UCLA, Arizona State Set for Another Unpredictable 'Game of the Year'

College football coaches like to treat every game with the same importance, at least as far as the media is concerned. So last week when No. 15 Arizona State head coach Todd Graham called Thursday's Pac-12 South matchup with No. 11 UCLA "the biggest game of the year," it resonates. 

Typical build-up for any opponent is more akin to UCLA head coach Jim Mora's observation on Tuesday's Pac-12 coaches conference call. 

"We try to treat them all the same. The way you develop consistency in your program is to treat every game the same," he said. 

Nevertheless, last week when I mentioned to Mora the intensity of the previous two meetings with Arizona State, he laughed and agreed. 

There's no denying that since Mora and Graham arrived on the Pac-12 scene in 2012, the Bruins and Sun Devils have combined to produce fireworks. The winner of this game claimed the divisional title each season, and both games were not decided until the final possession. 

The two could have a third such finish with similar implications in store this time around. The atmosphere coming in is certainly conducive to a wild game. 

First and foremost, both offenses could have reserves captaining them. Arizona State definitely will, as Graham announced that Mike Bercovici would start in place of team captain Taylor Kelly at quarterback. Kelly injured his foot in the Sun Devils' Week 3 win at Colorado. 

Bercovici is a redshirt junior in his fourth year in the program. Though his playing time has been limited—he's attempted just 30 career passes—he has the confidence of his teammates. 

Certainly the magnitude of facing UCLA is emphasized to Bercovici. Graham's assessment that Thursday was "the biggest game of the year" was in direct reference to the new starter's preparation during Arizona State's bye week. 

Meanwhile, around the same time Arizona State lost Kelly, UCLA saw quarterback Brett Hundley come out with an elbow injury against Texas.

The Bruins' own fourth-year junior back-up, Jerry Neuheisel, led them to a 20-17 win. 

Mora has been noncommittal about his quarterback situation. However, Graham said the Sun Devils are preparing for Hundley. 

"There's no doubt in mind he's going to play," Graham said of Hundley.  

Still, these two offenses that have been among the conference's most explosive in recent years could have a feeling-out period Thursday. That could benefit UCLA, which fell behind by at least two touchdowns in each of the previous affairs with Arizona State. 

The Sun Devils' 35-13 first-half lead in 2013 gave them enough cushion to endure a second-half offensive drought.  

"Last year they kinda ran us out of the stadium early," Mora said.

This year, the Bruins defense must be prepared for an initial barrage from running back D.J. Foster. 

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Arizona State's versatile junior scored a touchdown in both the 2012 and 2013 meetings with UCLA—one rushing and one receiving. That two-way production is a microcosm of Foster's skill set, as Sun Devils offensive coordinator Mike Norvell lines up the multi-talented Foster both in the backfield and at wide receiver. 

"He’s the best football player I’ve ever coached…and that’s saying something," Graham said. "I’ve never coached a guy who can be explosive...[playing] wide receiver and equally explosive at running back."

UCLA's own multi-purpose standout, sophomore linebacker Myles Jack, will play a key role in the Bruins' efforts to slow the Sun Devils offense. That's an important deviation from a year ago. 

In last November's matchup, the two-way star Jack was used exclusively at running back. It's a decision Mora said in the offseason he regretted, and the head coach didn't back away from that opinion when talking to Everett Cook of the Los Angeles Times this week. 

"Looking back on it, I think it was a huge mistake on my part," Mora said.

The back-and-forth nature of these recent UCLA-Arizona State games magnifies any such miscues. Thursday's encounter should be no different.

The stakes have indeed proven to be higher when these teams face off, but there is one crucial facet in which this game will be just like any other week, as Mora explained. 

"Whatever team plays better and executes better and makes less mistakes and capitalizes on their opportunities, that’ll be the team that wins," he said. 

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics compiled via CFBstats.com.