Who: Arizona State vs. Northern Arizona (ASU leads all-time series, 21-14-4)
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
When: 8 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks
ASU last season: 6-7, (4-5 Pac-12) fourth in Pac-12 South, lost to West Virginia in Cactus Bowl
NAU last season: 7-4, (5-3 Big Sky), lost to Southern Utah in conference title game
ASU football head coach Todd Graham hasn’t been shy in the past about expressing his distaste toward season openers featuring unexceptional competition.
Though the outcome of Saturday’s season opener in Tempe would be a shock if it were anything but a double-digit blowout in favor of the home team, NAU isn’t quite in the same category as past Sun Devil home openers.
The Lumberjacks have won fewer than 6 games in a season only once since 2010, and have been competitive in a Big Sky conference that has been increasingly exporting its budding talent to Pac-12 and Mountain West schools.
And for comparison’s sake, NAU is 6-1 since 2012 (the year in which the Sun Devils crushed the Lumberjacks 63-6 in their most recent meeting) against Sacramento State, Weber State, and Cal Poly — ASU’s home opener opponents for the last three years.
"I didn't even know that," Graham said when asked about NAU's track record. "I don't look at all that stuff, we just know that we've studied the film and looked at them."
However, Graham does know the Lumberjack coaching staff. NAU is led by head coach Jerome Souers — entering his 19th season — and wide receivers coach Aaron Pflugrad, who played two seasons at ASU before joining Graham as a graduate assistant while pursuing a master's degree in liberal studies with a focus in sports leadership.
"I have a lot of respect for Aaron," Graham said. "A tremendous person, a former Sun Devil, and an unbelievable competitor. I'm very proud of him and what he's been able to accomplish."
Defensive backs coach T.J. Rushing reflected on the time he and Pflugrad shared in Tempe and hinted at a possible reunion of the two coaches in the future.
"We always used to work out here together and battle each other, so it will be fun," Rushing said. "I hope that throughout our coaching careers, we get to lock up every now and then – until we start coaching together."
ASU limped to the finish line in 2015, losing three of its last five games including a 43-42 heartbreaker to West Virginia in the Cactus Bowl, while NAU won four straight to close out its schedule before Southern Utah edged the Lumberjacks 49-42 in the Big Sky championship game.
After enduring slugfests with Cal Poly and New Mexico last season, it will be critical for redshirt sophomore Manny Wilkins to get the offense rolling within the friendly confines of Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils began preparing pregame drills and walkthroughs last Saturday, and Wilkins led the first team offense.
Graham announced on Arizona Sports 98.7 Friday morning that Wilkins will be the starter against NAU.
Manny Wilkins has been announced the starting quarterback for the season opener. #BeatNAU pic.twitter.com/TrmsL4kdkl
— Sun Devil Athletics (@TheSunDevils) September 2, 2016
Redshirt senior center Stephon McCray, despite having just one career start under his belt, is among the most experienced of the bunch on this season's offensive line.
No one has a more intimate on-field relationship with the quarterback than the man who hands him the ball 85 times per game. ASU ran the second-most plays per game in the FBS last season, and only Tulsa had a quicker pace.
"Manny is a very dynamic dude," McCray said. "We're going to put up a lot of points."
McCray's assessment of Wilkins and redshirt freshman Brady White was that there hasn't been a difference in the chemistry between the two — a good sign if the Sun Devils do intend to roll with both quarterbacks throughout the season.
"They both work extremely hard," McCray said. "They know what's expected and they both communicate very well. I like them both."
Redshirt junior wide receiver Ellis Jefferson, who also only has started a single game, sees the 2016 season as an opportunity for a breakout year for him and for fellow Texas native, redshirt junior wideout Cameron Smith.
Jefferson appreciates the hard work put in by this year's class of rookies, including freshman receivers Kyle Williams and N'Keal Harry.
"It's amazing to me that the generations are getting older," Jefferson said. "The kids are getting to know things really fast. N'Keal came in and already knew the offense."
Jefferson is one of few skill position players who worked with Pflugrad before he left for NAU, and he beamed a radiant smile when discussing their relationship.
"Pflu was a big influence on me," Jefferson said. "He's taught me a lot, and I'm excited to see him and see what his receiving corps does."
Local flavor
Fans of Arizona high school football prospects will have quite a showcase this weekend, with all three Division I schools in the state playing within 25 miles of each other. Arizona faces BYU at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale Saturday.
The Lumberjack roster includes 50 Arizona natives, almost of all of them from the Valley. The Sun Devils have 30 in-state players on their 2016 roster, while the Wildcats have 35.
Unlike ASU, NAU’s quarterback situation has been far more cut and dry, as sophomore Case Cookus has his eyes on a conference title bid and an FCS playoff berth after setting the FCS record for touchdown passes by a freshman and throwing for 3,117 yards last season.
To counter NAU's pass-heavy attack, sophomore cornerback Kareem Orr said that redshirt senior Laiu Moeakiola transitioning to safety and redshirt sophomore Armand Perry returning from injury will provide depth and stability on the back end.
"I feel like we're going to be very good with those two back there," Orr said. "It gives us depth, and those are two players I like to play with."
Orr compared Cookus to Washington State junior quarterback Luke Falk, saying the two have similar arm strength and playmaking ability.
Cookus's most dangerous target will be Emmanuel Butler, a 6-foot-4, 200 pound junior from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix. Butler should provide a challenge for ASU’s youthful secondary after racking up 1,208 receiving yards and numerous accolades in a breakout sophomore season.
"They pass a lot," Orr said. "Butler has strong hands, but I'm gonna do what I do against him."
Junior running back Corbin Jountti will attempt fill the void of last year’s leading Lumberjack rusher Casey Jahn, who recorded more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. Cookus has decent speed and is the second-leading rusher among NAU returners with 377 yards in 2015, which could keep ASU’s defensive front line on its toes.
NAU will have quite a few defensive holes to plug after losing five starters, but senior linebacker Jake Thomas (68 tackles, 4.5 sacks in 2015) will provide stability for a unit that allowed nearly 475 yards per game in total offense last season.
A win Saturday would mark ASU's 15th straight season opener victory at Sun Devil Stadium and tenth in a row versus NAU, a streak that dates back to 1947.
Reach the reporter at smodrich@asu.edu or follow @StefanJModrich on Twitter.
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