Arizona State outruns Notre Dame to Playoff contention
TEMPE, Ariz. - Breaking down No. 12 Arizona State's 55-31 win against 8 Notre Dame on Saturday:
THE FALLOUT: Well this clears some things up. Had Notre Dame finished 11-1 with that last-second loss at Florida State as its only blemish but very few quality wins, the College Football Playoff selection committee would have had quite a debate on its hands. But thanks to Arizona State's defense and all kinds of sloppy mistakes including five turnovers (two pick-6 interceptions) and a bungled field goal snap, we no longer need to discuss the Fighting Irish as a serious contender for the football four.
Despite a commendable comeback attempt, pulling within 34-31 with 6:37 left, Notre Dame is done.
Notre Dame's Everett Golson, right, and coach Brian Kelly had a lot to talk about Saturday.(Photo: Matt Cashore, USA TODAY Sports)
No QB can kill a team's momentum quite like Everett Golson.
- Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) November 8, 2014 BOX SCORE: No. 12 Sun Devils 55, No. 8 Irish 31
Arizona State, on the other hand? Far from done. The Sun Devils, who were ranked No. 9 by the selection committee last week, took their foot off the gas too early Saturday but they have collected some quality wins and are poised now to make a serious run at the Pac 12 title. Though losing 62-27 to UCLA back on Sept. 25 was bad for perception, this defense filled with first-year starters is improved and dominated early as Arizona State took a 34-3 lead in the second quarter. That was enough to hang on, even though the Sun Devils played far too passive on both sides of the ball in the second half. Meanwhile, ASU can now focus on wrapping up the Pac 12 South with what looks like a favorable finish against Oregon State, Washington State and Arizona.
WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT: What we'll be talking about: Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson may never be part of a more humiliating half than what he experienced in Tempe. Credit Arizona State's defensive line for creating pressure and getting their hands on a couple balls at the line of scrimmage, but this was pretty much a full-blown meltdown by Golson, who has struggled with turnovers the last few games.
First, he was loose with the football, putting it on the ground on each of Notre Dame's first two series as he was being sacked (Notre Dame recovered the first, but the second deep in his own territory basically handed Arizona State its first touchdown). On the very next play from scrimmage, defensive end Marcus Hardison snagged Golson's pass, which was tipped at the line and gave the Sun Devils a 23-yard field to go up 17-3. Then on the ensuing series, another tipped pass by a defensive linemen ended up in the arms of safety Damarious Randall, who had a clear path the other way for a 59-yard touchdown.
TOP PLAY: Arizona State receiver Jaelen Strong may be the best receiver nobody but hardcore college football fan knows about. But Strong is going to get plenty of attention for the one-handed touchdown grab he made to put Arizona State up 10-3 early. After recovering Golson's fumble, the Sun Devils decided to take an immediate shot to the end zone with the 6-3 Strong against Notre Dame's smaller corners. Though the ball was thrown well over his head, Strong leapt up and got his left hand around it, then used his right to cradle it in while staying in bounds for the score.
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