With UCLA facing Arizona State Thursday, here is the scouting report on Arizona State’s top offense and defense players: OFFENSE: RB D.J. Foster (No. 8, Jr.) It’s as simple as this: If ASU is to beat UCLA without redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly, it will be on the legs of D.J. Read more...

Conference championship races aren’t normally settled until November, when the leaves are dead, the air is cold and the football decidedly more tense. But, if history holds true, the Pac-12 South division may be decided by Thursday night. Read more...

Photo: Arizona State redshirt junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong leads the Sun Devils with 19 catches and 266 receiving yards this season. Last year, he amassed over 1,100 receiving yards, and had six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown against UCLA. (Courtesy of Sean Logan/The State Press)

Myles Jack could only stand on the sidelines and watch. In front of him, as UCLA played Arizona State with the 2013 Pac-12 South division title at stake, the then-freshman linebacker’s fellow defensive teammates were getting carved apart on the field, play after play, by the Sun Devils’ offense. Read more...

Photo: In last year’s 38-33 loss to Arizona State, then-freshman linebacker Myles Jack (left) was solely on the receiving end of hard tackles such as this one, as he played running back for the entire game and didn’t take a snap on defense. When the teams face off again on Thursday, Jack will finally be able to showcase his tackling ability against the Sun Devils, as he will be playing outside linebacker. (Daily Bruin file photo)

The Bruins have been itching for this week for months. That much was evident from listening to them speak after Sunday’s practice. Pac-12 conference play is back for the Bruins, and there’s no easing into it. Read more...

Photo: Last November, then-redshirt freshman running back Paul Perkins and the Bruins lost on their home field to the Arizona State Sun Devils, who went on to win the Pac-12 South. On Thursday, a reprise of the ASU-UCLA game will take place in Tempe, Ariz. (Daily Bruin file photo)

Unlike most shows, “The Drive” is unique to review in that the viewer knows pretty much what to expect. Besides the first episode, which focused solely on the team’s fall camp in San Bernardino, all episodes are centered around the previous week’s game, with an accompanying feature piece. Read more...

Photo: Episode 4 of “The Drive” documents UCLA football’s trip to Arlington, Texas last weekend, when the Bruins faced the Texas Longhorns. In addition to covering the Texas game, the episode also includes a feature piece on one of UCLA’s resident Texan players – redshirt junior center Jake Brendel. (Brandon Choe/Daily Bruin senior staff)

Following an edge-of-your-seat first three weeks to the football season, the Bruins at long last have a chance to catch their breath. No. 12 UCLA is on the first of its two bye weeks this season, with its next game coming Sept. Read more...

Photo: After three closely-contested contests in as many weeks, No. 12 UCLA has a bye this week, allowing for much-needed rest and recuperation. (Katie Meyers/Daily Bruin senior staff)