Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Sun Devils have flown under-the-radar this season, picking off one ranked opponent after another in the new look Big 12.
Led by second year head coach Kenny Dillingham and two transfers, running back Cam Skattebo and quarterback Sam Leavitt, the Sun Devils grabbed attention by upsetting Utah in October. ASU won its final six games of the season, taking down Oklahoma State, UCF, Kansas State, BYU, Arizona and Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game.
As one of the four highest ranked conference champions (beating out ACC champ Clemson), the Sun Devils got a bye in the first round of the college football playoffs and a berth into the quarterfinal game in the Peach Bowl.
While the Longhorns are a heavy 12.5 point favorite, Arizona State shouldn’t be overlooked by Texas. ASU’s dynamic offense has been tough for defenses to handle all season and the defense has been stout during the crucial part of the season.
ASU History
Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jake Plummer (16) in action during the 1993 season.
While no one would consider the Arizona State Sun Devils a “Blue Blood,” the program has had some success in the past. ASU is one of the largest universities in the nation and one of the schools that abandoned the Pac-12 for the Big 12.
ASU joined the Pac-10 in 1978 and won two conference titles in 1986 and 1996. John Cooper was there in the 80s, leading ASU to the Pac-10 title and the Rose Bowl, where they lost to Michigan. Cooper left after that season for Ohio State. In the 90s, Bruce Snyder guided the Sun Devils, leading the program to its second conference title in ’96 and the Rose Bowl. ASU lost to Ohio State (and John Cooper) in the final seconds of the game. Led by Jake Plummer, if that ASU team had held on in Pasadena, they would have likely been crowned national champion.
In the 2000s, ASU was helmed by Dennis Erickson and later Todd Graham. Both had moderate success. Herm Edwards took over the Sun Devils. Edwards tenure was a borderline disaster which ended in his firing
and probation.
