Arizona State Sun Devils

Cutter Boley, the Kentucky transfer, made a spectacular debut by throwing six touchdown passes in a 70-7 rout of Morgan State. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 387 yards, with two scores each to Reed Harris and Grayson Rigdon, and one each to Omarion Miller and AJ Ia. The offense piled up 688 yards, showing that the concern about replacing Sam Leavitt may be overblown. Boley's efficiency and the deep receiving corps, which includes the nation's top-ranked transfer class, give the Sun Devils a passing attack that can stretch the field and score in bunches.

Kyson Brown, back from a season-ending injury, ran for 80 yards on just six carries, including a 46-yard touchdown on the second play of the game. The offensive line, anchored by Georgia Tech transfer Tana Alo-Tupuola and Stanford/Oklahoma transfer Luke Baklenko, opened huge holes all night. Marquis Gillis, who rushed for over 1,100 yards at Delaware State, adds depth to a backfield that should keep defenses honest and allow Boley to work off play-action. The line's ability to dominate the line of scrimmage will be tested much more severely in conference play, but the early signs are positive.

The Sun Devils held Morgan State to 188 total yards and forced a quick game, with the front seven, led by nose tackle C.J. Fite and transfer ends Jalen Thompson and Emar'rion Winston, controlling the line of scrimmage. Owen Long, the FBS leading tackler last season, and Zyrus Fiaseu anchor a linebacker corps that should be stout. The secondary, which was the biggest question entering the season, was not seriously tested. LSU transfer Ashton Stamps and senior safety Lyrik Rawls will face far stiffer competition starting with Texas A&M, and the nickel spot, where Adrian Wilson moved from free safety, remains an area to watch.

The 70-7 win was a tune-up, but the Sun Devils now face a gauntlet. They travel to No. 8 Texas A&M in Week 2, then head to London to play Kansas, a team that beat them in a thriller last year. With a power rating of 7.49 and a season that includes 14,815 miles of travel, ASU will need to prove they can win away from Tempe. The Big 12 is deep, and while the Sun Devils look better than the middle-of-the-pack preseason projection, the schedule will test their depth and resilience. The next two games will reveal whether this team is a contender or just a good-looking roster on paper.

The Sun Devils executed an onside kick to start the game, which Cory Butler Jr. recovered, leading to a quick second touchdown. That aggressive, well-prepared approach is a hallmark of Kenny Dillingham's coaching. Nick McLarty, the Ohio State transfer punter, should improve a net punting unit that was second-worst in the FBS last year, and Carson Smith, an FCS All-American kicker, adds reliability. In a season with several tough road games, field position and special teams plays could be the difference in tight contests. The team's ability to start fast, as they did with a score on their first drive for the 11th straight year, will also be crucial.