ASU Football: Looking back at the last four bowl games
By Trevor Booth
With ASU football set to make their seventh bowl appearance in eight seasons, let’s take at how they fared in recent postseason history.
The Sun Devils are going bowling.
Following a 7-5 regular season, Arizona State will get a crack at the postseason for the first time in the Herm Edwards era. While the destination is unknown, research from our Carson Field shows national outlets projecting ASU to land in the Vegas Bowl, Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas) or the Redbox Bowl (Santa Clara, California).
Wherever the Sun Devils end up, it’s unclear whether receiver N’Keal Harry will play. The junior announced on Monday that he’ll be entering his name in the 2019 NFL Draft. If he elects to skip the bowl game, he’ll finish his career in maroon and gold ranked third in receiving yards (2,889) and receptions (213).
The bowl will also be the final game for the team’s seniors, including captains Manny Wilkins, Demonte King and Renell Wren. Wilkins, who is fifth in passing yards in school history, has an opportunity to move up to third with 333 yards in the bowl game.
While this will be Edwards’ first bowl game, there are expectations to meet. The Sun Devils lost three of their last four postseason games under coach Todd Graham, positioning Edwards with the opportunity to change the program.
After defeating USC, UCLA and Arizona in the same season, ASU has another chance to stand out in recruiting with a postseason victory and an eight-win season.
Ahead of the game being announced, let’s take a look at how the last four bowl games fared for ASU, starting with 2013’s Holiday Bowl.