UCLA Bruins (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT, Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: AM 570
Scouting report: Quarterback Manny Wilkins was knocked out of the loss to USC in the first quarter with a left leg injury. Although head coach Todd Graham told reporters Monday that Wilkins is not expected to miss significant time, the quarterback is still doubtful for Saturday’s game against UCLA. Redshirt freshman Brady White could get his first career start. He was 6 for 13 passing for 80 yards after replacing Wilkins against USC. … Arizona State has one of the most prolific offenses in the conference, but one of the worst defenses. The Sun Devils are fourth and fifth in the conference in points per game (43) and yards per game (466.8), respecitvely. On the other side of the ball, they’re 10th in points allowed (35.6) and last in yards allowed (503.8). The Sun Devils give up 396.4 yards per game in through the air, by far the worst in the conference. The next worst team, Washington State, is more than 100 yards better (294 yards allowed).
Series history: UCLA is 2-2 against Arizona State under Jim Mora with both losses coming at home. Last year, the No. 7 Bruins lost 38-23 at home to the unranked Sun Devils. ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another. UCLA mounted a near fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 13 unanswered points to start the quarter to pull within nine points, but Arizona State put the game away with a touchdown with 45 seconds left from Kalen Ballage.
Key players:
RB Demario Richard, Jr., 97 carries, 374 rushing yards, 1 TD
— Richard is the thunder of ASU’s thunder-and-lightning backfield duo. The bruising back handles the bulk of the team’s carries while Ballage often grabs headlines at the backup with this speed. Ballage has nine rushing touchdowns on the year and scored eight total touchdowns against Texas Tech.
LB Koron Crump, Jr.,9 tackles, 3 sacks
— Graham has frequently recruited junior college transfers to ASU and Crump is just the latest. In his first year with the Sun Devils, the junior college transfer leads the team in sacks.
WR Tim White, R-Sr., 28 catches, 305 yards
— White qualified for the Olympic trials in the triple jump, but didn’t advance to the 2016 Rio Olympics. His great athleticism has helped him emerge as ASU’s leading receiver this year while also handling punt and kickoff returns for the Sun Devils.