PASADENA, Calif. — Over the past few seasons, the Arizona State Sun Devils have been characterized as a team that gives up backbreaking defensive plays. That’s not unusual for a program that’s routinely near the bottom of the country in total defense.
But this season, things were beginning to turn around.
In wins over then-No. 4 Washington and Utah, ASU began to show signs of improvement, keeping plays in front of it and making its opponents earn yards and points, eventually stalling against the bend-but-don’t-break Devils.
Saturday at the Rose Bowl, the UCLA Bruins turned that on its head.