👋 GOOD MORNING — Happy Friday! Just one question remains: ARE. YOU. READY. FOR. SOME. FOOTBALL?!

The Sun Devils and Wildcats both kick off their seasons tomorrow, and there are incredible non-conference games taking place, as well. Tomorrow at 9 a.m. No. 1 Texas visits No. 3 Ohio State — does it get any better than that in Week 1? That’s the only matchup between two ranked teams, but what a way to start a season.

You know the drill — if you need a joke to get you through to the weekend, here you go: What did the football player say to the flight attendant? Put me in coach!

No Daily on Monday because of Labor Day, so we’ll be back on Tuesday. On to the show!

— Patrick Brown, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

Welcome back, college football.

The No. 11 Sun Devils and Wildcats open their respective seasons tomorrow night after finishing last year on very different levels. Arizona State is coming off a Big 12 title and College Football Semifinal appearance, while Arizona looks to bounce back after a 4-8 2024 campaign.

None of that matters any longer, though. It all starts over.

So, what are the biggest storylines heading into Week 1? Here’s what to watch for from your favorite team tomorrow.

Northern Arizona (0-0) at No. 11 Arizona State (0-0)
Game info: 7 pm, ESPN+, ESPN 620 AM
bet365 odds: Sun Devils -28.5
Last Meeting: ASU 40, Northern Arizona 3 (Sept. 1, 2022)

If there’s one thing that’s incredibly difficult to establish in college football, it’s continued excellence. Can the Sun Devils keep up the momentum they built just one season ago? They’re certainly not going to catch anyone by surprise this year, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do just as much damage and find their way back to the college football playoff.

So what should you look out for against the Lumberjacks?

One of the best stories in all of college football last season was former Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo, who is now making his living on Sundays with the New York Giants. But, the show must go on, and Kyson Brown and Kanye Udoh appear ready to take the baton. Brown is familiar with the system, having been Skattebo’s backup last year, while Udoh is in his first year in the desert after transferring from Army.

Keep an eye on both tomorrow.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt is one of the best in all of college football, and he’ll be throwing to some of the most talented receivers and tight ends in the sport — at least according to the majority of preseason award watch lists. That’s really nice on paper, but nothing matters until you set foot on the field. You have to expect them to have a field day against Northern Arizona, though. Anything less may raise the blood pressure in Tempe just a tad.

The Sun Devils return almost their entire defense from a year ago — a defense that was third in the Big 12 by allowing only 22.6 points per game — so there shouldn’t be much of an adjustment period at all, even with a new coordinator. A dominating performance against overmatched NAU should get the season off on the right foot, even if they don’t cover the massive spread.

Hawai’i (1-0) at Arizona (0-0)
Game info: 7:30 pm, TNT/HBO Max, Listen online
bet365 odds: Wildcats -17.5
Last Meeting: Arizona 38, Hawai’i 45 (Aug. 24, 2019)

I’m honestly a bit surprised by this spread considering Hawai’i just topped Stanford 23-20 last week. The 1-0 Rainbow Warriors were led by quarterback Micah Alejado’s two touchdown passes, while kicker Kansei Matsuzawa made three field goals, including the game-winner as time expired. So what does Arizona need to learn about itself in its first game of the season?

The Wildcats are also dealing with the loss of one of their biggest stars, as wideout Tetairoa “T-Mac” McMillan is now playing for the NFL’s Panthers. Keep an eye out for who may step up as quarterback Noah Fifita will need to find his next go-to receiver in order for Arizona to bounce back from last year.

Arizona ranked 12th in the 16-team Big 12, allowing 31.8 points per game last season, and their 414 yards per game was also the fourth-worst. If the Wildcats are going to shake off the memory of an abysmal 2014 campaign, it’s going to come under new defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, who has implemented a much more aggressive scheme this season.

Can Arizona jump out to a lead? Hawai’i already has its first game under its belt, which can prove to be a huge advantage early in the season. The Wildcats need to avoid early mistakes and settle in with a new-look coaching staff in order to come out on top. A win is expected, but a loss would be borderline catastrophic.

My Take: Football is back! Enjoy the long weekend, friends!

Good Brew: The D-backs won their second straight by defeating Milwaukee 6-4, splitting the four-game set while improving to 66-69 overall. Arizona’s Wild Card chances remain slim (6.5 games back), but not impossible, and they kick off a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles tonight at 7:10 pm.

Sky’s the Limit: The Mercury won their third straight game with an 83-79 win over Chicago last night, led by Kahleah Copper’s 28 points. Alyssa Thomas chipped in 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists, as Phoenix continues to solidify its playoff position.

The Mercury are back in action on Saturday, hosting New York at 7 pm (NBA TV).

Get on the Train: Rising FC continues its home stand tomorrow night with a matchup against El Paso Locomotive FC, looking to continue their chase for a USL postseason spot. Phoenix is sixth in the USL Championship Western Conference table, and a win over third-place Locomotive FC would go a long way.

What fun was had last night!

Ready for a full weekend of college football!