In its season opener, Arizona State football made history — just not with its performance on the field.

In the stands, a record-setting 14,280 students filed into the sun-baked bleachers of Mountain America Stadium’s “Inferno” student section to watch the Sun Devils beat Northern Arizona 38-19 Saturday night. The group contributed to a packed stadium, marking the first time since 1998 that ASU featured a sold-out crowd (56,759) in its season opener.

Typically, a Week 1 matchup against an FCS opponent accompanied by triple-digit temperatures doesn’t attract the masses.

Not this year.

On the heels of a Big 12 Championship run and College Football Playoff appearance, Arizona State aimed to take full advantage of the Valley’s budding interest in its football team. Led by athletic director

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