Physicality is ingrained in the game of football, but that trait seemingly kicks up a few more notches when facing the University of Utah. ASU’s next opponent has quietly been one of the best teams in the league this year and our Joe Healey takes a closer look at the opportunities and challenges this squad will present.

Utah Offense

Two years ago, Troy Williams made his first collegiate start against Arizona State, but a great deal has transpired for Williams on and off the field since that time.

At the time, Williams was a Washington Husky, and after spending the 2015 season at the junior college level he returned to the Pac-12 and quickly claimed the starting role for Utah.

Through nine games, Williams has helped Utah weather a storm of injuries to a 7-2 record and a No. 12 ranking while still controlling its own destiny in the South division.

Solid if unspectacular, Williams averages 209.8 passing yards per game and completes 54.6% of his passes with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Altogether, Williams has thrown for 1,888 yards and has rushed for a net of 175 with five touchdowns as well.

One of the most unique stories in college football this season, running back Joe Williams (unrelated to Troy) retired from football after the first two games of the year – simply out of a lack of passion for the game. At that point, the senior had rushed for just 75 yards on 22 carries.

After four games and when the Utah running back depth became completely depleted, Williams returned to active duty. Since that point, few running backs on a national scale have been as impressive.

Since his return, Williams has averaged 227.7 yards per game with six touchdowns. It began with 34 carries for 179 yards with a touchdown in a win over Oregon State, then a jaw-dropping national season-high 332 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries in a win over UCLA. Most recently, Williams rushed 35 times for 172 yards and a score against Washington.

Williams ended his junior season of 2015 with games of 121, 187 and 91 rushing yards to replace star rusher Devontae Booker, so he entered his senior season with high expectations – but no one could have expected things to unfold as they have.

In all, Williams has 758 rushing yards on 120 carries with six touchdowns and should very well surpass 1,000 rushing yards despite missing four games due to his temporary retirement.

Armand Shyne (373 yards), Zack Moss (326 yards) and Troy McCormick, Jr. (196 yards) rank second, third and fourth in rushing, but all three players have been sidelined either for the year or for much of the season to date due to injuries. It appears as though only Moss should be expected to play Thursday in a backup role to Williams.

In the passing game, 6-feet-5 Tim Patrick has team highs of 29 receptions for 501 yards and five touchdowns, while also leading Utah with his 17.3 yards per reception. Cory Butler-Byrd has missed four games but has 17 catches for 263 yards, while Raelon Singleton has posted 19 receptions for 307 yards and a score. Tight end Evan Moeai should be an honors contender with his current numbers of 18 catches for 257 yards and a touchdown.

Left to right, the Utah offensive line figures to start tackle Garrett Bolles, guard Isaac Asiata, center Lo Falemaka, guard Salesi Uhatefe and tackle Sam Tevi.

Utah Offense Summary

Though Troy Williams hasn’t been spectacular, he has managed games well and deserves high praise for being a key component in Utah’s 7-2 record through nine games. The main focal point for the Sun Devil defense will be hoping to contain Joe Williams, therefore ASU will strive to bring the run defense it has shown in its past two home games and not the one that has surfaced in the two most recent road games.

Utah Defense

The always stout Utah defense lists a front line of ends Hunter Dimick and Pita Taumoepenu with tackles Filipo Mokofisi and Lowell Lotulelei.

Dimick should be in contention for the Pac-12 Conference Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Award with his 38 tackles including 11.0 for loss with 7.0 sacks on the year. On a conference scale, Dimick is tied for second in sacks and tied for third in tackles for loss.

Mokofisi has registered 32 tackles including 6.0 for loss with 4.0 sacks, while Taumoepenu has 25 tackles including 5.0 for loss with 4.0 sacks. Lotulelei has tallied 15 tackles, including 3.0 for loss with one sack on the year.

At “Mac” linebacker Utah starts Sunia Tauteoli, with Kavika Luafatasaga at “Rover” linebacker. Tauteoli ranks second on the Utes with 46 tackles, including 2.0 for loss with one sack. Luafatasaga has registered 22 tackles including one for loss. Backup “Rover” Cody Barton ranks third on the team with 40 tackles, including 5.0 for loss.

In the secondary, Utah starts seniors Dominique Hatfield and Reginald Porter at cornerback with Marcus Williams at free safety, Chase Hansen at strong safety and Justin Thomas at nickel back.

On the year, Hansen leads Utah with his 58 tackles, adding 5.0 for loss with two interceptions and one sack. One of the most underrated defensive backs in the Pac-12, Williams is tied for second in the league in interceptions (three) and stands third in fumble recoveries (two), while also having posted 32 tackles.

Porter has 31 tackles and two interceptions, while Hatfield and Thomas both have 23 tackles on the year.

Listed as the backup behind Porter at right cornerback, senior Brian Allen is tied for the Pac-12 lead with four total interceptions.

Utah Defense Summary

Among Pac-12 teams ASU has played thus far, Utah ranks second in the league in scoring defense (22.7) and the Utes lead the nation in turnovers gained (23) and tie for second nationally in interceptions forced (15). Utah is also one of only two teams in the Pac-12 (joining Stanford) to have three players with at least 4.0 sacks. Altogether, as usual, Utah boasts a powerful defense with the collective ability to make opposing offense pay to severe levels.

Utah Special Teams

Another year, another sensational Australian punter for Utah. Impossible as it seemed to be to replace Ray Guy Award winning punter Tom Hackett from last year, Mitch Wishnowsky, a countryman of Hackett’s, currently leads the nation with a 48.8-yard average on his 44 punts and has to be considered the odds-on favorite to give Utah back-to-back Ray Guy Award winners.

Utah’s coverage has been spectacular as well, as the Utes also lead the nation in net punting (45.05)

In the kicking game, veteran Andy Phillips ranks third in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (82.4) by connecting on 14-of-17 field goals, also placing him in a tie for second behind Zane Gonzalez in the league in made field goals.

Cory Butler-Byrd has excelled on kick returns, averaging 28.6 yards on 11 returns with a 99-yard touchdown. Boobie Hobbs averages 6.8 yards on 24 punt returns with a long of 35.

Overall Summary

Keys to a Sun Devil Victory

Ball Control

One of the simplest keys in any game, crucial turnovers were a major hindrance for ASU at Oregon and Utah’s standing as one of the very best teams in the nation in forced turnovers and turnover margin amplifies this basic tenet of efficient football. If Manny Wilkins starts and plays the whole game at quarterback for the Sun Devils, ASU should be able to avoid some of the natural rookie mistakes borne from the learning curve endured by true freshman Dillon Sterling-Cole. Utah also leads the Pac-12 in time of possession, placing an even greater priority on ASU securing the football.

No QB Outburst

ASU has routinely allowed both average and elite quarterbacks to play like superstars, most recently a still green true freshman setting the Oregon single-game passing record. Though he has been a more than adequate “Game Manager” this season for Utah, Troy Williams has not had stupendous passing stats as his season high against and FBS opponent is his 270 yards thrown against USC, while his season high in touchdown passes is two (on three occasions) and he has failed to throw a touchdown pass in three of nine games on the year thus far. However, that can – and has been – thrown out the window against ASU’s defense. If Williams is able to have a career day with 300 or more passing yards, the scoreboard likely will not be pretty for Arizona State.

Play for the Seniors

Shifting to a more sentimental level, this senior class for Arizona State has seen quite a bit. The fifth-year and true seniors such as Salamo Fiso, Zane Gonzalez, Matt Haack, Laiu Moeakiola and others remember times where ASU was in contention for the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff in back-to-back years. On the other side of the spectrum, the second-year junior college transfers such as Tim White have endured a substantial dip into mediocrity and mixed expectations. For ASU to upset a ranked opponent, achieve bowl eligibility and part ways from its current losing streak would be an incredible exit for the players seeing their final action at Sun Devil Stadium Thursday.

Overall Summary

ASU and Utah both enjoyed bye weeks a week ago, but the similarities between the two teams generally end there. Though not in the current lead, boasting a win over USC and having a game yet to be played against Colorado, Utah still has control of its own destiny in the Pac-12 south division and is in line for its third straight season of nine or more wins. On the other hand, Arizona State is fighting to achieve bowl eligibility and would benefit mightily from doing so prior to encountering potential College Football Playoff participant Washington next week. ASU had also lost three straight games prior to its week off and has dealt with a rash of injuries to a bounty of key players, so to cut the bleeding and emerge with an upset win over Utah would be incredible.

The Sun Devils had won the first four meetings between the two teams as conference colleagues, but the Utes snapped that streak last week in Salt Lake City. It is the hope of the Arizona State faithful that the Devils on Thursday are rested and rejuvenated and can contain a resurgent Utah run game and not feed the opportunistic and highly challenging Ute defense.

Familiar Faces

· Utah assistant coach Dennis Erickson was ASU’s head coach from 2007-11

· Utah OL Nick Carman (Phoenix Mountain Pointe HS), OL J.J. Dielman (Phoenix Desert Vista HS), OL Jake Grant (Scottsdale Horizon HS) are all Arizona natives

· Utah LB Davir Hamilton attended Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School, as did ASU LB Salamo Fiso and DL JoJo Wicker

· Utah WR Lahi Kautai and OT Sam Tevi attended Euless (Texas) High School, as did ASU’s Laiu Moeakiola

· Utah LB Kavika Luafatasaga attended Arizona Western College, as did ASU TE Raymond Epps