas (3-5) @ Colorado (4-4)
Texas Tech (3-5) @ TCU (5-3)
Must See Week Ten Showdowns
#11 Texas A&M (6-2) @ #4 LSU (7-1)
#10 Minnesota (6-2) @ #7 Maryland (6-2)
#2 Georgia (8-0) @ #16 Florida (7-1)
#23 USC (6-3) @ #9 Iowa (7-1)
By the Numbers
Arizona State Sun Devils Houston Cougars --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86 Overall // 86 Offense // 86 Defense | Team Rating | 74 Overall // 74 Offense // 74 Defense Charlie Weis Jr (8-0) | Head Coach | Willie Fritz (24-22) Ra'Shaad Samples | Offensive Coordinator | Slade Nagle Spread | Offensive Scheme | Spread Josh Aldridge | Defensive Coordinator | Austin Armstrontg 3-3-5 | Defensive Scheme | 3-3-5 45.6 (3rd) | Offensive Points Per Game | 29.1 (43rd) 17.9 (4th) | Defensive Points Per Game | 27.1 (83rd) 460.8 (7th) | Offensive Yards Per Game | 385.2 (60th) 285.5 (1st) | Defensive Yards Per Game | 403.4 (91st)
Arizona State Sun Devils Houston Cougars --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53-47 | Combined Record | 53-46 BYU (6-3) W 41-31 | Week One | Georgia Southern (3-6) W 41-7 FCS W 64-7 | Week Two | LSU (7-1) L 42-31 @ UNLV (5-3) W 42-7 | Week Three | @ Iowa State (4-5) L 17-14 @ West Virginia (3-5) W 66-7 | Week Four | @ Oklahoma (5-4) L 41-24 Utah (4-4) W 26-12 | Week Five | Colorado (4-4) L 40-37 OT Iowa State (4-5) W 49-17 | Week Six | Cincinnati (1-7) W 45-21 @ TCU (5-3) W 35-28 | Week Seven | Kansas (3-5) W 21-14 BYE | Week Eight | BYU (6-3) L 34-24 Texas A&M (6-2) W 42-34 | Week Nine | Texas Tech (3-5) L 28-25
Arizona State Sun Devils Houston Cougars --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DE Albert Smith III - Broken Finger (1 Weeks) | Injuries | LB Christian Brathwaite - Ruptured Disk (1 Week) SS Martell Hughes - Academic Misconduct (3 Weeks) | Injuries | LT Demetris Dean II - Dislocated Hip (5 Weeks)
Arizona State Sun Devils Houston Cougars --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SR(RS) Austin Mack 213/308 (68%), 2,519 Yds, 26 TD, 8 INT | QB | SO Keisean Henderson 185/282 (68%), 2,314 Yds, 17 TD, 5 INT SR Kyson Brown 101 Att, 589 Yds, 5 TD | HB | JR(RS) Re'Shaun Sanford II 151 Att, 685 Yds, 7 TD FR(RS) Austin Carlisle 45 Rec, 614 Yds, 6 TD | WR | SO Quentin Drake 29 Rec, 560 Yds, TD SO Raiden Vines-Bright 37 Rec, 502 Yds, 6 TD | WR | SO(RS) Taz Williams Jr. 42 Rec, 540 Yds, 2 TD JR(RS) MLB Luke Ferrelli 52 Tkl, 15 TFL, 4 Sacks | DEF | SO SS Mudassir Abdullah 62 Tkl, 2 TFL SR LB Myles Graham 53 Tkl, 13 TFL, 3 Sacks, INT | DEF | SR DT Hunter McGuire 14 Tkl, 6 TFL, 4.5 Sacks SR(RS) DE Keon Keeley 20 Tkl, 11 TFL, 7.5 Sacks | DEF | SO(RS) DT Carmello Brooks 23 Tkl, 5 TFL, 4 Sacks SR(RS) CB JaBril Rawls 47 Tkl, 4 TFL, Sack, 2 INT | DEF | SR CB Javion White 56 Tkl, 2 INT
