PHOENIX – As Arizona State aims to prove it is worthy of the hype generated from last year’s revolutionary season, in-state opponent Northern Arizona University will have to deal not only with the Sun Devils’ newfound national attention, but with tangible obstacles like the Valley’s scorching heat when the college football season kicks off Saturday.
With near-triple digit temperatures expected at kickoff – more than 20 degrees warmer than what’s predicted in Flagstaff – the 11th-ranked Sun Devils’ likely sold-out home opener at Mountain America Stadium figures to be an exciting matchup as the new and improved Lumberjacks hope to beat the heat in Tempe and leave with a win, despite oddsmakers putting them at 28 1/2 -point underdogs.
NAU coach Brian Wright has watched his team develop nicely since he took the helm last year. After posting a 8-5 record and finishing fourth in the Big Sky Conference in 2024, the Lumberjacks enter the season ranked 19th in the Stats Perform FCS poll and No. 18 in the FCS preseason coaches poll.
In his second year, Wright believes the togetherness of this year’s squad has helped the players reach a high level.
“Building a bond and building a group that is looking forward to playing as one,” Wright said. “I think it’s one of the biggest improvements.”
Developing from within the program and keeping the team together has been a big part of the game plan for Wright and his coaching staff and has had a huge effect on creating this team’s environment.
“Through recruiting, through development, through our strength program,” Wright said. “We are a little bit bigger, a little bit faster and a little bit stronger this year.”
Wright is not the only one who has noticed the team’s evolution. Defensive lineman Tausagafou Ho Ching and offensive lineman Seth Smith are also proud of the bond the squad has created both on and off the field.
“Last season we would have D-linemen get together, hang out and play games,” Ching said. “Now every time I have the D-line over there’s linebackers, tight ends, receivers, O-linemen …”
Smith added that, “Even with the new guys, just spending time with each other outside the football field, is something that hasn’t been done to the level we have done it this year.”
NAU players say they are approaching the game in Tempe with more excitement than nerves. The Sun Devils captured national attention last year when they defied predictions of a last place finish in their inaugural Big 12 season by capturing the conference title and making their first trip to the College Football Playoff, where fourth-seeded ASU lost to No. 5 seed Texas.
While ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt is a legitimate pre-season Heisman Trophy candidate, NAU went into training camp sure of its own signal caller after junior quarterback Ty Pennington finished last season with 2,228 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns and a 65% completion percentage.
“Ty is focused on his teammates, and how he’s gonna play his best game is by the rest of our unit playing their best game,” Wright said. “He’s really focused on how are we gonna get first downs? How are we going to score points? How are we going to distribute the ball to the guys on offense and take what that defense gives us?”
ASU’s expected offensive surge is merely one facet of a game NAU has circled on its calendar.
“We’re just excited to play football,” Ching said. “I don’t think we were very nervous about the game, but we are really excited about the challenge.”
Arizona’s homegrown talent helped both ASU and NAU have successful seasons last year, and makes key in-state games like this one more meaningful than others.
“A lot of our guys from the state of Arizona grew up going to those games and looking up to those programs,” Wright said. “It just allows us to showcase who NAU is and showcase NAU football on a big stage, we’re all excited for that.”
Simulating coverages, plays and strategies that the Sun Devils might use Saturday aren’t the only parts of Wright’s preparation. The Lumberjacks, who train in and around Flagstaff’s high-altitude domed Walkup Stadium where the outside temperatures are generally at least 20 degrees cooler than the Valley, also need to brace for a game where the daytime temperature is projected to be 103 degrees.
“We have to do the best job that we can to prepare,” Wright said. “We had some pretty warm days this summer. … We made it a point to practice on our turf on the hot days this preseason, and we can’t match it, but we have to prepare for it. We’re thinking about practicing in our sweats and hoodies, then turning off the air conditioning in the dome to simulate it a little better.”
Regardless of the heat, the Lumberjacks are determined to make noise during their trip to Tempe and prove just how far they’ve come since last season.
BATTLE of the liberals.. ho hum