USA Today projects Arizona State in Rose Bowl vs. Michigan

The Arizona State Sun Devils have represented their conference in the Rose Bowl twice in their football history, in 1987 and 1997.

Could 2016 be the the third time?

At the midway point of the season, USA Today has projected the Sun Devils to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena Jan. 2 against the Michigan Wolverines.

This is due to the projection of Washington to participate in this year’s College Football Playoff as the champion of the Pac-12. The website has the Huskies taking on Alabama in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, one of this year’s College Football Playoff semifinal games.

That would open the door for the Pac-12 runner-up to play in the “Grandaddy of them All”.

Of course, a lot needs to transpire before this can happen. Entering play this weekend, the Sun Devils are one of three Pac-12 South teams with one conference loss. Colorado, whom ASU plays Saturday in Boulder, and Utah are the others. Todd Graham’s team hosts the Utes in Tempe Thursday, Nov. 10.

The Devils were picked to finish fifth in the South Division by Pac-12 media following a disappointing 6-7 campaign in 2015 that ended with a loss to West Virginia in the Cactus Bowl in Phoenix.

Here’s the rest of what USA Today projects for the Pac-12 this postseason:

• Peach Bowl (College Football Playoff semifinal): Washington vs. Alabama

• Rose Bowl: Arizona State vs. Michigan

• Alamo Bowl: Utah vs. Oklahoma State

• Holiday Bowl: Washington State vs. Penn State

• Foster Farms Bowl: Stanford vs. Minnesota

• Sun Bowl: USC vs. Miami

• Las Vegas Bowl: UCLA vs. San Diego State

• Cactus Bowl: Colorado vs. Kansas State

• Independence Bowl: California vs. Wake Forest

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