Sun Devil football is facing down the Knights in their sixth Big 12 game this season after a commanding win against Oklahoma State
After a commanding victory over Oklahoma State, the Arizona State University (ASU) Sun Devils are preparing for another pivotal game in their inaugural Big 12 season. This Thursday, November 9, they will face the Central Florida Knights (UCF) at Mountain America Stadium, looking to build momentum as they continue their quest for bowl eligibility. Currently sitting at 6-2, the Sun Devils are in a strong position as they head into their sixth Big 12 matchup of the year. However, the game comes with significant challenges, particularly in terms of injuries and uncertainties around key personnel.
The Knights, at 4-5, come off a dominant 56-12 win against the University of Arizona. Despite that victory, UCF has been a bit of a rollercoaster this season, and the Sun Devils will look to capitalize on their inconsistencies. But ASU’s own lineup will be without a few key pieces, which could impact their ability to match UCF’s explosive offense and stout defense. The biggest story heading into this game revolves around the status of running back Cam Skattebo and linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, both of whom are central to ASU’s game plan on both sides of the ball.
Skattebo’s Status a Major Question Mark
Cam Skattebo, the Sun Devils’ senior running back and offensive centerpiece, is listed as doubtful for the game after suffering a lower-body injury in the 42-7 win against Oklahoma State. Head coach Kenny Dillingham confirmed Wednesday that Skattebo would not be practicing this week, placing his availability for the UCF game in serious question. Skattebo has been a major contributor this season, accounting for 36% of ASU’s offensive snaps and totaling 1,405 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. His ability to impact the game both as a rusher and receiver out of the backfield has made him a focal point of the Sun Devils’ offense, and his potential absence would leave a significant void.
However, ASU isn’t panicking at the prospect of losing its star running back for this matchup. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo has made it clear that while Skattebo’s absence would be a loss, it also presents an opportunity for other players to step up and prove themselves. “It’s actually a good thing,” Arroyo said. “I think you’d need that as a team. At certain times, you need to be able to challenge certain guys to step up and take place.” Arroyo’s confidence suggests that ASU will remain confident in its ability to execute offensively, even without its workhorse back.
If Skattebo is indeed unable to go, the Sun Devils will turn to a committee approach, with true freshman running back Antwan Raymond expected to carry the bulk of the load. Raymond has impressed in limited action this season, rushing for 137 yards on 27 carries and scoring two touchdowns. While much of his production has come in late-game situations, the coaching staff is high on Raymond’s ability to take on a larger role. “He’s getting better,” Dillingham said of Raymond, acknowledging that while he has shown flashes of brilliance, he will need to step up in a more prominent role should Skattebo be sidelined.
In addition to Raymond, redshirt sophomore Treshawn Holden and junior Jordan Clark will also likely see increased action in the backfield. The Sun Devils will need a collaborative effort from their running backs to keep the offense balanced against a tough UCF defense.
Elliott’s Absence Leaves a Hole in ASU’s Defense
On the defensive side of the ball, the Sun Devils will be without one of their most important leaders. Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott, a transfer from New Mexico State, has been ruled out for this game after suffering a stinger. Head coach Dillingham confirmed that Elliott is working his way back but will not play against UCF as a precaution. “He got a stinger and he is just working his way back and we’re just being precautious,” Dillingham explained. “When you get stingers sometimes and you play too soon, you may get another one.” Elliott has been a standout performer for ASU, tallying 45 tackles, an interception, and establishing himself as a key piece of the Sun Devils’ defense.
In Elliott’s absence, redshirt senior Caleb McCullough will take on an expanded role. McCullough, who had a breakout performance in ASU’s upset win against Utah, has impressed with his leadership and ability to read offenses. McCullough’s versatility and experience will be crucial as the Sun Devils look to slow down UCF’s potent offense.
UCF’s Explosive Offense Presents Major Challenge
The UCF Knights come into this game with a formidable offense that has been one of the most explosive in college football this season. At the heart of their offense is senior running back RJ Harvey, who has been a dominant force with 1,201 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Harvey has been a key reason why UCF leads the nation in explosive running plays, with 79 such plays on the season. Defensive coordinator Brian Ward knows that Harvey’s ability to break off long runs is a major concern for the Sun Devils. “He’s outstanding,” Ward said. “There’s some great running backs in this league, but I would say he’s the most dynamic and explosive. He could turn up a three-yard run into a 50-yard gain or touchdown.”
With ASU’s defense already shorthanded without Elliott, stopping Harvey will be a top priority. The Sun Devils will need to be disciplined in their gap assignments and wrap up well in open space to prevent Harvey from breaking free. The key will be forcing UCF to rely more on the passing game, where they have shown some vulnerability this season.
UCF’s offense will also be adjusting to a new quarterback in redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk. Rizk took over as the starting quarterback last week after UCF’s regular starter went down, and he impressed in his debut, throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant win over Arizona. Rizk’s performance earned him the highest PFF grade among all Power Five quarterbacks last week, a testament to his accuracy and poise. With UCF’s starting quarterbacks having been in flux this season, ASU’s defense will have to account for a player who is still relatively unknown. “You have to put yourself in those coaches’ shoes,” Ward said. “If you have a new playcaller, then maybe he’s going to have different tendencies in different areas of the field, we try to anticipate those things.”
ASU’s defense will need to adjust quickly to Rizk’s style of play and exploit any potential weaknesses in his decision-making. Whether UCF’s new offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. sticks with the same scheme or tries something new will be crucial for ASU’s defensive game plan.
The Challenge of Facing New Coordinators
Another interesting wrinkle in this matchup is that UCF enters this game with entirely new coordinators on both sides of the ball. After a rough start to the season, UCF promoted Tim Harris Jr. to offensive coordinator and Addison Williams to defensive coordinator. The win over Arizona was the first game with these new coordinators at the helm, meaning ASU has little film to go on when preparing for UCF’s offense and defense. “You’re going in blind to any rhythm of a play caller on both sides of the ball,” Dillingham noted. “We have a limited amount of film on them.”
This situation creates a unique challenge for ASU’s coaching staff, as they will have to prepare for UCF without a full understanding of the team’s tendencies under the new coordinators. While the Sun Devils do have a few quarters of competitive game film from UCF’s win over Arizona, the blowout nature of that game means the film may not provide much insight into how the Knights will approach a closer, more competitive game. Both Dillingham and Ward will have to make adjustments on the fly, anticipating UCF’s strategies while also focusing on their own execution.
Key Matchup
As both teams come into this game with something to prove, the key matchup will likely be the ability of ASU’s defense to stop UCF’s explosive running game and manage the uncertainty at quarterback. On the other side, ASU’s offense must find a way to remain balanced without its star running back, Cam Skattebo. If the Sun Devils can lean on their passing game, particularly through redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt, while also getting solid contributions from Raymond and McCullough, they will have a chance to keep pace with UCF’s dynamic offense.
With both teams facing challenges and uncertainties, this matchup will be a defining test for ASU as they look to make a statement in their first season in the Big 12. The outcome of this game could go a long way in determining ASU’s postseason fate and their ability to compete in a competitive conference.
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