The Red Raiders are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12. Arizona State comes in at 3-2 and 1-1. Players say they did not spend the offseason circling the rematch.
Defensive lineman AJ Holmes Jr. Admits the mood changes in game week. "Now that it's Arizona State week, we're definitely getting amped up, like we got to go get us a win because they beat us last year," he said. Did he think about the game during the offseason? "No sir."
Tight end Terrance Carter Jr. Has the most personal history with this one. He suffered a left ankle injury in the second quarter last year before he recorded a reception. "I always want to be on the field," Carter said, adding that he plans to put a lot into this game. Still, he says the main thing is "going 1-0."
Safety Brenden Jordan, who had six tackles in last year's game, sounded the same note. "We don't really look at it like that," he said. "It's just the next game that's up."
For fans, the message from the locker room is simple. A ranked, unbeaten team sees an ordinary conference opponent, not a grudge match.
Call it whatever you want, but Carter wants all four quarters this time.