⚡ CFB Dashboard

Texas A&M's rebuilt defensive front was described as able to rotate four interior players and three ends while attacking across blockers' faces to create negative plays, with CJ Mims, Angelo McCullom and Brandon Davis-Swaim asked to occupy double teams so quicker teammates can penetrate.

Arizona State's rushing system was described as RPO-based inside or outside zone, but the writer expected less of the quarterback zone-read component with dropback passer Cutter Boley than the offense had previously used.

Arizona State's large interior line was assessed as capable of displacing defenders once engaged but vulnerable through upright guard play and limited center agility, with the writer also questioning its lighter tackles' lateral movement and favoring Texas A&M's more athletic front in this matchup.

Texas A&M linebacker Ray Coney was characterized as an interior run defender while Daymion Sanford and Noah Mikhail supplied more range, with the scheme intended to let that group attack downhill and reach the sidelines ahead of blockers.

Texas A&M often inserts a safety into the B gap, giving Dalton Brooks, Marcus Ratcliffe and Tawfiq Byard one-on-one tackling responsibilities that the writer identified as a source of explosive-run risk when a tackle or gap assignment is missed.