Arizona State

Arizona State football built much of its identity under Frank Kush, whose tough, disciplined teams made the Sun Devils a major force in the Border and Western Athletic conferences before the school moved into the Pac-10. Kush’s success gave Arizona State a reputation for physical football, desert heat, and a willingness to play ambitious schedules. Sun Devil Stadium became a memorable setting, especially during the Fiesta Bowl’s rise.

The move to the Pac-10 placed Arizona State into a larger West Coast spotlight, and the program had moments when it looked ready to become a national power. The 1996 team, led by Jake Plummer, reached the Rose Bowl and came within seconds of a potential national championship. That season remains one of the most beloved and painful in Sun Devil history.

Arizona State has produced notable players such as Mike Haynes, John Jefferson, Randall McDaniel, Terrell Suggs, Pat Tillman, Vontaze Burfict, and many others. Tillman’s legacy in particular gives the program a meaning that reaches beyond football, connecting Arizona State to service, sacrifice, and personal conviction. The Territorial Cup rivalry with Arizona adds a fierce local edge.

The Sun Devils’ move to the Big 12 opened a new era after the breakup of the Pac-12. Arizona State’s history is about potential and periodic bursts of national relevance: the recruiting base, campus culture, and desert setting have always given the program a distinctive appeal. When the Sun Devils are good, they feel like one of the sport’s most dangerous teams outside the traditional blue-blood circle.