The Sun Devils' Big 12 schedule is tough enough, but they also have the toughest nonconference opponent of any of the Big 12 schools.
This season, ASU is going to face an SEC title contender in a venue that is one of the toughest in college football.
Texas A&M, coming off an 11-2 showing in 2025, is ranked No. 8 in both the AP preseason poll and the US LBM Football Coaches Poll.
The game comes in Week 2, when ASU will still be working in a whole lot of new starters. It won't necessarily be about a win or a loss, but how the Sun Devils compete in a hostile atmosphere. A win would be great, but if the Sun Devils were to play well and lose a reasonably close game, that would be a reason for some optimism moving forward.
If they lose in a lopsided fashion,
the naysayers will be out in full force.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Which game will be the measuring stick for ASU football in 2026?
