Arizona State may be in the midst of the program’s first four-game losing streak since 2012, but head coach Todd Graham said there is no “hopeless feeling” in him.

Instead, he said the Sun Devils have a lot to play for in the final two weeks as they travel to face No. 7 Washington and then Arizona, needing just one win for bowl eligibility.

“My energy level is just as high as it’s ever been,” Graham said. “…We’ve got great resolve. We’re a young football team and we’ve had a massive amount of injuries, and we’ve played some pretty great people down the stretch here. We make no excuses… There’s not an ounce of give-up in our guys.”

Graham said the loss to Utah on senior night was a game the team felt it could have won. When he looked back at the film, his major impressions were the big plays ASU allowed and the turnovers it gave away.

***

On multiple occasions, Graham has mentioned minimizing explosive plays as a big focus heading into this season, and it has continued to be one throughout. One avenue the staff has taken to do so is reducing the pressure it brings on defense.

ASU is notorious for bringing heavy amounts of pressure in the Graham era. But during one of his previous Monday press conferences, Graham said the team is bringing the least pressure it has since 2013.

Graham said tallying fewer tackles for loss and sacks is an expected result of bringing less pressure. However, the big plays have continued to haunt ASU.

“Obviously we felt like if we pressured less than we’d give up less big plays, and that’s not necessarily always the case,” he said.

In addition to the big plays, Utah’s consistent defensive pressure proved difficult to deal with, Graham said.

***

Based on that criteria, this week’s challenge seems as if it will be just as tough, if not tougher.

“They play really good defense and they’re really physical defensively against the run and they’re really good in the back end,” Graham said. “I would say explosive plays and defense are the two things I think of (Washington) that describe how they play the game.”

Additionally, while Washington is tied for first in the nation with a +15 turnover margin, ASU has a -3 turnover margin.

Graham said there is nothing the staff emphasizes more than turnover ratio because it is necessary for success.

“It doesn’t matter what year it is, all you have to do is look at the top four or five teams in the league and their turnover ratio, and there’ll be a direct correlation, unless there’s something really offsetting when it comes to their rush defense or rush offense,” he said.

***

Injuries have plagued ASU’s 2016 season, especially at the quarterback position. The Sun Devils played without 10 of their starters for almost all of the loss at Oregon.

And although the team used its bye week to get guys healthy again, some of the injuries lingered against Utah.

Graham said the group has experienced more than its fair share of injuries this year and mentioned it has reached the point where he has become tired of talking about them.

“Most of the issues still are issues we can correct, so we just have to go work and correct them,” he said. “How you correct mistakes is through practice, so it’s difficult when (injured guys) are not able to practice. Throughout the last month, we haven’t had a lot of consistent practice because of that, so that’s been distracting, but hopefully, will have a few more people healed up.”

For now, ASU’s focus is on winning one of its final two games to become bowl eligible and earn a 13th game.

“I’ve got a great belief in what we’re doing and where we’re going, and I think our guys do too,” Graham said.

***

Notes:

-Graham on N’Keal Harry: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a freshman make a play like that. He’s made progress in his blocking and he’s made progress in his route running…He’s a guy that has a lot more tools that we can use. You couldn’t ask for more as far as his development. He’s a guy that’s got great promise.”

-Graham did not comment on why junior running back Demario Richard did not play during the first part of the Utah game, but said he will be ready to go against Washington.