The ASU football team was losing 35 to 6 with just over one quarter to play against USC in 2000. Then the Sun Devils scored four straight touchdowns to tie the game and kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime, but the Trojans answered with a field goal and a touchdown of their own.
It was almost one of the greatest comebacks in ASU history, and it started a decade of “almost” against the rivals from Southern California.
Then “almost” ended on Saturday. ASU defeated USC for the first time since 1999 and did it with a dominating fourth quarter.
The victory was a relief for Sun Devil fans. USC may not be the dominating force it was under Pete Carroll, but the Trojans were the hump the Sun Devils could never get over.
2005: ASU was 3-1, hosting No. 1 USC and poised for an upset. The Sun Devils jumped out to a 21-3 lead before the Trojans scored 35 second half points to beat ASU 38-28 in Tempe.
2007: ASU was 9-1, No. 7 in the country and hosting No. 11 USC on Thanksgiving Day in front of a sell-out crowd. This was supposed to be the game. The two teams were tied at halftime before USC pulled away for a 44-24 final score. The Sun Devils scored just seven second half points.
2010: ASU’s season was fading away and USC was facing a postseason ban. The Sun Devils rallied again after trailing 29-14 just before the fourth quarter. Two touchdowns gave ASU the lead but a blocked extra point was returned by USC to put the game within two points. The Trojans made a late game field goal and the Sun Devils did not. USC again left Tempe with a victory, and again left Sun Devil fans with distaste for all things Trojan.
But it’s all over now. ASU has redeemed itself in resounding fashion, against a ranked USC team at home in front on national television. The defense was stellar, the offense moved the ball and Matt Barkley looked human again.
Can a Sun Devil fan ask for anything more?
Yes. USC was widely regarded as the toughest team in the Pac-12 South. The other four teams in the division have all suffered losses of 20 or more points. The South title is the Sun Devils’ to lose.
If ASU can take the momentum and ride it all the way to the Pac-12 Championship game, the fans will go crazy.
And the smell of roses would be even sweeter than knocking off USC.
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