PHOENIX — Arizona State football is putting the nation on notice three weeks into the college football season. The Sun Devils, who finished 3-9 in 2023 and 2022, are off to a 3-0 start for the first time in five seasons.
While preseason media polls predicted ASU to finish last in the Big 12 Conference, ASU is one of five teams in the conference with an unblemished record so far, a list that does not include in-state rival Arizona.
Fresh off a 31-28 win at Texas State, ASU offensive lineman Ben Coleman stopped by the 12News studios to discuss his team’s success with 12Sports journalist Lina Washington.
"I think it's wonderful anytime you can go 3-0 and start the season on a good note," Coleman said. "We believe it's a special group and we believe that we put in the work to get to this point. So, I think 3-0 is a good start and we're looking forward to much more success."
Coleman added that ASU matching their win total from each of the past two seasons in the first three weeks of the 2024 season speaks to culture change led by head coach Kenny Dillingham.
"I think football is special. You know, you go through all these months where you're training, you don't see any results. So to be able to see some results," Coleman said. "I think it's fun, especially a group with a lot of transfers... that face a lot of adversity coming from different universities. So being able to build this program from the first year to now, the second year, just to see the difference in the guys that are playing in the culture that he's been able to establish, to see that kind of come to fruition, I think is really important for us."
In each of ASU's first two home games, the Sun Devil student section has been packed with more than 10,000 students. Coleman said the team has been loving the support and he hopes to see the Inferno filled again when ASU hosts Kansas on Oct. 5.
"I think it's gonna be rocking," Coleman said. "They feel it, you know Wyoming, when we got that, that pick six, I think for Wyoming it was really hard to, to come back from that. They felt it (in the) Mississippi State (game). They felt the early thing where man, we're behind, we gotta catch up. So I think the fans do make a huge difference. So we're excited."
Coleman added that the performance of ASU's running backs, who are averaging 229.3 rushing yards per game, is helping he and his fellow offensive lineman gain confidence heading into their first-ever Big 12 game.
"As an offensive line, we feel confident. Our job is our job. We feel confident," Coleman said. "Hey, if it happens, another guy makes a play, that's a guy behind us. There's multiple guys behind us that can make plays on you too, as well. So I think it's really important any time that the running backs, you know, we talk about it, go viral, that means we're doing something good."
To hear more from Coleman, watch the video at the top of this story.
The Sun Devils will be back on the field on Saturday, Sept. 21 when they play their first-ever Big 12 game on the road against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
Follow the conversation with Lina Washington on X and Instagram: @LWashingtonTV. If you have a sports story idea, email Lina at LWashington@12News.com.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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