In what has become a weekly occurrence, there were crucial games throughout the land last week that had a huge impact on the Sun Devils, particularly in the Pac 12 and a run at the championship.

Notre Dame lost a close game to Florida State, which doesn’t help ASU. However, UCLA and Utah won conference games against North opponents which strengthens the status of the Pac 12 South. SC also improved their record with a victory over Colorado. 

As always, ASU’s number #1 strategy is to win out in the South. This weekend has many more big match-ups. Let’s have a look.

The Pac 12 Standings Entering Week 9

#6 Oregon @ California (Friday)

The Ducks have found their groove after a hiccup against Arizona and are looking to secure a spot in this year’s four-team playoff for the National Champion.

Cal can score, especially at home, but the Ducks can do it better. The Devils skip the Quack Attack this year. We want Oregon to win big and continue to advance in the polls.

#25 UCLA @ Colorado

Usually we want a ranked conference team to beat an unranked team and help advance the Pac 12 nationally, but that is not the case here. 

Yes, if UCLA stays relevant and wins, it makes ASU’s big loss to the powder-blue look just a little less “big.” However, the Bruins still hold a tiebreaker over the Devils, so we’re pulling for the Buffs to deliver UCLA another loss in the South.

As a side note, ASU pounded the Buffaloes in Boulder. If they were to beat the Bruins, in a round about way ASU would still look like a better team than UCLA at this juncture with the Devils’ loss to the Bruins looking like a Sun Devil fluke. Go Buffs!

Oregon State @ Stanford

This game doesn’t matter so much for ASU. Both of these teams are stuck on four wins, and it is unlikely that a victory would put either team back into the rankings.

We should pull for Stanford to get back on track which would bolster the Devils’ win over the Cardinal last week.

#15 Arizona @ Washington State

This game will be close. Washington State can score points as well as anyone behind their record setting quarterback, Conner Halliday.

This sold-out game is being played in Pullman with temperatures in the 40’s. We all gain satisfaction when the cats lose, and this game is no exception. Go Cougars!

#20 USC @ #19 Utah

This is by far the most complex match-up in the conference.

On one hand we want USC to win and climb in the rankings because we have already beaten them. On the other hand we want Utah to win and come into Tempe as potentially a top-15 team next week. 

With a close-fought battle right to the end it’s also possible, slightly possible, that the loser remains in the top-25 nationally. A physically and mentally taxing game could bode well for ASU as Utah comes to Tempe next week.

In years past, when the Utes have lost this type of game at home, they have tended to sputter down the stretch. We want Utah to be at their best moving forward, with ASU pulling out the win next Saturday.

ASU and Utah victories this weekend will set up a national showdown in Sun Devil Stadium next Saturday on Homecoming weekend.

#14 Arizona State @ Washington

The fact that the Devils dominated Stanford after losing nine defensive starters from last year further proves the legitimacy of Coach Graham’s program, but Saturday’s game in Seattle is positioned as a “let down” for ASU.

The Devils anticipate a ranked Utah team at home next week before hosting Notre Dame, arguably the most hyped game on their schedule. These Huskies at home are not to be overlooked.

This is a “purple-out” game for Washington who can be dangerous in spurts. Regardless of the split time between QB’s Taylor Kelly and Mike Bercovici, should the defense plays like it has the past six quarters this could be win #6 for Arizona State.

I am so excited to watch how things unfold the next few weeks as the stakes get higher. Don’t forget, we are still pulling for Notre Dame until they come to Tempe. ND blew their chance to enter Sun Devil Stadium as the #1 team, but if both the Devils and the Irish win their next two contests we could be preparing for a clash of two top-10 teams in the House of Heat on November 8. 

Man, I love college football!