Analyst gives the most important game for Arizona State football in 2023

TEMPE, Ariz. — It’s safe to say every game is important for Arizona State football this upcoming season. In year one of the Kenny Dillingham era, all eyes are watching the Sun Devil program. Recently On3 Sports college football analyst Jesse Simonton gave the most important game on the schedule for each Pac-12 team this season. His answer for Arizona State may shock you.

What is Arizona State football’s most important game?

There are a few different candidates for the Sun Devil’s most important game this season. Arizona State ends the year with rival Arizona at home. That’s always circled on the calendar. According to Phil Steele, ASU plays three top-25 games this season. All of those could be huge wins for Dillingham and Co.

On3 Sports college football analyst Jesse Simonton doesn’t think it’s any of those games.

Simonton says it’s Colorado.

Most Important Conference Game for each Pac-12 Team per @JesseReSimonton👀

Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/9o2aQ8Ouqq pic.twitter.com/tIWJPaCww5

— On3 (@On3sports) July 7, 2023

Arizona State will welcome Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes to Tempe on Oct. 7. While I personally disagree with this being the Sun Devil’s most important game, I can admit it’s an exciting matchup.

Both Arizona State and Colorado have new head coaches. These were also the two programs that were most active in the transfer portal this offseason. The Sun Devils brought in roughly 50 new players. Colorado welcomed nearly 70!

There’s a lot of question marks going into the season around both of these teams. It’s hard to know what to expect. We haven’t seen teams with this much roster turnover thanks to the new transfer portal, and the college football world is eager to see how things pan out.

I believe both teams will be fighting to get to that illustrious six-win mark, so every game is critical.

Teams whose biggest game is against the Sun Devils

Simonton listed two teams in the Pac-12 that have their biggest game of the season against Arizona State football. The first is that team from Tuscon.

Arizona heads to Tempe for the last game of the season, and I think this is Arizona State’s most important game as well. Even if Simonton doesn’t. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one, if not both, of these teams, sitting at five wins heading into the Territorial Cup.

The Wildcats haven’t won in Tempe in 12 years and haven’t made a bowl game since 2017. On the other side, Dillingham will have a lot of pressure in year one to take care of his rival. To most Sun Devil fans, this game is the biggest of the year, without question.

The other team with their biggest game of the year facing ASU is California. Cal has a very difficult schedule, one with only four conference home games. Picked to finish near the bottom of the standings, any win is critical for the Golden Bears.

Cal doesn’t play Colorado or Arizona, two teams picked to finish near them in the standings. When they welcome Arizona State to town on Sept. 30, it will be a must-win for them.

Do you agree with Jesse Simonton?

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