ASU Football: Ranking the Sun Devils’ remaining opponents

Six games into the season, ASU football is 3-3 overall and with six games left on the schedule, its bowl chances are on the line.

If nothing else, the first six games of Herm Edwards’ tenure at Arizona State have been an adventure.

The Sun Devils are 3-3 this year, which is a bit disappointing for Edwards’ squad, considering it was once 2-0 and ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll. Since ASU’s marquee win over Michigan State, the Sun Devils have dropped games to San Diego State, Washington and Colorado.

To hit the six wins needed for bowl eligibility, ASU will need to win three of its next six Pac-12 games, which will not be easy.

Here are the rankings of the Sun Devils’ remaining opponents:

6. UCLA

After a dreadful 0-5 start to the season, UCLA has seemingly turned a corner.

In Week 6, UCLA nearly upset a top 10 team in Washington, and a week later, the Bruins won their first game of the season in a 37-7 win over Cal.

The Bruins have played well on both sides of the ball since the Washington game, especially in the running game. Running back Joshua Kelley has ran for more than 120 yards in each of his last three games.

ASU hosts UCLA for senior night, and it certainly won’t be a gimme for the Sun Devils. Against strong rushing attacks, the Sun Devils have struggled this year, allowing huge games on the ground to San Diego State, Oregon State and Colorado.

5. Arizona

The first year of Kevin Sumlin‘s career at Arizona hasn’t gone exactly as planned.

Despite being picked to finish third in the Pac-12 South in the preseason poll, the Wildcats have struggled on both sides of the ball this year. Most recently, the Wildcats were crushed by Utah on the road, recording just 11 yards of offense in the first quarter of the 42-10 loss.

Much of the disappointing season can be attributed to a lingering ankle injury to quarterback Khalil Tate. Because of this, he missed significant playing time against Utah, and when he has played this year, he hasn’t been the same dual threat he was a year ago.

All things considered, if Tate is healthy in November, the Territorial Cup could be close. Anything goes in that game — especially in Tucson.

4. Stanford

Once considered a top 10 team, Stanford has fallen far.

The Cardinal dropped their last two games after starting the 2018 season 4-0, and neither of the losses were pretty. With the losing streak and an injured Bryce Love, the Cardinal’s bye week couldn’t have come at a better time.

In spite of its recent struggles, Stanford is still one of the Pac-12’s strongest teams. Wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside has established himself as one of the league’s best targets, catching 30 passes for 541 yards, which is third in the Pac-12.

Before heading to Tempe next week, Stanford will need to find its defensive identity and ease Love back into the offense.

3. Utah

When Utah fell to Washington State, the Utes dropped to 2-2 on the year, and some questioned the team’s legitimacy. Since then, Utah has won two in a row against Stanford and Arizona.

Because the Pac-12 South has been less than stellar this year, the Utes still have an off chance to win the division.

When Utah faces Arizona State, it will be a battle of one of the conference’s best backs and the conference’s best run defense. Allowing 75 rushing yards per game, Utah’s run defense has been outstanding this year, but it will be interesting to see if it can stop sophomore sensation Eno Benjamin.

2. USC

Despite a rocky start to the season, USC finds itself back in front of the Pac-12 South.

The Trojans took down the Pac-12’s last undefeated in Colorado, improving them to 3-1 in conference play.

JT Daniels has steadily improved as the season has progressed and is starting to show comfortability in the pocket.

At the end of October, Arizona State heads to the Coliseum to take on USC. If the Sun Devils don’t fix their offensive woes by then, it could get ugly.

1. Oregon

Fresh off a win over Washington, Oregon now sits in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12 North.

In Mario Cristobal’s first season at the helm, he has seen great production on both sides of the ball, and junior quarterback Justin Herbert has been one of the Pac-12’s most explosive players. If it weren’t for its late-game collapse against Stanford, Oregon would likely be ranked in the top five with a chance at the College Football Playoff.

ASU faces the tall task of playing in Eugene next month.

Not only is Oregon a more talented team, but the weather will be cold. Really cold.