Arizona State shouldn’t be in any of the preseason football polls despite finishing last season with a winning record and bowl bid in Herm Edwards’ first season as head coach.

Athlon Sports has the Sun Devils ranked 45th, but three of their 2019 opponents are in the website's Top 25 with Michigan State being one of them at No. 16.

Utah (13) and Oregon (15) are the other two.

ASU should be 2-0 going into its Sept. 14 game at Michigan State. The Sun Devils open with home games against Kent State and FCS school Sacramento State.

Another stunner over the Spartans will likely put ASU back in the two national polls.

The Sun Devils found themselves in last year’s Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches’ polls after upsetting Michigan State, 16-13, at Tempe, but San Diego State knocked them out of both the following week.

Staying ranked is the greater challenge, but ASU should been as a sleeper in the Pac-12 that could end up in the most important poll – College Football Playoff ranking.

The schedule is favorable.The Sun Devils don’t play Washington, the highest-ranked Pac-12 team in Athlon’s preseason Top 25 at No. 12.

They play Washington State, USC, Oregon and Arizona at home. Their toughest test is Oct. 19 at Utah, but they beat the Utes last year.

The Sun Devils aren’t going undefeated, but say they’re 6-2 or 5-3 going into their last four games with just one or two conference losses?

It could be a sweet November for the Sun Devils.

Three of ASU’s last four games are at home.

Nov. 9 – USC.

Nov. 16 – at Oregon State.

Nov. 23 – Oregon.

Nov. 29 – Arizona.

Edwards rejuvenated the excitement around ASU football. Looking back at last season, Arizona State only lost one game by more than seven points – 31-20 to No. 21 Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Now Edwards has the challenge of building off last season after losing key players like receiver N’Keal Harry, a first round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft and quarterback Manny Wilkins. The Sun Devils return Eno Benjamin, who rushed for.1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and four starters on the offensive line.

ASU should improve defensively in its second season under defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales 3-3-5 scheme

The Sun Devils aren’t expected to win the Pac-12 even though they finished second the South Division last year and defeated the division champion Utes.

They’re not a Top 25 program, but have the early game at Michigan State to show last season’s upset wasn’t a fluke.

Then there’s that mid-season date Oct. 19 at Utah.

Another opportunity to turn heads.

A month later, Oregon comes to Tempe for a game that could have major conference implications. By this time, the playoff ranking will be in its third week.

ASU has a schedule, and team, that could lead to an appearance in it. The Sun Devils were last in the playoff rankings in 2014 when finishing 15th after rising up to sixth.

We're not talking up there with Clemson, Alabama and Georgia, but returning to that poll would be a major achievement for ASU in just its second season under Edwards.

Reach Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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