• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Arizona State tries to stay in rankings after visit to Stanford

Sep 29, 2007 - 10:48 AM No. 23 Arizona State (4-0) at Stanford (1-2) 10:00 pm EDT

PALO ALTO, California (Ticker) -- As expected, Dennis Erickson is having more success at his new school than Jim Harbaugh is at his.

After entering the rankings for the first time this season, Erickson's 23rd-ranked Arizona State squad tries to remain there after visiting Harbaugh's Stanford team in a Pac-10 Conference matchup on Saturday.

Following three convincing wins, the Sun Devils (4-0, 1-0 Pac-10) had to erase a 19-point deficit after the first quarter in a 44-32 triumph over visiting Oregon State last weekend.

Rudy Carpenter threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns with an interception for Arizona State, which hired Idaho coach Erickson in the offseason.

Erickson replaced the fired Dirk Koetter, who botched the handling of a quarterback controversy between Carpenter and Sam Keller - the starter at Nebraska.

While Arizona State opened Pac-10 play with a win, the Cardinal (1-2, 0-2) absorbed their second league defeat in four weeks with a 55-31 home setback to Oregon last Saturday.

T.C. Ostrander passed for 262 yards, two TDs and an interception for Stanford, but Oregon counterpart Dennis Dixon accounted for five TDs - four through the air.

Anthony Kimble had a fine performance in the defeat, rushing for 119 yards and two scores on just 16 carries.

Arizona State crushed Stanford last year in Tempe, 38-3. The Cardinal won here two years ago, 45-35.