Arizona State Sun Devils Football: Once Again, ASU Fails to Win the Big Game

Arizona State’s 20-19 loss to Wisconsin may have been heartbreaking to Sun Devil fans, but it certainly wasn’t surprising. Since Dennis Erickson took over as head coach in 2007, the Sun Devils have competed well, but have been unable to win major non-conference games. 

While most people want to look at the blocked extra point as the reason ASU lost the game on Saturday, the Sun Devils had plenty of other opportunities to win. The Sun Devils played well enough to earn the upset victory, but ended up beating themselves.

The Sun Devils had eight penalties for 61 yards, a dropped pass in the end zone, a missed field goal, and a punt return called back due to a block in the back.

As heartbreaking as this loss may have been, it is just the latest in the long line of “moral victories” for the Sun Devils. 

In addition to this week’s loss at Wisconsin, the Erickson led Sun Devils also lost 20-17 in devastating fashion last year at Georgia and 27-10 at home vs. Georgia in 2008.

If Erickson and the Sun Devils want to become contenders in either the nation or the Pac-10, they need to win when the lights are the brightest.

The wins against Portland State and Northern Arizona are good for building stats and confidence, but they do not help the team in the polls.

At the end of the year, Sun Devil fans will not remember the non-conference wins over FCS opponents, but instead they will remember the game in which ASU had the No. 11 team in the country on the ropes, a game in which ASU blew numerous opportunities to upset a Big Ten team on the road.

Arizona State showed it has the ability to play with the top teams in the country, but this weekend, as in the past three years, the Sun Devils also showed they still lack the focus and execution to come away with wins when it matters most.

The Sun Devils will have an opportunity to record a huge win this weekend when they host the No. 5 Oregon Ducks to open Pac-10 play.