Arizona State aims to make history against SEC team in Week 2

The win is a promising sign for a program that struggled last season, finishing 3-9. Second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham said that this season is about turning the corner, so the game against Mississippi State could be pivotal.

Coming off a 5-7 season, Mississippi State — predicted by the media to finish 15th in the 16-team SEC — showcased its defensive toughness in beating overmatched Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in its opener. Offensively, the Bulldogs demonstrated balance with 203 rushing yards and 247 passing yards. 

The game will feature a quarterback battle between two transfers: Arizona State's redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt and Mississippi State's redshirt senior Blake Shapen. Both quarterbacks aim to secure a statement win for their programs in their second starts.

Arizona State's statement home opener certainly caught the eyes of oddsmakers. The Sun Devils opened as a 2.5-point favorite against Mississippi State, but that line has moved to 6.5 points as of Wednesday morning, per FanDuel. This is the game the Sun Devils should win.

Following the Wyoming game, Dillingham had a message for students about the Mississippi State game: Pack the stands. The opener was attended by 13,698 students — the second-highest figure since 2010, according to  Arizona State.

"I want to have more students that’s ever been at a game," said Dillingham, per azcentral.com. "I want you guys to be part of the first time Arizona State has ever won an SEC game. Come be part of history. Let’s pack it out, from the fans to the student section, everything. Let’s make this the best environment in college football this weekend.”

If Arizona State plays as well as it did in the opener and fans bring the energy, the Sun Devils should make history against a lower-rung SEC team and set the tone for their inaugural Big 12 season.