College Football: 6 potential sleeping giants

Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Wildcats linebacker DeAndre' Miller (32) during the third quarter of the territorial cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Wildcats linebacker DeAndre' Miller (32) during the third quarter of the territorial cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils fans cheer as Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver N’Keal Harry (1) scores a touchdown during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils fans cheer as Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver N’Keal Harry (1) scores a touchdown during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Arizona State

  • Program Record: 600-382-24
  • Bowl Game Appearances: 29
  • Conference Championships: 17
  • Highest Finish in the AP Top 25: No. 2, 1975
  • Enrollment: 50,246
  • Location: Tempe, AZ (population 161,719)
    • 18 miles from Phoenix, AZ
    • 306 miles from Las Vegas, NV
    • 369 miles from San Diego, CA
    • 381 miles from Los Angeles, CA
    • 720 miles from San Jose, CA
    • 976 miles from San Antonio, TX

Arizona State claims national championships from both 1970 and 1975, and while the ’75 squad makes a strong case, it finished No. 2 in the AP poll and only earned national recognition from The Sporting News. The main reason the 12-0 Sun Devils were overlooked and 11-1 Oklahoma was crowned national champions is that Arizona State competed in the Western Athletic Conference and didn’t join the Pac-10 for another three years.

The Sun Devils have finished in the Top 25 10 times since 1981 – with a high final ranking of No. 4 in both 1986 and 1996 – and have recorded six 10-win seasons over that span, including both 2013 and 2014. Nevertheless, Arizona State is a sleeping giant because they have failed to remain a consistent Top 25 program. In fact, the Sun Devils haven’t finished ranked in the final AP poll in three straight years since joining a top-flight conference.

The Sun Devils have a similar recruiting situation to their in-state rivals in Tucson, but are a little closer to California and Las Vegas, and farther from Texas. With over 50,000 students annually and more than 4 million people in the Phoenix metropolitan area, the alumni and fan base potential at Arizona State is gigantic.

Also, like Purdue, Arizona State is making a major investment into its stadium and football training facilities. According to Jeff Metcalfe of AZCentral.com, the university is putting $268 million into renovating Sun Devil Stadium, including training areas on site as well as revamping the indoor and outdoor practice fields.

Arizona State and Arizona must both contend with the traditional powers in the Pac-12, such as USC and Washington, as well as recent heavyweights Stanford and Oregon, but given the annual volatility in the conference standings, there’s plenty of opportunity to climb the ladder and establish a dominant program.