Blog Article
Arizona State’s 2025 Football Season: From Underdogs to Championship Defenders
Arizona State just pulled off the biggest turnaround in college football.
In a single season, ASU went from a dismal 3-9 record to Big 12 Champions and College Football Playoff contenders. The Sun Devils finished 11-3 overall, dominated Iowa State 45-19 in the conference championship, and came within a double-overtime of beating Texas in the Peach Bowl. For a program projected to finish dead last in their new conference, the 2024 season wasn’t just successful—it was transformational.
Now comes the hard part: proving it wasn’t a fluke.
Kenny Dillingham: The Energizer Bunny Behind ASU’s Revival
Nobody embodies Arizona State’s resurgence more than head coach Kenny Dillingham.
The 34-year-old coaching prodigy turned a laughingstock into a powerhouse through sheer force of will, innovative strategy, and genuine connection with his players. As Dillingham told ESPN, “I love to compete. If you don’t like to compete, you’re not going to like it here. That’s really what started the turnaround was just getting guys who are competitive.”
Returning for his third season, Dillingham brings continuity with coordinators Marcus Arroyo (offense) and Brian Ward (defense) back for 2025. But his most valuable contribution transcends X’s and O’s—it’s the culture he’s built almost overnight:
- Created a “nobody believes in us” mentality that galvanized the team
- Established an energy level that ESPN described as the “Energizer Bunnies of college football”
- Delivered on his promise to “activate the Valley” by reconnecting the program with its community
- Won Big 12 Coach of the Year honors after engineering the conference’s most dramatic turnaround
The coach’s authenticity shows even in how he approaches the 2025 season—blasting Queen’s “We Are The Champions” on repeat during the first day of spring practice to make one point clear: last year is history.
Sam Leavitt: From Transfer Portal Gamble to Heisman Contender
Sam Leavitt wasn’t supposed to be this good this quickly.
The Michigan State transfer arrived in Tempe as a relatively unknown redshirt freshman, only to become the perfect conductor for Dillingham’s offensive symphony. Completing 61.7% of his passes for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions, Leavitt added 443 rushing yards and 5 ground scores to establish himself as one of the conference’s most dynamic weapons.
Now, Leavitt enters 2025 with unprecedented expectations:
- Tagged as “the No. 1 returning quarterback in college football” by multiple national outlets
- Building Heisman Trophy buzz after leading ASU to their first-ever CFP appearance
- Selected to participate in EA Sports College Football’s cover photoshoot at the Rose Bowl
- Fully healthy after recovering from a rib injury suffered in the playoff loss to Texas
- Bulked up physically during the offseason to better handle the dual-threat responsibilities
The quarterback’s confidence in the program speaks volumes. When asked by On3 about his transfer decision, Leavitt explained, “I came here and it was the right spot, so I canceled my other visits and just locked it down.”
The Skattebo-Sized Hole: Biggest Question for 2025
How do you replace a legend?
Cam Skattebo wasn’t just ASU’s best player in 2024; he was their identity. The All-American running back accounted for 56% of the team’s rushing touchdowns and 34% of their scrimmage yards. His legendary Peach Bowl performance against Texas (143 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 99 receiving yards, a touchdown pass, and a two-point conversion) showcased his unmatched versatility.
The 2025 Sun Devils must rebuild their backfield with:
- Army transfer Kanye Udoh, expected to be the primary ball-carrier
- Depth from Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown, both promising but unproven
- More responsibility on Leavitt’s shoulders, likely increasing his rushing attempts
- Creative scheming from Dillingham and Arroyo to distribute Skattebo’s workload
This position battle represents the most apparent threat to ASU’s championship defense. Without Skattebo’s production, the offense must evolve rather than replicate.
The Returning Foundation: Experience at Every Level
Sixteen starters return from last year’s championship team.
While Skattebo’s departure creates the most obvious void, the Sun Devils retain the majority of a roster that shocked the college football world. Most importantly, they return their on-field leadership at every level:
- QB Sam Leavitt (2,885 passing yards, 24 TDs) enters his second year in Dillingham’s system
- WR Jordyn Tyson (1,101 yards, 10 TDs) returns fully healthy after offseason surgery
- LB Keyshaun Elliott (65 tackles) anchors a defense that ranked 21st nationally against the run
- The majority of the offensive line that powered the Big 12’s 4th-best rushing attack
- A secondary that generated 16 interceptions (2nd in the Big 12) in 2024
The roster’s continuity creates a championship foundation few Big 12 teams can match. For a program that emerged from the ashes just two seasons ago, this experienced core represents Dillingham’s most valuable asset.
Portal Power: Strategic Additions Fill Critical Gaps
Dillingham didn’t raid the transfer portal—he strategically targeted it.
Rather than overhaul a championship roster, ASU’s staff identified specific position needs and found experienced players to address them. The 2025 Sun Devils will feature key transfer additions at every position group:
- RB Kanye Udoh (Army) steps into Skattebo’s featured role after productive seasons with the Black Knights
- WRs Jalen Moss (Fresno State), Jaren Hamilton (Alabama), and Noble Johnson (Clemson) add depth and experience
- TE Khamari Anderson (Kentucky) provides another red zone target for Leavitt
- OL Xander Ruggeroli (Nebraska) and Jimeto Obigbo (Texas State) strengthen protection up front
- CBs Kyndrich Breedlove and Nyland Green (both from Purdue) reinforce the secondary
- DT My’Keil Gardner (Oregon) adds size and experience to the defensive front
These additions complement a 2025 recruiting class ranked in the mid-40s nationally, headlined by ESPN 300 quarterback Cameron Dyer and tight end AJ Ia. The combination of transfer experience and freshman potential maintains ASU’s momentum beyond just the 2025 campaign.
The target on Arizona State’s back has never been larger.
As defending Big 12 champions, the Sun Devils face a schedule befitting their new status. Seven home games provide a favorable foundation, but several key road tests will define their championship defense:
- Opening at home against Northern Arizona before early road challenges at Mississippi State and Baylor
- Navigating difficult conference road trips to Utah, Colorado, and Iowa State (a rematch of the 2024 Big 12 title game)
- Hosting TCU, Texas Tech, Houston, and West Virginia at Mountain America Stadium
- Closing the regular season against in-state rival Arizona in the Territorial Cup
The Vegas win total is 8.5 victories, and most analysts project ASU to hit the over based on their returning talent and momentum. However, the road gauntlet presents a significantly tougher path than the 2024 schedule, which produced 11 wins.
The Culture Shift: ASU’s Most Valuable Intangible
Arizona State isn’t just winning games—they’re transforming their identity.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Dillingham’s program building isn’t the on-field results but the cultural foundation behind them. The coach’s emphasis on competitive spirit and authentic relationships has created a program players want to join and represent.
When asked about ASU’s recruiting success (ranked #1 in the Big 12 for the 2025 class at one point), Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke: “We’re very selective over the people we bring into the program. I tell people all the time, ‘Right now, we’re the No. 1 recruiting class in the Big 12.’ They ask, ‘What are you doing?’ Nothing. Our players are recruiting other players because they like being here. They like the culture that’s being established.”
That culture will face its ultimate test in 2025: maintaining hunger after tasting success.
The Bottom Line: 2025 Expectations and Prediction
Arizona State has permanently changed the conversation.
No longer college football’s feel-good story, the Sun Devils enter 2025 as legitimate contenders for a second consecutive Big 12 championship and another CFP appearance. Their remarkable ascent from 3-9 to conference champions has accelerated expectations for the program’s trajectory under Dillingham.
The most likely outcome for 2025:
- 9-3 regular season record with losses on the challenging road schedule
- Top-15 ranking throughout the season with Leavitt generating legitimate Heisman buzz
- Contention for the Big 12 championship game and another CFP berth
- Further establishment of ASU as a destination program for recruits and transfers
The Sun Devils won’t sneak up on anyone in 2025. But with Dillingham’s energy, Leavitt’s talent, and a roster built to sustain success, Arizona State has the pieces to prove that 2024 wasn’t lightning. It was the foundation of a championship program, encapsulated in a bottle.
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