Who has the Edge?: Territorial Cup Edition

Friday will be one of the most anticipated Territorial Cup match-ups in over a decade. Not since 2014 has both teams had at last eight wins in a season. The each have their strengths. They each have their weaknesses, but it’s tough to parce through where each team could have an edge. 

I’ve seen both teams in-person extensively and wanted to offer my thoughts that both sides of the rivalry will totally agree with and be logical about. 

Let’s take a look:

Quarterback

Noah Fifita has been a steady presence for the Wildcats. In an offseason that brought so much new, the third-year quarterback has been a constant, throwing for 2,677 yards and 25 touchdowns, matching his 2023 total in two fewer games. He’s also been a more capable runner, tallying 131 rush yards and three scores on the ground. 

Many programs could not withstand losing its starting quarterback halfway through the year. But Arizona State is 3-1 in games where Jeff Sims has started. His decision to stay in Tempe this offseason might have been surprising to some, but it has proven to be invaluable for this ASU program as they look to get back to the Big 12 championship game. 

He’s totaled seven passing touchdowns and two interceptions and three lost fumbles in that span. He’s run for 423 yards and two additional scores, headlined by his historic rushing effort against Iowa State.

The Edge: Arizona

Fifita has taken great care of the football and played point guard to the Wildcat playmakers. Sims has tremendous skills and presents matchup problems, but the turnover risk is what separated these two quarterbacks.

Running Back

These teams approach the run game in very different ways. Arizona has been a by-committee attack, with Ismail Mahdi, Kedrick Reescano and Quincy Craig taking the bulk of the snaps to combine 1,435 yards. 

Shaun Aguano’s backfield has continued the trend of relying on the featured back, and this year it’s Raleek Brown. Most recently, he exploded for 255 rushing yards against Colorado and has back-to-back games with a receiving touchdown. 

The Edge: Arizona State

In this game, the hot hand can take over. Cam Skattebo last year (177 rush yards, three touchdowns), Mike Wiley in 2022 (214 yards, three touchdowns), Nick Wilson in 2014 (178 yards, three touchdowns) and Eno Benjamin (168 yards, two touchdowns), this history has plenty of examples of backs dominating the game.

Among the group of talented back playing in this one, I think Brown has the best chance to have one of those types of performances.

Wide Receiver

This is another tough one to call because of how these two teams use their wide receivers. Six of Arizona’s receivers have at least 244 yards and two scores. Kris Hutson has come on strong at the end of the season, and Tre Spivey has seven touchdowns in 18 touches this year. Gio Richardson has seen his role expand and Luke Wysong can help in a lot of ways.

Jordyn Tyson was on pace to crush multiple ASU receiving records before missing a month due to a hamstring injury. He came back with two catches for 61 yards against Colorado last week. He went for 143 yards and a score last year against Arizona before breaking his collarbone. 

Derek Eusebio has gotten more consistent snaps and had a big touchdown against Colorado. Malik McClain has been a consistent target since Jeff Sims took over. 

The Edge: Arizona

Tyson is far and away the best receiver on the field and could take over this game. But Arizona’s pass game is so predicated on the wide receiver production, whereas Arizona State works in tight ends and their running backs to open up that side of the football. 

This wide receiver group is like the championship Detroit Pistons of the early 2000s. One day it’s Tayshaun Prince (Hutson), one day it’s Rip Hamilton (Tre Spivey) leading the charge. 

Tight End

Arizona State has run more 12-personnel (one running back, two tight end) formation than any other team in the country. They utilize the tight ends in multiple ways, with seniors Chamon Metayer and Cameron Harpole leading the way. 

Metayer has already surpassed his receiving totals from last year and is one touchdown short of last year’s total. That’s all the more impressive knowing in the season’s first two games he only had two targets and one reception. He’s been a monster in the blocking game as well, sometimes going in the backfield to assist in pass protection. Harpole has also been especially effective in the run game and also hauled in a touchdown this year. 

Khamari Anderson also had his best game of the season against Colorado. 

For Arizona, Sam Olson has brought in two touchdowns and Cam Barmore brings a mix of size and athleticism to the field. Keyan Burnett is uber-talented but has struggled to stay healthy. 

The Edge: Arizona State

With the overall talent, with how they’re utilized. The tight end position is crucial to the Sun Devils moving the ball in the air and on the ground.

Offensive Line

This is a tough one to gauge because I believe the offensive line for Arizona is playing better than Arizona State currently.

BUT

The Wildcat line is a very battered group right now. Tackle Tristan Bounds is out for the year. Guard Chubba Maae is questionable to play in this one. 

Second-year Matthew Lado has the tools to be a great tackle and stepped in admirably against Baylor last week. But how will he fare against one of the best defensive lines in the conference?

Arizona State has been without Ben Coleman since the Utah game. They’ve worked in young players like Wade Helton and Maki Stewart, who have taken everything in stride and played pretty well all things considered. 

We saw a tale of two lines against Colorado. Against one of the worst defenses in the conference, the Sun Devils struggled to explode off the ball for three quarters, only for Arizona State to dominate the fourth quarter in what turned out to be a blowout win.

Which one shows up on Friday?

Penalties have been a killer for the Arizona State offense. There’s been a consistent sight of the Sun Devils picking up a big gain only for it to get called back due to a hold. That’s come from the offensive line more than you’d like. False starts and timing issues have also come up consistently throughout the year. 

Part of that comes with working with two quarterbacks and cycling in some young guys, but some vets have also been on the receiving end of those penalties. 

The Edge: *shrug emoji*

Without knowing the health of Arizona’s line until kickoff, I feel like we can’t give a clear answer. I would lean Arizona if they are able to get them back to play for this one. 

Defensive Line

This is another group where both teams are playing at high levels. Arizona State returned virtually their entire line from last year and the growth has been exponential. 

CJ Fite and Jacob Kongaika are consistent anchors in the middle. Clayton Smith has played at a high level. Justin Wodtly has been a downright bully to opposing offensive linemen in the back-half of this year. Anthonie Cooper, Prince Dorbah, Elijah O’Neal, Blazen Lono-Wong, Zac Swanson when healthy. It’s the deepest room on the team.

Arizona has had to play without their most experienced edge rusher Tre Smith. They’ve helped control the line and open up holes for these linebackers and safeties to cause havoc. The box score may not jump off the screen, but their impact has been felt. Mays Pese has stepped up in recent weeks.

The Edge: Arizona State

The top run defense in the conference has been paced by this group. They have a ton of talent and can be rotated to remain fresh.

Linebacker

These are two deep, talented groups. On Arizona State’s side Keyshaun Elliott leads the team with 89 tackles and seven sacks. His counterpart Jordan Crook is second on the team with 81 tackles. He’s paired that with two sacks, two passes defended and an interception. 

Martell Hughes has been a young gun on this team that’s stepped up in big moments with two interceptions as well. He’s the future of this room and already playing meaningful minutes.

Taye Brown, Max Harris (who is not on the Big 12 injury report) and Riley Wilson have been heat-seeking missiles. Chase Kennedy leads the team with four sacks and matched his season-high last week with eight tackles in a game.

The Edge: Arizona State

This one is very close, but this ASU defense is in a wildly different place if Elliott and Crook are not playing at the level they’ve been.

Corner

Keith Abney has been playing at an elite level. Javan Robinson has stepped up as Big 12 play has started. They’ve played a lot of football together. 

Arizona has battled some injuries in this group and Jay’Vion Cole, team leader in interceptions, is questionable to play in this one. 

The Edge: Arizona State

ASU will have their hands full with a deep wide receiver room, but Abney should lock down a First Team All-Big 12 nod this year

Safety

I view the safety position similarly to how the linebackers stack up in this one, but flipped.

Arizona State has the hard-hitting Myles Rowser and Boogie Wilson patrolling the secondary, and they’ve played very, very well. X Alford only appearing in two games should have been absolutely detrimental to this defense. While Alford is certainly missed, Wilson has played at an incredibly high level.

But Arizona’s safeties are the most talented, experienced and productive room on the team. Genesis Smith, Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson helped bring Arizona to the Alamo Bowl in 2023. Stukes and Johnson missed time in 2024, but this group came back with a vengeance in 2025. 

They are first, third and fifth respectively in tackles on the team and combined for two sacks, 18 passes defended and seven interceptions. Danny Gonzales is putting them in great positions and these three are executing.

The Edge: Arizona

This group means so much to the Wildcat defense. Arizona State has some ballers in that position room, but I’ll give the edge to Arizona.

Special Teams

It’s been an up-and-down year for both units. Sun Devil punter Kanyon Floyd has struggled to stay healthy but has also put together his best two performances of the season in ASU’s last two games. 

Floyd and Arizona’s Isaac Lovison have put up similar numbers in the punting game. 

Arizona’s Michael Salgado-Medina has missed his last three kicks from the 30-39 yard range but has also been surprisingly good from 50+. On the year, he’s 16/25 in field goals. 

ASU”s Jesus Gomez has hit 21/28 kicks this year for Arizona State. He’s 16/17 from inside 39 yards. His efforts against Texas Tech and Baylor helped ASU escape with wins. 

The Edge: Arizona State

In some ways Arizona State and Arizona have been on the same page, but if it comes down to field goals, I’m more comfortable with ASU being able to knock those down.

Coaching

Brent Brennan has shown what he and his staff can do with a true offseason when it comes to talent acquisition and development. I give him credit for making changes when things haven’t worked within his staff and knocked his coordinator hires out of the park with Danny Gonzales and Seth Doege. 

He certainly has these players believing and have been in every game of the year with the exception of he Iowa State game. It’s not crazy to think this team could easily have double-digit wins this year. 

On ASU’s side, I would argue that Kenny Dillingham’s coaching performance is more impressive than last year’s run to the College Football Playoff. 

There’s one thing to sneak up on people and play at a high level. There’s another to have the target on your back and run it back. The Sun Devils also needed to overcome season-ending injuries from their starting quarterback (Sam Leavitt), most experienced offensive lineman (Ben Coleman), Week 1 No. 1 running back (Kyson Brown), heart and soul of the defense (X Alford) and a veteran linebacker (Zyrus Fiaseau).

Oh, their first round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson also missed time this year. To get to potentially nine regular season wins is a major win for this program and continue to build something sustainable. 

The Edge: Arizona State

Whether it was the Big 12 Championship, Peach Bowl or a few times this year, Dillingham and Marcus Arroyo have pulled the right levers to have game-flipping plays. If they go wrong, maybe we ask about their decision-making, but it sure seems to work a lot. 

Brian Ward and Danny Gonzales are two of the best defensive coordinators in the nation and getting to see them scheme up this game should be must-see.