Excitement was in the air as Arizona State welcomed in the New Mexico State Aggies, the first time the Sun Devils have hosted the Aggies since 1999. With a brand new scoreboard and two brand new coordinators, ASU was ready to forget the past two seasons and write a new chapter of the Todd Graham era.
Arizona State started the game looking like a new team. On New Mexico State’s first possession, defensive back Joey Bryant intercepted Aggies’ quarterback Tyler Rogers to give the Sun Devils’ offense great field position.
Starting quarterback Manny Wilkins led the ASU offense quickly down the field, and a direct snap to Kalen Ballage in the “sparky” formation, a term coined last season, put Arizona State up 7-0.