Arizona State @ Texas-San Antonio preview

Arizona State takes its high-powered offense on the road for the first time this season Friday night when UTSA plays host to the Sun Devils at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Arizona State posted 112 points in two home victories to open the campaign after a 68-55 triumph against Texas Tech last week in which running back Kalen Ballage matched an FBS record with eight touchdowns.

“(Ballage) is a guy who is just now figuring out how powerful and explosive he can really be,” Sun Devils coach Todd Graham told reporters after the win. “I think tonight he began to scratch that surface really well.” This will be Arizona State’s last non-conference tune-up before starting Pac-12 play against California at home on Sept. 24 and Graham saw growth between weeks one and two. “We have to figure out ways to win and this team has the heart and character to make it happen,” Graham told reporters. “. … I love coaching them.” The Roadrunners won their opener before losing 23-14 at Colorado State last week and have accumulated 523 yards passing in two games.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Arizona State –18

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (2-0): The duo of Ballage and fellow junior Demario Richard have rushed for 380 yards to go along with nine scores in the first two games and sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins added another 144. Wilkins has completed 48-of-64 for 531 yards and a pair of scores while senior Tim White (15 catches, 135 yards) and freshman N’Keal Harry (10, 103) are his top targets. Most of the improvement must come on the defensive side of the ball, where the Sun Devils have yielded a Pac-12-most 518.5 yards per game.

ABOUT UTSA (1-1): The Roadrunners were held to minus-1 yard rushing and gave up 220 on the ground last week at Colorado State, but sophomore running back Jalen Rhodes has shown promise. Rhodes has 117 yards rushing and 54 receiving the first two contests to support junior quarterback Dalton Sturm, who has thrown for 450 yards and four scores. Ten players have accumulated at least 24 yards receiving for UTSA, but juniors Marquez McNair (six catches, 83 yards, one TD) and Kerry Thomas Jr. (seven, 82, two) are the top two threats.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Sun Devils have scored at least 50 points 15 times since Graham took over in 2012 after accomplishing the feat 10 times in the previous 10 years.

2. UTSA RB Jarveon Williams, who rushed for 1,042 yards last year and was a preseason Conference-USA pick, has been held to 39 in two games while battling ankle injury.

3. White, who was fourth in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships as a junior, boasts 72 receptions in 14 games at Arizona State.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 48, UTSA 14