NCAA Football
ASU Football Season Review: Success For The Herm Edwards Project?
This football season, has been a season of high ups and low downs. The season started within a routing of a down UTSA team, with a final score of 49-7. The game set up a matchup of a dominant Michigan State team lead by Brian Lewerke and a ambition for a Big Ten Championship and more.
However, that would all end on the foot of Brandon Ruiz, who kicked a game winning kick to give ASU a 16-13 victory in a statement win for Herm Edwards, and his football program. The team rose to number 23 in the AP poll, and looked to be a surprise team in the PAC 12.
All of that happened before they would lose a close game to a San Diego State team that had gave the Sun Devils fits for a year. This loss also sent them into a losing stretch where they would go 1-4, and losing all 4 games by 7 points. By picking up their only win against a lowley Oregon State squad. They would bounce back though. By winning the next three games against USC, Utah, and UCLA, and that would set up with a chance to win a chaotic Pac 12 south division.
However, that chance would be lost when they lost to Oregon on a successful two point conversion called out of bounds by the incompetent PAC 12 refs, and they were playing with nothing but pride on the line after that. They won a come from behind a game against that team down south (Arizona) after overcoming a 19 point deficit. They finished up their season last weekend with a loss to a quality Fresno State team in Vegas.
What next season holds?
This team is in a interesting position going into next year. The defense will see imporvment as 6 freshman started this season for Arizona State. However they lose Manny Wilkins Jr., N’Keal Harry, and more. Finding a replacement for just those two will be difficult. Nevermind, the rest of the amazing senior clas, but it also seems that coach Edwards is doing his work winning the hearts of recruits with his charisma. As Arizona State recived commitments from three top 20 Quarterbacks, and while there is no heir apparent to Harry. Players like Brandon Aiyuk have the potential to step up and fill his hole, but only time will tell if thats the case.
Looking ahead at the Schedule.
ASU has a interesting schedule. They do avoind Washington and Stanford in the conference schedule, but they have to travel to East Lansing to face Michigan State. Overall, it seems that this will certianly be no cake walk. ASU has the potential with good coaching and preperation to win 9-10 games next year, and to win the PAC-12 South and more.
Picture Credit: Arianna Grainey via Flickr
