ASU Football: The road to Santa Clara starts on Senior Day

A week after a statement win over Utah, ASU football returns to Sun Devil Stadium for the final time in 2018 with a chance to take down UCLA.

It has been nearly four seasons since Arizona State was in a situation similar to present day.

Fresh off of a dominant 55-31 win over then-No. 10 Notre Dame, ASU went into Corvallis ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff poll, controlling its own fate in the Pac-12, against a 4-5 Oregon State team. The Sun Devils fell to OSU 35-27, eventually losing the division to Arizona.

Fast forward to 2018 and ASU once again has a chance to run the table and represent the South division in Santa Clara at the Pac-12 Championship game. After handling then-No. 15 Utah by 18 points, the scenario is all too familiar with UCLA coming to town on Senior Day.

At 2-7, the Bruins have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball during coach Chip Kelly‘s first season in Westwood. Tied with Colorado at the bottom of the division standings, UCLA possesses a bottom-10 offense paired with a scoring defense that ranks No. 100 out of 130 FBS teams.

But Kelly’s team could possibly be overlooked given ASU’s remaining schedule, a two-game road trip at Oregon and Arizona to close the season.

To avoid an upset that would reshuffle the division’s landscape once again, ASU will need to remain balanced offensively.  Against Utah, coach Herm Edwards skillfully executed a gameplan that saw sophomore Eno Benjamin receive 27 carries, finishing with 175 yards and two touchdowns.

However, quarterback Manny Wilkins attempted 24 passes (completing 19) while coordinator Rob Likens’ unit was far less predictable than in recent weeks.

Wilkins adjusted well to Utah’s previously successful blitzing schemes and showed good recognizance, beating the Utes across the middle of the field by taking advantage of cornerbacks who played deep routes overly aggressive.

Defensively, the Sun Devils must continue to get stops on third down. What started as an inexperienced core adapting to the 3-3-5 appears to have rounded into form. Against USC and Utah, ASU has allowed conversions on just seven of the past 23 third downs.

Facing a true freshman quarterback in Dorian Thompson-Robinson, coordinator Danny Gonzales will likely apply more pressure than usual. A dual threat, his ability to run is something to be monitored but facing Utes’ quarterback Tyler Huntley a week ago gave the defense several chances to prepare for mobile signal-caller.

Kickoff between ASU and UCLA will be at noon from Sun Devil Stadium and the game can be seen on Pac-12 Network.