ASU needs no extra motivation in their annual Territorial Cup rivalry game against Arizona. But this year the 14th-ranked Sun Devils have a much greater incentive.
A win Saturday in Tucson would all but clinch a spot in the Big 12 championship game and potentially put the Sun Devils on course to make the College Football Playoff in head coach Kenny Dillingham’s second season.
"If we don’t win on Saturday, we’re not in the college football playoffs, so I mean you just gotta take every game one day at a time. These guys have poured a lot in to this season, they’ve put a lot in the off-season and they deserve what’s happening for ‘em," Dillingham said.
9-2 Arizona State has beaten Kansas State and BYU in consecutive weeks to move into position to play for the Big 12 title. Meanwhile, the Arizona Wildcats have lost six of seven after being picked to finish near the top of the conference. Kickoff is at 1:30 Saturday in Tucson.
In the pros, the Cardinals, at 6-5 after a loss in Seattle, try to get back on the winning track in Minnesota against the Vikings on Sunday. In basketball, losers of 7 of 9 the Suns are trying to stay healthy. Phoenix is back in action Saturday night hosting the Golden State Warriors.
