Field Pass: Matchups, starters and who to watch for Arizona vs. Arizona State

Game info

Who: Arizona Wildcats (5-6, 4-4) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 4-4)

Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

Watch: Fox Sports 1

Listen: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM

Follow: @TheWildcaster on Twitter / TheWildcaster on Facebook

Head to head: Eno Benjamin vs. Colin Schooler

3 Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State

The sophomore is the foundation of the ASU offense. Benjamin needs 122 yards to set a new school record; the mark of 1,565 by Woody Green has stood since 1972. Benjamin has rushed for 70 first downs, second most in the nation entering this week.

7 Colin Schooler, LB, Arizona

Even when the defense struggles, Schooler produces. He racked up 13 more tackles, including 2.5 TFLs, at Washington State last week. Schooler also missed some tackles, and Benjamin can be a load at 200 pounds. Getting as many hats to the ball as possible would be wise. 

Head to head: Khalil Tate vs. Merlin Robertson

14 Khalil Tate, QB, Arizona

Tate knows Robertson well; they were high school teammates in Gardena, California. Tate has played his best ball of 2018 since returning from an ankle injury, throwing 12 TD passes in three games. He also has shown flashes of his ’17 form as a runner.

8 Merlin Robertson, LB, Arizona State

The freshman has emerged as ASU’s top defensive player. He leads the team in tackles (72), stops for losses (8.5) and sacks (five). The Sun Devils dearly missed him in the first half at Oregon last week; Robertson had to sit out because of a targeting foul.

Sun Devils projected starters

Offense

XWR 1 N’Keal Harry 6-4 221 Jr.

HWR 10 Kyle Williams 6-1 203 Jr.

LT 51 Zach Robertson 6-6 301 Jr.

LG 56 Alex Losoya 6-5 290 Jr.

C 73 Cohl Cabral 6-5 285 Jr.

RG 55 Casey Tucker 6-6 307 Sr.

RT 59 Quinn Bailey 6-6 323 Sr.

TE 87 Tommy Hudson 6-5 248 Jr.

ZWR 84 Frank Darby 6-1 193 So.

QB 5 Manny Wilkins 6-3 200 Sr.

RB 3 Eno Benjamin 5-10 200 So.

Defense

DE 45 George Lea 6-3 290 Jr.

NT 95 Renell Wren 6-6 304 Sr.

DE 90 Jermayne Lole 6-2 264 Fr.

OLB 41 Tyler Johnson 6-5 263 Fr.

MLB 37 Darien Butler 5-11 242 Fr.

OLB 8 Merlin Robertson 6-3 256 Fr.

TS 43 Jalen Harvey 6-1 209 Sr.

CB 5 Kobe Williams 5-10 170 Jr.

RS 15 Cam Phillips 6-1 175 Fr.

RS 16 Aashari Crosswell 6-0 193 Fr.

CB 24 Chase Lucas 6-0 177 So.

Wildcats projected starters

Offense

WR 18 Cedric Peterson 5-11 193 Jr.

SLOT 6 Shun Brown 5-10 188 Sr.

LT 58 Layth Friekh 6-5 297 Sr.

LG 76 Cody Creason 6-4 294 Jr.

C 50 Josh McCauley 6-3 292 So.

RG 75 Michael Eletise 6-3 323 So.

RT 78 Donovan Laie 6-4 318 Fr.

TE Bryce Wolma 6-3 252 So.

WR 19 Shawn Poindexter 6-5 218 Sr.

RB 21 J.J. Taylor 5-6 184 So.

QB 14 Khalil Tate 6-2 215 Jr.

Defense

DE 12 JB Brown 6-3 263 So.

NT 99 Dereck Boles 6-2 306 Sr.

DT 52 PJ Johnson 6-4 335 Jr.

STUD 49 Jalen Harris 6-4 230 Fr.

MLB 7 Colin Schooler 6-0 236 So.

WLB 1 Tony Fields II 6-1 230 So.

SPUR 31 Tristan Cooper 6-1 194 Jr.

BANDIT 13 Chacho Ulloa 5-11 194 Jr.

BC 2 Lorenzo Burns 5-10 181 So.

FC 20 Azizi Hearn 6-1 193 Fr.

FS 6 D. Flannigan-Fowles 6-2 209 Sr.

When Arizona State has the ball …

Manny Wilkins is a smart, efficient veteran quarterback who seldom turns the ball over and has a special connection with receiver N’Keal Harry. Harry (6-4, 221) presents a mismatch for any UA defensive back he faces. While Harry is the headliner, Benjamin ought to be the focal point of Arizona’s defensive game plan. The UA defense looked lost vs. Washington State’s Air Raid attack. The run-stuffing outfit from the previous two games needs to re-emerge.

When Arizona has the ball …

Similar to ASU, it all starts with tailback J.J. Taylor and the running game. Taylor literally struggled to find his footing early against WSU, and Arizona was playing from behind throughout. In the previous two games, he rushed for 404 yards. ASU has been vulnerable against the run. After surrendering 65 yards in the first two games, the Sun Devils have allowed 183.8 per contest. Freshmen have played almost 3,000 defensive snaps for ASU this season.

Lev's prediction

Player for player, the Sun Devils might have the edge. But just about every intangible factor favors the Wildcats. They’re the more desperate team, needing a win to earn a bowl berth. They’re playing at home, where they’ve been a vastly better club this season. Home field also has been a huge factor in the series. With a depleted secondary, it’ll take a complete team effort. The Cats have shown they’re capable of it.

Arizona 31, Arizona State 28