This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The reality of playing football in the Pac-12 South is somebody has to finish fifth every year. One program or another that views itself as a perennial bowl team and division title contender is doomed to the lower tier, just above Colorado, because of the level of competition.
Arizona State falls into that forecast in 2016 — amid suggestions that this could be the year when Colorado rises from last place, after finishing sixth in the South each of the past five seasons.
With a first-time starting quarterback, a mostly new offensive line and a revamped secondary, the Sun Devils have much to prove this season. ASU coach Todd Graham mostly writes off last year's 6-7 record to five close losses — although he exaggerated during the Pac-12 Media Days when he said, "We had five games that we were winning with four minutes left in the game."
Three, actually. Late in the season, the Sun Devils lost 61-55 to Oregon in triple overtime, 48-46 to California and 43-42 to West Virginia in the Cactus Bowl after holding leads deep into the fourth quarter. Washington State and Utah overtook ASU early in the fourth period.
In any case, Graham is not altering his goals. Just prior to the media event, ASU athletic director Ray Anderson suggested that Graham not talk so much about winning a national championship. But in Hollywood, Graham said, "Why would you have any other goal?"
He continued, "Obviously, we learned some lessons last year. The good news is we had put ourselves in position of having high expectations because we'd had back-to-back 10-win seasons, and we lost a lot of close games is the reality of it, and we've got to win those close football games."
ASU will try to do so with sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins, who has won the job in preseason practice, according to The Arizona Republic. The offense will be built around running back Demario Richard, who rushed for 1,104 yards last season while missing the loss to Utah with an injury.
Graham will employ his usual, aggressive defensive scheme that was exposed at times last year. The Sun Devils led the Pac-12 with 46 sacks, but they finished last in pass defense, allowing 337.5 yards.
Twitter: @tribkurt —
Arizona State
Coach • Todd Graham (fifth season, 34-19)
2015 record • 6-7 (4-5 Pac-12)
2016 media poll • Fifth in South
Schedule
Sept. 3 • Northern Arizona
Sept. 10 • Texas Tech
Sept. 16 • at Texas-San Antonio
Sept. 24 • California
Oct. 1 • at USC
Oct. 8 • UCLA
Oct. 15 • at Colorado
Oct. 22 • Washington State
Oct. 29 • at Oregon
Nov. 10 • Utah
Nov. 19 • at Washington
Nov. 25 • at Arizona