Previewing Arizona State (2-0) at Illinois (2-0)

Arizona State (2-0) at Illinois (2-0)

When: 6:07 p.m. at Memorial Stadium

TV: BTN

Radio: WIND 560-AM

Series: Arizona State leads 2-0.

Coaches: Dennis Erickson (26-24, 5th year at ASU; 174-89-1 overall); Ron Zook (30-45, seventh year at Illinois; 53-59 overall).

Players to watch: Six-foot-8 QB Brock Osweiler threw for 353 yards and 3 TDs last week against Missouri. He ranks 10th nationally in passer efficiency (188.21 rating). Senior WR Aaron Pflugrad leads a balanced corps with 11 catches for 230 yards and 4 scores. Vicious MLB Vontaze Burfict (4 sacks) gets all of the attention, but true sophomore DE Junior Onyeali owns 7 sacks in the last eight games.

Illinois sophomore QB Nathan Scheelhaase doesn't have Osweiler's pure numbers (22 of 31, 369 yards, 2 TDs), but he ranks eighth nationally in passer efficiency (192.25 rating). His running ability ought to put the Sun Devils in a bind. Freshman RBs Donovonn Young (13 carries, 104 yards, 2 TDs) and Josh Ferguson (14 carries, 52 yards) are gaining confidence and snaps as Jason Ford's backups. WR A.J. Jenkins (16 catches, 219 yards) leads the Big Ten in catches. Senior Trulon Henry is one of five players nationwide with 2 interceptions to go with 1 return for a TD.

The skinny: The Illini haven't appeared in the Associated Press Top 25 poll since losing at Penn State on Sept. 27, 2008, but they ought to return with a win over the Sun Devils. Illinois' defense ranks 13th nationally in points allowed (9.0 ppg) and yards allowed (223.0 ypg), but it benefited from some Arkansas State miscues that cost the visitors touchdowns. The Illini need to pump up the pass rush against the Sun Devils because the secondary features just one above-average cover guy (senior CB Tavon Wilson). Illinois' offense ought to be able to go score for score with ASU. The difference in this one should be something as trite as turnover margin.

Fast fact: When Arizona State beat Missouri 37-30 in overtime last week, it marked the Sun Devils' first win over a ranked team since Oct. 27, 2007. Now Illinois is trying to make No. 22 Arizona State its first ranked victim since Nov. 10, 2007.

— Lindsey Willhite