Arizona State football held on for a big win against Washington State to improve to 5-1 on the season. What’d we learn from the Sun Devils’ win?
Herm Edwards has to be a happy man. His Arizona State Sun Devils began the season unranked and overlooked in the Pac-12, but now they’re 5-1 after wins against Michigan State and Cal on the road and Saturday’s victory over a once-ranked Washington State team, 38-34.
It came down to a final drive by the Sun Devils where Jayden Daniels locked up the win with a 17-yard touchdown run. He came up clutch yet again and the Sun Devils continue to make noise in the Pac-12.
What’d we learn from the Sun Devils’ big win over Washington State?
3. Washington State made Arizona State defense look human
Through the first six weeks of the season, Arizona State’s defense looked like one of the most impressive in the Pac-12 and potentially one of the better units in college football. Against Washington State, though, that wasn’t the case.
Sure, Anthony Gordon passed the ball 64 times, but he had 466 yards and three touchdowns, completing 44 of those passes. Mike Leach let his quarterback sling it that much because, well, it was working.
The Sun Devils didn’t really have to worry about the run as the Cougars had just 10 rushes for 32 yards all afternoon, but they couldn’t slow down the Washington State passing attack.
For the first time this season, the Sun Devil offense looked pedestrian, at best.
This isn’t a reason for concern, though, as Washington State has this kind of effect on plenty of teams.