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Pac-12 Football: 12 best non-conference games of 2016

By Gabe Encinas

November 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Joe Schmidt (38) during the second half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Joe Schmidt (38) during the second half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) carries the ball against the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

First to 60 points wins this game. These are two explosive offenses that usually see defense as an afterthought.

Arizona State has grown through more than a handful of coaching changes, losing guys to Memphis and Mike Norvell, off-the-field scandals and coaches leaving for bigger programs, moving up in the chain. This is a rematch of the 2013 Holiday Bowl in which Texas Tech blew the Devils out of the water. That’ll be some motivation for the older guys and this will be another great Pac-12 vs Big 12 matchup.

A quarterback battle will determine how well the Sun Devils offense operates, but they’ll have a handful of running backs to carry the workload. Arizona State will have the advantage playing at home, especially if it’s a day game being played in the 110-degree weather.

Next: Notre Dame at USC

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