ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Arizona State cracks top 25 after big win over Michigan State

Sep 9, 2018, 11:37 AM | Updated: 3:03 pm

Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards, left, laughs with some team personnel prior to an NCAA colle...

Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards, left, laughs with some team personnel prior to an NCAA college football game against UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

Don’t look now.

Head coach Herm Edwards and the Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) are nationally ranked.

After knocking out then-No. 15 Michigan State, ASU finds itself at No. 23 in the AP Top 25 Poll.

It’s the first time since 2015 that the Sun Devils are nationally ranked.

The Sun Devils, who were unranked to start the 2018 college football season, proved doubters wrong Saturday night, beating the Spartans 16-13 with a game-winning field goal from kicker Brandon Ruiz.

Although it was low scoring, ASU’s offense stepped up when it counted.

Quarterback Manny Wilkins finished with 380 yards and a touchdown. He also threw an interception. Wide receivers Kyle Williams and N’Keal Harry combined for 193 yards and a touchdown.

The team’s defense also shined as they limited the Spartans’ offense to just three points in the first 20 minutes. ASU defensive back Dasmond Tautalatasi put an exclamation mark on the unit’s performance when he intercepted a pass in the end zone.

“Defenses [from] both sides played really well, but our defense — man, I’m really proud of them and how they played,” Wilkins said after the win. “It was a hell of an effort on their part and without them we would not win this game.”

The Sun Devils gained national attention in the Amway Coaches Poll as well, coming in at No. 25.

But what about the team ASU beat?

MSU saw the biggest drop off in the coaches poll, falling 11 spots to No. 24. They fell 10 spots to No. 25 in the AP Poll.

Looking at the rest of the Pac-12, Stanford (9), Washington (10), Oregon (20) and USC (22) also made the list of 25 in the AP Poll.

The biggest jump came from Oklahoma State, moving up four spots from No. 23 to 19th in the coaches poll, while Alabama remained at the top of both rankings for the second consecutive week.

Arizona State Football

Ricky Pearsall at the NFL Draft Combine...

Arizona Sports

Sun Devil-turned-Gator Ricky Pearsall taken in 1st round by 49ers

Ricky Pearsall joined fellow former Arizona State player Jayden Daniels as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

13 hours ago

Jayden Daniels...

Arizona Sports

Former Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels selected 2nd overall by Commanders in NFL Draft

Former Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the No. 2 overall pick.

16 hours ago

Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada will transfer to Georgia, he announced. (Photo by Christian...

Damon Allred

Former Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada transferring to Georgia

Former Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada will transfer to national power Georgia, he announced on Instagram.

1 day ago

Michael Crow...

Arizona Sports

Reports: Graham Rossini’s Arizona State AD candidacy receiving backlash from boosters

As Arizona State University works toward finding its athletic director, prime candidate Graham Rossini's potential hire is facing backlash.

2 days ago

Chamon Metayer...

Arizona Sports

Arizona State football lands TE Chamon Metayer from Colorado

Arizona State football football a red zone threat in tight end transfer Chamon Metayer, who spent this spring with Colorado.

2 days ago

The Arizona State Sun Devils...

Associated Press

NCAA to grant immediate eligibility for athletes no matter how many times they transfer

NCAA athletes are now eligible to play immediately no matter how many times they transfer — as long as they meet academic requirements.

4 days ago

Arizona State cracks top 25 after big win over Michigan State