When the 2015 college football season began, Arizona State was a fashionable pick to earn one of four bids to the College Football Playoff. Coach Todd Graham didn’t shy away from those projections, calling this the most talented team he has coached in Tempe. The schedule was daunting, but aspirations were high.
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Eight games into the season, those hopes are long gone. It has been hard as an Arizona State Football fan this season. The team is stacked with talent, yet is a mere .500 with a 2-3 PAC-12 record. The team is led by fifth-year senior quarterback, Mike Bercovici, but has struggled to close out games. They have looked good at times, but really bad at others. This season was once so promising, but now ASU is in a fight to even become bowl-eligible.
The biggest heartbreak in recent years was suffered this past Thursday night. ASU lost in triple overtime to the Oregon Ducks, 61-55, on a controversial game-winning catch by Bralon Addison. The Sun Devils had 742 total yards - one short of the school record - and scored touchdowns in the first two overtimes, yet still couldn't stop the Ducks when they needed to. The difference for ASU was the mistakes: numerous defensive breakdowns, three missed field goals, key penalties and Bercovici's two interceptions.
This game sums up the lackluster season for Arizona State. I hope the team wins two more games to become bowl eligible, but based off the rigor of their remaining PAC-12 schedule it may not happen. As long as we beat rival Arizona at home on November 21, the season will somewhat be salvaged from a pride perspective.
The bottom line is ASU Football and Todd Graham have a lot of work to do. Maybe they should switch things up at quarterback and give Manny Wilkins, Bryce Perkins, or Brady White a shot to prove themselves going into next season. Possibly a switch of offensive coordinator as Mike Norvell has been in the hot seat all season long.
Whatever the solution is, I hope ASU can get back to their winning ways. With so much success in the past few seasons it is hard to see a program drop off. At the end of the day, I will cheer on the Sun Devils until the day I die. I respect their fight, and I know the progress of this program will not be defined by a sub-par season.
