BYU/Arizona State Game Day Preview Plus Score Prediction

PROVO, Utah – BYU vs Arizona State has a rich history, now it’s renewed with a rare Top 25 showdown in Provo.

No. 23 BYU hosting No. 19 Arizona State has all the makings to be a late-night classic. This is the first Top 25 matchup in Provo since 2009. So close out your college football Saturday with a pair of 2-0 teams looking to make a clear statement that they will be players on the national scene this season.

ICED OUT 🥶 pic.twitter.com/OssNM7142o

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 18, 2021

This is the first time BYU and Arizona State have met since 1998. These two programs have a rich history against one another as they were once old rivals in the Western Athletic Conference.

Arizona State leads the all-time series 20-7. BYU and ASU were supposed to meet in Tempe last year, but the two programs didn’t play that game due to the Pac-12’s decision not to play non-conference games amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

No. 19 Arizona State vs. No. 23 BYU

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. (MT)

TV: ESPN

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)

Now it’s time for the 3-2-1 Game Day preview plus a score prediction.

Three Game Day Thoughts

1. This game is going to be won in the trenches

It’s a cliche thing to say, but whichever team wins in the trenches is likely going to come away as the likely winner in this one. The BYU defense will have the tall task of making Arizona State’s offense one-dimensional. Instead, it starts up front with the defensive line setting the tone.

BYU dominated rival Utah in the trenches and it resulted in a breakthrough win for the Cougars. However, ASU is a better team and will pose a more formidable challenge than the Utes did a week ago.

BYU’s offensive line will go up against a Sun Devil defensive front that has produced 4.5 sacks through the first two games, with the leader being a freshman in B.J. Green.

2. Arizona State hasn’t seen a crowd like the one that will be on display at LES

Last Saturday’s game against Utah was one of the loudest atmospheres I’ve seen for a BYU football home game during their time as an Independent team (since 2011). Utah appeared rattled, experiencing a hostile crowd for the first time in nearly two years.

How will ASU respond?

GAME NOTES 📝: ʙʏᴜ ᴠs ᴀʀɪᴢᴏɴᴀ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ pic.twitter.com/Ssdg609SBO

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 17, 2021

The first two games of the season for the Sun Devils have been in the hot but cozy confines of Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona State hasn’t won a road game with fans in the stands since September 27, 2019, at Cal. And no one is going to claim Berkeley is known for its hostile environment.

QB Jayden Daniels has matured a lot since that freshman year in 2019, but he and the Sun Devils are walking into the most challenging environment they will have seen in recent years.

BYU fans are hyped for all the momentum in the program right now; they will be juiced up again to try and help lift their team to a 3-0 start.

3. BYU has a massive opportunity in front of them

All of the talking from national pundits for BYU in 2021 was that Zach Wilson’s gone; BYU will return to a 6-or-7-win season. Two years ago, BYU started 2-1 with a pair of victories over Tennessee and USC. Then the wheels off fell off for a month as BYU dropped their next three straight to Washington, Toledo, and USF.

BYU has a chance with this ASU game to put more of a validation stamp on the Cougars’ progress under sixth-year head coach Kalani Sitake. Win this game and BYU is likely heading into an October 9 tilt with rival Boise State boasting an undefeated 5-0 record.

A victory in this game will firmly plant BYU into the national conversation and have Cougar fans dreaming of a special season.

BYU vs Arizona State Questions 

1. How much of a hangover will BYU have from last week’s win over Utah?

Big wins lead to hangovers; it’s just the reality. But will the hangover last an entire game, or just a drive or two? BYU and head coach Kalani Sitake likely hope for the latter, if at all. Last week’s BYU team displayed what Sitake said was a “razor-sharp” focus. Will they do it against ASU?

The best thing for BYU is that this Arizona State team is ranked. Also, watch the film on ASU; the Sun Devils have more talent on the perimeter than the Utes did. Especially if Utah transfer Bryan Thompson can play this week, his status is questionable due to an injury.

Quarterback Jaren Hall has been a cool customer through the first two weeks. His calming presence will be significant for BYU to avoid any letdown against the Sun Devils this week.

2. How many points will it take to come away with a victory?

This past spring, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick discussed with KSL Sports how it’s challenging to win low-scoring games in today’s college football. With many teams having full spring and fall camp practices this year, the defenses succeed more than many thought. But college football is still a sport won by high-powered offenses.

BYU scored 24 and 26, respectively, in the first two weeks against Arizona and Utah. However, I don’t believe that will be enough against the Sun Devils. The 30-point threshold is going to be needed for BYU vs Arizona State in this one.

Score Prediction

You could draw up a variety of outcomes for this game. It has the makings to be one of the best games of the entire week three college football slate. I’ll call for BYU to come away with a close victory because I believe quarterback Jaren Hall and running back Tyler Allgeier will prove to be the difference.

ASU with QB Jayden Daniels will put up their fair share of points, but the Cougars pull this one late in the 4th quarter.

BYU 30, Arizona State 28

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.