Sports

Pac-12 South title likely on line when No. 19 Arizona State visits No. 14 UCLA

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Arizona State safety Alden Darby (4) celebrates after intercepting a pass against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. The Sun Devils defeated the Beavers 30-17. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (The Associated Press)

Arizona State head coach Todd Graham reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon State on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. The Sun Devils defeated the Beavers 30-17. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (The Associated Press)

To be the Pac-12 South champions, Arizona State must beat the champions.

It's almost that simple when the 19th-ranked Sun Devils (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) face No. 14 UCLA (8-2, 5-2) on Saturday night.

A win over the defending division champions puts Arizona State into the conference title game with the chance to earn a second trip to Pasadena in January. Although the Sun Devils still could sneak in by other means, they would prefer to earn their berth on the Rose Bowl turf.

But the Bruins are unbeaten at home this season, and their own division title hopes are still very much alive.

UCLA would get its third straight trip to the Pac-12 title game with wins over Arizona State and Southern California to close the regular season.