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ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) looks for a receiver during a game against Wyoming at Mountain America Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024, in Tempe. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nArizona State and Mississippi State are both coming off impressive season-opening home victories and productive performances by their starting quarterbacks.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Sun Devils and Bulldogs will meet for the first time on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, a Michigan State transfer, completed 14 of 22 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 48-7 rout of Wyoming.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Mississippi State’s Blake Shapen, who transferred from Baylor, passed for 247 yards while completing 15 of 20 pass attempts with three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 56-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Leavitt, a redshirt freshman, did not throw deep often against Wyoming in his first collegiate start. He averaged 11.7 yards per completion.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Sun Devils ran the ball 49 times compared to Leavitt’s 22 attempts.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham told reporters Monday that he is not “playing scared” with Leavitt despite the limited number of passes, including very few of long distance.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n “On the second possession, we chucked it deep and he threw a great ball, so we’re not playing scared with him,” Dillingham said. “Moral of the story, we’re going to be aggressive with him.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Leavitt (47 yards on eight carries) was part of a balanced rushing attack that included Cam Skattebo’s 49 yards on 11 rushes and DeCarlos Brooks’ 47 yards on six carries.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The performance of Shapen, a senior, against Eastern Kentucky helped Jeff Lebby to win his first game as a head coach after he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UCF (2019), Ole Miss (2020-21) and Oklahoma (2022-23).<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I’m just thankful for this opportunity at a new place at Mississippi State, and I know a lot of other guys feel that way,” said Shapen, who threw for more than 5,500 yards in three seasons at Baylor.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Mississippi State’s defense had four takeaways against Eastern Kentucky, including a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown by Elijah Cannon.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Arizona State’s defense returned an interception and a fumble recovery for touchdowns against the Cowboys.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “What I see is a group from Arizona State that played with a ton of confidence, a ton of energy,” Lebby said. “There was great excitement inside their stadium, and we’ve got a great challenge on our hands.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n –Field Level Media<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n