Arizona State head coach Todd Graham shouts instructions to his players during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Washington State 52-31. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

 Ross D. Franklin

3. The Sun Devils have a schedule that sets up for a 4-0 start before they play USC and UCLA back-to-back. It gets even more difficult after that; ASU has perhaps the most difficult closing schedule in the league, a grind that includes Washington State, Utah and road games at Oregon, Washington and Arizona. 

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