Devils in Detail
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ASU Football: Who’s the toughest opponents on the schedule?

By Sam Ficarro

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils leaps past Adarius Pickett #6, Jamel Cook #21 and Kenny Young #42 of the UCLA Bruins for a touchdown during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils leaps past Adarius Pickett #6, Jamel Cook #21 and Kenny Young #42 of the UCLA Bruins for a touchdown during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs in for a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal runs in for a touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

3. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford, winners of the Pac-12 North last season, received surprising news that Bryce Love opted to return to school for his senior year.

Love would have been at worst a day two pick at the NFL Draft, but with the depth of the running back class, he opted to return to Palo Alto with a chance to repeat as Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Winner of numerous awards, Love rushed for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns last season including a 307-yard, three-touchdown performance against Arizona State in a 34-24 win for the Cardinal.

Arizona State didn’t play poorly against Stanford last year; it was just a one-man wrecking crew in Love. Wilkins struggled throwing 181 yards and two interceptions (it was his first turnovers of the season).

The running game had success rushing for 214 yards but their inability to get chunk plays through the passing game limited their offensive capability.

Stanford will be battling with Washington for the North division title as the Cardinal return a good majority of their main contributors.

The Cardinal had a merry-go-round at quarterback with K.J. Costello playing in 11 games last season throwing 1,573 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions.

With Ryan Burns and Keller Chryst both graduated, it will be Costello’s job next season barring injury.

On defense, Stanford lost their two best players in defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and Justin Reid, but David Shaw always has a strong defense and it shouldn’t be any different this season.

Stanford will travel to Tempe for a Thursday night matchup on Oct. 18 as both teams will have a bye week leading up to the game. Arizona State will hope to defeat Stanford for the first time in four years (last win came on Oct. 18, 2014).

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