The Arizona State Sun Devils finished nonconference play with a thud, getting shut out by Fresno State 29-0 Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium. It marked the first time the Sun Devils had been shut out since losing to USC 50-0 in 1988.

The Sun Devils (1-2) trailed 16-0 at the half. The Sun Devils had eight turnovers in the game and were down to their No. 4 quarterback after Jaden Rashada could not make the start and both Trenton Bourquet and Drew Pyne were injured in the game.

“No one said it was going to be easy,” coach Kenny Dillingham said. “I didn’t sign up for easy. Kind of knew that when I got here. So there it is. I’ve never been part of a game like that. I literally can’t even explain how that’s even possible but we’re going to get it fixed. I’m going to get it fixed.”

Sacks: The defensive pass rush was one of the weak spots last season and ASU managed just 17 sacks in 12 games. They had six for a loss of 67 yards on Saturday with Ro Torrence and Prince Dorbah getting two each. That gives them a total of nine of the season and we’re just three games into the season.

Few penalties: The Sun Devils continued trending in the right direction here with only two for 30 yards, both of those coming in the second quarter. The last two years the Sun Devils were one of the most penalized teams in the country and after a first game that was reflective of the previous two years, in the last two games they have been called for only six for 60 yards.

Defense held its own: The defense was on the field for 83 plays with the Bulldogs finishing with a 15-minute advantage in time of possession. Dillingham was ecstatic that his team surrendered only 29 points given that his offense turned the ball over eight times. The majority of those turnovers also gave the visitors a short field so the score really could have been much…