The No. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils start their 2015 campaign on Saturday night against Texas A&M at Houston’s Reliant Energy Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN.
How to watch Texas A&M vs. Arizona State on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
Two up-and-coming programs meet at Houston’s Reliant Stadium Saturday.
Arizona State surprisingly won 10 games in 2014 and returns many of the players that got it there. Running back D.J. Foster, who racked up nearly 1,800 yards of offense last season, returns for his senior season. He will run behind an experienced offensive line, with three seniors in the interior positions. The defense returns almost everyone of consequence from last season. Bill Connelly said, "Barring injuries, unexpected setbacks or a drastic turn in turnovers luck, [ASU] is going to be a top-20 team in 2015."
Texas A&M, on the other hand, is young and unranked, but a 3.5-point favorite. New defensive coordinator John Chavis was brought in from LSU to fix a defense that hemorrhaged yards and points last season, and quarterback Kyle Allen now has no apparent competition for the starting spot. It might not be enough to compete in the SEC West, but the Aggies could certainly scare any team on their schedule.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Radio: Arizona State and Texas A&M affiliates are available.
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Three big things to know
1. Has the luck run out? Arizona State was the recipient of nearly five points’ worth of turnovers per game last year, the difference between 10-win success and seven-win disappointment for a team that won three games by five or fewer points. Will Todd Graham’s team continue to watch the ball bounce into its collective lap in 2015, or does Arizona State revert to the mean?
2. The Chavis era begins. Texas A&M’s new defensive coordinator built a reputation for using smaller, quicker personnel to counteract spread offenses. But while Chavis inherits a truckload of recruiting stars in the Aggie defensive depth chart, it remains to be seen whether he can fashion them into the sort of spread-stuffing machine he had at LSU and Tennessee.
3. Who wore it better? Arizona State released four new uniforms this offseason, including a “Desert Ice” alternate. While the Sun Devils will likely save their new alternates for a home game, they will still have a brand new look when they take the field in Houston.
Further reading
For all things Arizona State, head over to House of Sparky. If you’re looking for Texas A&M info, Good Bull Hunting has you covered.
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