ATLANTA (AZFamily) — “We’ve got it all. We’ve got everything we need.”
The Arizona State Sun Devils are 11-2. They won the Big 12 Conference title. They earned a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
What they clearly haven’t earned is national respect.
“A lot of people have ignored us. Nobody thinks we belong here,” ASU defensive lineman Justin Wadley said. “Nobody thinks we deserve a first-round bye. Nobody thinks we deserve a Big 12 Championship. Nobody thinks we deserve anything. I haven’t.”
This is a trend throughout the season. The Sun Devils, who have finished their third through ninth consecutive seasons, were picked 16th (last) in the Big 12 preseason media poll. Even as they racked up wins en route to the conference title, doubters remained.
But the guys in the locker room always believed.
“For almost the entire season, no one thought we could do anything,” Wadtree said. “Most people didn’t think we would be bowl-eligible, but now we’re here. Throughout the season, we’ve had a lot of success with the guys in the locker room, including myself. We have continued to rely on those closest to our program.”
That belief and confidence is in the Sun Devils’ DNA. Head coach Kenny Dillingham has built a team with a lot of transfers. Some come from small schools. Some people hired great people once, but needed a second chance. Some are betting on themselves as a former Arizona high school star returns to his hometown.
And they all share their coach’s tenacity.
“I think Coach Dillingham is someone who has always worked hard and always had struggles to get to this point, and I think we all embrace that,” ASU offensive guard Ben Coleman said. “I think it’s important for the fans and others to understand that there are a lot of people who have bonded over the shoulder injury, and it’s been done from the top down. ”
“We’ve always had that chip on our shoulders,” defensive end Elijah O’Neal said. “Every player on our team has a chip on their shoulder. Carrying that chip on their shoulder has allowed us to get to where we are today.”
One of the main differences of this year’s Sun Devil team compared to teams in recent years is their resiliency and ability to overcome adversity. That advantage came from a willingness to silence the critics, allowing ASU to go 6-1 in one-score games.
“It’s even more encouraging to know that no matter what we do, people continue to ignore us,” ASU cornerback Keith Abney II said. “We’re going to continue to come out and be the best team we can be.”
ASU will need to be the best team on Jan. 1 when it takes on Texas in the Peach Bowl for a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Despite the Sun Devils being a higher seed than Texas and earning a first-round bye, ASU enters the game as a 13.5-point underdog.
Be where they want to be.
“We’ve been proving people wrong. We’ve been doing it all year long,” running back Cam Skatebo said. “We’ve been underdogs all year. I’m not too worried about that.”
All eyes in the college football world will be on the Sun Devils on New Year’s Day. Most of them would expect to see them crushed by the Longhorns.
But for those in maroon and gold, this is their latest chance to shock the world.
“We want to go out there on Wednesday and prove to the world that we have what it takes to win it all,” Wadley said.
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