(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
In the midst of injury and misfortune, the road doesn’t get any easier for Arizona State and Todd Graham.
The Sun Devils will take on No. 6 Washington in Seattle on Saturday, looking to snap their four-game losing streak.
The Huskies will be the best offensive team the Sun Devils have faced behind only Washington State as both teams are ranked number one and two respectively in terms of total offense in the Pac-12.
While Jake Browning will be the best quarterback the Sun Devils have faced all season, the rushing attack of the Huskies – a group that has ranked second in the Pac-12 to this point behind only Oregon – will be the most daunting task for an Arizona State run defense that has been the model of inconsistency.
In terms of the passing game, the Sun Devils currently rank 124th in total defense in the FBS, which makes for an exploitable matchup for Browning and even the rushing attack of the Huskies.
Despite the ups and downs in the front seven, Graham mentioned that the defense will reap the benefits of having linebacker Salamo Fiso back in the lineup. He has missed the last two games due to injury.
For the secondary, drawing the assignment of John Ross on top of Browning makes the job even harder on the already suspect ASU secondary.
Ross has 15 touchdowns on the season, to accompany 896 yards and 52 receptions.
As far as playoff implications go, the Huskies are looking to keep their name in the mix just one week after being upset by No. 13 USC 26-13.
For the Sun Devils, they will be looking to win their sixth game of the season and clinch bowl eligibility in the process.
If they should balk at their second-to-last opportunity, bowl eligibility will come down to the territorial cup in Tucson on Friday.
