Big 12 Breakdown and The Big Question For Each School : #7 ASU
By Cade Welty and Sean A Dillon
We’re breaking down the Big 12 as we get closer to the 2026 season. We’re breaking down each team getting closer and closer to #1. Today we look at Arizona State.
#16 – Iowa State #15 – Colorado #14 – Kansas #13 – cincinnati #12 – Oklahoma State #11 West Virginia #10 UCF #9 Baylor
#8 – TCU #7 – Arizona State #6 – ?
Arizona State: Will they return to Big 12 glory?
In their debut season in the Big 12 the Sun Devils shocked the world by going 7-2 in conference play and winning the Big 12 title after being selected to finish last. They would also represent the Big 12 in the new 12 team format for the College Football Playoffs, finishing 11-3 overall.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham and crew would see a slight fall off in 2025 going 8-5 after an injury riddled season to their two star players. QB Sam Leavitt and WR Jordyn Tyson would only play in 6 games with one another going 5-1. The Sun Devils were able to stay a float with solid QB play from backup Jeff Sims. Sims played in 10 games with 1,796 total yards and 10 touchdowns and brought them to a Sun Bowl appearance against ACC Champ Duke.
Kenny Dillingham also spoke on the pressure of the second season vs going into their third in the Big 12.
“It’s hard being the hunted. You’re going to get everybody’s best game when you’re the hunted. When you’re not the hunted, you’re just another team.” as tweeted by Blake Niemann.
What is Next for ASU?
Well after the departure of Sam Leavitt in the portal and Sims graduating the Sun Devils look to replace their entire QB room. ASU went out and got two QBs in the portal and a 4 star freshman joining the group. The suspected starter could be sophomore transfer from Kentucky Cutter Boley. Boley was viewed as a high potential prospect after showcasing some talent in his first season starting. The QB passed for 2,160 yards but an ugly 17-16 TD/INT ratio raises concerns.
Dillingham spoke on the QB battle during Big 12 Media Days.
“I think the biggest thing in a quarterback battle is you want somebody to separate themself.”
The head coach gave a timeline of naming a starter going into week 1 for the 2026 season which some fans might not enjoy. The 2026 ASU Sun Devils will have different “Stars” performing for them after only returning 3 productive starters from 2025. With only returning one offensive lineman Todd Helton. The Sun Devils were aggressive in the portal to replace the offensive production by bringing in a star trio at WR. Colorado’s Omarion Miller, Boston College’s Reed Harris and Washington’s Raiden Vines-Bright. Miller and Harris are the headliners for ASU with the duo combining for 1,969 yards, 17 TDs on 102 receptions. ASU would also get two RBs, TEs and O-line to put together a competitive offense with returning underclassmen.
The benchmark for the offense would be to increase their points per game from 25.8 (81st in the country) back to a similar total in 2024 at 32.9 (30th in the country).
The Defense?:
Moving onto the defense the team has a lot of holes with only returning one DL and one DB. The Sun Devils mainly attacked secondary needs by bringing in 7 defensive backs and safeties. Most of them are incoming sophomores which looks like they are building a foundation on defense. The idea in the portal was to get top end talent that will be there for more than a year.
For ASU the goal in the fall isn’t to show they can rebound from injuries. The goal is to return to Arlington and compete for a Big 12 title. Kenny Dillingham got himself and the program paid and now it is time to prove the investments are worth it.
Arizona State 2026 Football Schedule :
Conference Games *
9/5/2026, Morgan State, Time : 9:00 P.M. CT
9/12/2026, at Texas A&M, Time : 11:00 A.M. CT
9/19/2026, vs Kansas *, Time : 11:00 A.M.
10/3/2026, Baylor *, Time : TBA
10/10/2026, Hawai’i *, Time : TBA
10/17/2026, at Texas Tech * , Time : TBA
10/24/2026, Kansas State * , Time : TBA
10/31/2026, at BYU *, Time : TBA
11/7/2026, Colorado *, Time : TBA
11/14/2026, at UCF * , Time : TBA
11/21/2026, Oklahoma State * , Time : TBA
11/28/2026, at Arizona * , Time : TBA
Sean’s Thoughts:
Have you ever played three-card monte with a New York street hustler? You think you’re picking the Queen, but you’re really just handing over your wallet. That is if it hasn’t gotten picked by his friends already. “What wallet?”
That’s Kenny Dillingham’s QB room right now. Sam Leavitt is gone for greener LSU NIL pastures. Dillingham is left holding the deck, and nothing in it but Jokers.
He’s got three choices. Option 1: A redshirt sophomore with a 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio. OOF! Option 2: An experienced transfer who’s on his fourth school, including UCF, Michigan, and Fresno State. OOF! Option 3: Quitting coaching entirely and starting an aloe vera farm in Scottsdale. Option 3 looks better each day.
Toss in a running back by committee because you don’t have a starter. A secondary full of teenagers that need an NIL deal with Stridex, and a travel schedule that has them flying from Texas A&M straight to London to play at Wembley Stadium due to the Big 12 nightmare makers. Dillingham isn’t dreaming of Arlington. Right now he’s having full blown Freddy Krueger nightmares where he wishes the sun would come up.
Which disaster goes BOO first? We’ll find out soon enough. But spoiler alert: there are no treats for the Sun Devils in 2026. Their return to Big 12 glory isn’t postponed, it’s canceled ‘til future NIL.