 In that year's Fiesta Bowl, the Sun Devils lost a bowl game for the only time under Kush's leadership, with a 42–30 defeat to Penn State.In 1978, Kush's team once again finished 9–3, this time defeating Rutgers in the Garden State Bowl.That win would be one of the final highlights of Kush's tenure as controversy and scandal the next year toppled him from his head coaching position.