Todd Graham Has Arizona State on the Verge of Elite Status Heading into 2015

They're almost there.

With Saturday's 36-31 win over the Duke Blue Devils in the Sun Bowl, the Arizona State Sun Devils are one step closer to being among the elite in college football.

And it's all thanks to Todd Graham.

Graham took over a program that went 6-7 in 2011, which included a five-game losing streak to end the season, and has turned it into one of the Pac-12's most dangerous teams.

With a 28-12 record, Graham now has the second-highest winning percentage (.700) in school history of any coach with at least three years at ASU. He trails only Dan Devine—Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger's senior-year head coach at Notre Dame—who won 27 games and lost just three in three seasons.

Expect the trend to keep heading upward.

Arizona State's 2015 recruiting class ranks 22nd in the nation, according to 247Sports. Its 2014 class ranked 23rd, while the 2013 class (Graham's first) was ranked just 39th.

Clearly, the respect for the Sun Devils program is on the rise, and the proof is in the pudding. Graham is pulling down bigger and better recruits who should keep Arizona State's success at a sustainable level.

On Saturday, the program's future was on full display as freshman running back Demario Richard accounted for all four touchdowns against Duke, rushing for two and catching two more.

The biggest question mark for Arizona State will be how it replaces senior gunslinger Taylor Kelly.

But the Sun Devils already found that answer earlier this season: Mike Bercovici, who famously connected with Jaelen Strong on the Hail Mary that beat USC.

Bercovici is no one-hit wonder, though. He completed nearly 62 percent of his 186 pass attempts, threw for 12 touchdowns and only had four interceptions this year despite not being considered the bona fide starter.

His best performance was without a doubt the USC contest, where he racked up five touchdowns and 510 yards through the air—with no picks.

Had Arizona State not fallen into the trap against Oregon State, or had its late rally against Arizona come to fruition, the Sun Devils might have won their second straight Pac-12 South title and could have played spoiler to the Oregon Ducks.

For now, the Sun Devils will settle for a Sun Bowl victory. 

But they'll also take that bowl win knowing they're on the cusp of greatness. With several teams in the Pac-12 facing severe question marks in 2015 (Oregon without Marcus Mariota, UCLA without Brett Hundley, etc.), ASU could become the toast of the West next year.