While the magnifying glass will surely be focused on the play of ASU senior quarterback Danny Sullivan and the Sun Devil offense, don’t pretend that covers all the flaws in the ASU football team’s 28-17 loss to Oregon State on Saturday.

Missing from the glare of scrutiny — hidden yardage.

Penalties and special teams put the Sun Devils in precarious situations early in the defeat.

First, junior punter Trevor Hankins muffed what by all circumstances appeared to be a routine snap after ASU’s first possession.

After the fumble, Hankins couldn’t get the punt off. Instead of placing the ball in OSU territory without a score in the game, an 18-yard field allowed the Beavers to gather a 7-0 lead plus some instant confidence and momentum — critical for a team that was looking to snap a 40-year winless streak in Tempe.

The Sun Devils’ next possession, a three-and-out, led to a 56-yard punt.

The yardage looks good on paper, but the short hang-time boot allowed James Rodgers to return the ball 33 yards into ASU territory, setting up a second score.

While ASU had yet to turn the ball over, it allowed the Beavers to take a 14-0 lead by driving just 59 yards.

“I do know for sure in the first quarter, they were ready to play and we weren’t,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “That’s an issue I have to look at.”

As was the case against Georgia, defensive penalties also led to scoring drives.

On second-and-nine and down 14-3, it appeared ASU was about to get a crucial stop when freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict snuffed out a screen play to make it third and long.

Instead, senior defensive end Dexter Davis was called for a roughing the passer penalty, allowing OSU to skip the difficult third-and-long scenario and move into ASU territory.

That drive was capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Sean Canfield to junior wide receiver James Rodgers.

Three times in the first half, OSU used seemingly unearned momentum to put the ball in the end zone.

Over the last three games, ASU has averaged an astounding 10 penalties per contest. That has cost them 265 yards — nearly 90 yards per game.

“Yeah, [it sets] you back any time you have penalties like that,” Erickson said.

Chris McRib Delight

The Sun Devil offense did have one thing going for it against the Beavers — the slant route to senior wide receiver Chris McGaha in the slot.

McGaha, who later revealed he had to have a rib popped back into place, had 15 catches for 165 yards — the second-most catches in a game in ASU history.

McGaha played exclusively out of the slot position in place of senior Kyle Williams, who played less than a full game because of a hamstring injury suffered during practice.

“Kyle Williams wasn’t feeling 100 percent, so I moved inside for this game,” McGaha said. “A lot of our offense is involved inside, and that’s why [Williams] was so successful, and I just got the opportunity today.”

Sullivan, should he remain the starter, may have found a lock-on target.

“[McGaha] is the one guy to depend on to make catches,” Sullivan said. “There is no question he is our best receiver.”

McGaha not only has the best hands on the team — and the country, according to Sporting News — but he also showed his toughness on Saturday.

Ribs can get popped back into place?

“That’s what the chiropractor’s for,” McGaha said. “I don’t know about that, either.”