Arizona State football's new mindset faces toughest test yet

Expectations for A rizona  State University’s football team were low entering this season. Following a collapse in 2011 that included a blowout loss to B oise  State in the Maaco Bowl, head coach Dennis Erickson was fired, and starting quarterback Brock Osweiler decided to take his game to the NFL.

Against the odds, the Sun Devils have won five of their first six games in 2012 under new coach Todd Graham. Thursday night -- in prime time on ESPN, no less -- the team’s greatest test arrives in the form of the O regon  Ducks, the third-ranked team in the nation.

Joining the show to explain ASU's success and preview the Oregon game was Tyler Lockman, who covers the team for Fox Sports Arizona.

Lockman says as ASU continues to rack up wins, players and fans are increasingly buying into Coach Graham's disciplined new system, but that the Ducks are an especially tough opponent -- an extremely athletic team both on offense and defense.

The ASU-Oregon game kicks off at Sun Devil Stadium at 6 p.m. on Thursday.