Arizona State opened its 2026 college football campaign with a dominant 63-7 victory over Morgan State at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, fueled by a debut from quarterback Cutter Boley and a suffocating defensive performance that completely shut down the Bears.
Cutter Boley Dominates in Sun Devil Debut
The Sun Devils entered the Week 1 matchup as heavy favorites exceeding 40 points, and the squad wasted no time justifying those lofty expectations. In his first career start for Arizona State, transfer quarterback Cutter Boley orchestrated an offensive clinic during the opening two quarters. Boley completed 18 of 24 pass attempts for 325 yards and five touchdowns in the first half alone, setting a program benchmark for the most touchdown passes in any single half by a Sun Devil quarterback since 2013, according to USA Today live reporting.
Boley spread the wealth across a deep receiving corps. Reed Harris hauled in six catches for 137 yards and two scores, while Omarion Miller contributed eight receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. The aerial assault allowed Arizona State to amass 475 yards of total offense by halftime, building an insurmountable 49-7 lead before starters began cycling to the bench.
Defensive Suffocation and Second-Half Reserves
While the offense captured headlines, the unit stifled Morgan State from the opening whistle. The Sun Devils held the Bears to just 122 total yards in the first half—limiting them to 45 yards rushing—and completely neutralized third-down conversion attempts. Morgan State finished the opening two quarters 0-for-5 on third downs.
With the game firmly out of reach, the second half featured extended playing time for Arizona State’s backup personnel. Backup quarterback Mikey Keene guided a 12-play, 66-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from David Avit. Later in the third quarter, sophomore running back Grayson Rigdon added his second career touchdown by taking a short pass from Cutter Boley 56 yards to the house on a fourth-and-three play. That final scoring strike pushed Boley’s stat line to 21-for-27 for 387 yards and six passing touchdowns, cementing a comprehensive 63-7 victory that sets an aggressive tone for the Sun Devils’ early-season trajectory.
Building Momentum in Tempe
Blowout victories against Football Championship Subdivision opponents rarely dictate the entire narrative of a college football season, but efficiency matters when installing a new offensive scheme. What adjustments do you expect to see from the coaching staff as the competition level rises next week? Let us know your thoughts below.
