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Arizona State Football: 3 takeaways from disappointing loss at UCLA

By Connor Muldowney

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown during the first half of a game against the UCLA Bruins on October 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown during the first half of a game against the UCLA Bruins on October 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Elisha Guidry #20 of the UCLA Bruins tackles Eno Benjamin #3 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of a game on October 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Elisha Guidry #20 of the UCLA Bruins tackles Eno Benjamin #3 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of a game on October 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

1. Arizona State is still a year away

Heading into last season, everyone expected Herm Edwards to struggle because he had never led a college program before. He exceeded expectations and led the Sun Devils to a bowl game.

This season, the expectations were for about 6-7 wins because of huge losses at quarterback and receiver, but Arizona State began the season 5-2 and were ranked as high as No. 15 a couple of weeks ago. This team has already exceeded expectations, so to think that a Pac-12 South title was on the horizon would have been jumping the gun a little too much.

Sure, the Sun Devils were right in the thick of a division title race a couple of weeks ago and now they’re two games behind, but they are still about a year away from truly contending.

If you’re an Arizona State fan, you can’t hang your head after this one. Sure, it’s a disappointing loss, but those growing pains are going to happen with young teams.

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Edwards has this program trending in the right direction and if the Sun Devils can finish the season 8-4 or 9-3 with a ninth or 10th win in a bowl, they’re going to be a clear AP Top 25 team next season and a South favorite.

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