Last year did not actually go as planned.
The year before, too.
It would be quicker to stress that ASU Football never really meets expectations suggested at some point during the preseason. Exceeding or falling short of expectations is kind of encrypted in Sun Devil DNA.
(And let’s be honest, football is not the only sport infected).
In 2016, the first few weeks were mildly reassuring with 5 wins against lesser competition, including UCLA and arguably the most insane game of the year against Texas Tech.
Arizona State was holding a 5-1 record at this point, alongside an FBS record of touchdowns in a game (eight) thanks to Kalen Ballage’s destruction of the Red Raiders in Week 2.