There is a lot more than a bowl bid on the line for ASU against UA Friday.
A loss doesn't just keep the Sun Devils home for the holidays; it further seals the Wildcats' recent rivalry domination.
Last season the Wildcats "bore down" to beat ASU 34-27 at Arizona Stadium, taking the Territorial Cup away from Tempe, where it had resided for two seasons.
In men's basketball, the neighbors to the south went 2-0 against the Ike Diogu-led Sun Devils, including a last-second shot by Salim Stoudamire that broke the hearts of ASU fans at Wells Fargo Arena.
In baseball, UA won four of its five games against ASU last season. UA softball swept the three game season series with the Sun Devils.
This season, the ASU volleyball team lost two matches against the Wildcats in straight sets, failing to score more than 26 points in any game against UA.
Yes, overall most ASU teams haven't had a lot of recent success against their intrastate rivals.
The women's basketball team splitting two games with UA last season and the ASU soccer team being 10-0-1 all-time against UA are just a of couple exceptions.
As of late, there have been a lot more downs than ups for ASU in the once-heated rivalry that just hasn't seemed quite as intense over the past few years.
Yes, the ASU football team needs a win over UA to go to a bowl game this season -- something that UA has not experienced since 1999.
But the entire University needs a victory to save face in the rivalry. ASU needs to win to give fans something to brag about, something to be proud of and something to reignite the flames of passion for the maroon and gold, flames that seem to have dimmed through athletic violations, scandals and mediocrity on the field and on the court.
Over the weekend, a group of UA supporters marched into the city, hiked up Tempe's beloved Hayden Butte and painted the sacred 'A' colors that shall not be named.
Apathetic ASU fans kept on walking, drinking or sleeping, oblivious to the desecration.
What's done is done.
The city, fans and football team can give UA the 'A,' at least for a moment. It's really not that big of a deal in the long run anyway -- as long as the Sun Devil football team can give ASU the 'W' Friday afternoon.
It won't make up for a disappointing season and it won't erase all of the painful memories on and off the field throughout the past year.
It will renew a rivalry. The bowl bid is just a bonus.
Reach the reporter at jeremy.a.cluff@asu.edu.