ASU Football: Defining success for the Sun Devils

Sitting at 3-4, ASU football has some work to do if the Sun Devils hope to make a bowl game. With five games to play, what defines success for this team?

If it were up to Ray Anderson, there would be no debate.

Arizona State’s Vice President for University Athletics and Athletics Director summarized the state of the Sun Devils football program last November in just three words.

“We deserve more.”

It was the desire for more that prompted Anderson to fire Todd Graham after six seasons, replacing him with Herm Edwards — a first time college football coach who Anderson formerly represented at the professional level.

Goals of nine-win seasons and top-15 rankings were established, instilling hope into the fanbase and a sense of urgency around the program.

But in the 11 months since Edwards was hired, the narrative remains all too similar.

ASU is in last place of the Pac-12 South division through seven games, suffering each of its four losses by seven points. With bowl eligibility in question, playing in a postseason game should be Edwards’ primary focus heading into the final stretch of the season.

To a degree, ASU has exceeded expectation under Edwards in Year 1. The Sun Devils knocked off then-No. 15 Michigan State and were ranked as high as No. 23 in the AP poll.

However, an inability to win on the road is evident. Despite resiliency shown by an inexperienced group, there is a lack of results and the road schedule does not get any easier.

Trips to USC and Oregon are on the horizon and ASU concludes the season in Tucson with the Territorial Cup. To make a bowl game, the Sun Devils will likely have to win on the road, defying history in the process.

ASU hasn’t won in Eugene since 2004 and the Territorial Cup has been won by the home team in each of the past five seasons.

With several difficult opponents remaining, the final stretch of 2018 will be Edwards’ first true test in an effort to prove himself as a college football coach.