Heartbreak in El Paso. Honestly, that’s the only way to sum up the latest arizona state football game score.
On a chilly New Year's Eve in 2025, the Sun Devils walked off the field at the Sun Bowl with a 42-39 loss to Duke. It was one of those games that felt like a fever dream. One minute, ASU is dominating the trenches, and the next, they’re watching a Blue Devil celebrate in the end zone after a soul-crushing turnover.
If you just looked at the box score, you’d see a close game. But for anyone who actually bled maroon and gold that day, it was a rollercoaster that ran out of track right at the very end.
The Wild Numbers Behind the Arizona State Football Game Score
Let's get into the weeds. ASU didn't just lose; they lost despite putting up a staggering 619 yards of total offense. Think about that for a second. You rack up over 600 yards and still go home with an "L." It’s almost statistically difficult to do.
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Jeff Sims, who was starting because Sam Leavitt had already dipped for the transfer portal (more on that mess later), actually played out of his mind for about 58 minutes. He accounted for five total touchdowns. He ran for scores of 4 and 38 yards. He was slinging it. But—and this is a big "but"—his lone interception in the fourth quarter was the ultimate backbreaker.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
- 1st Quarter: A total shootout. Both teams traded blows like heavyweights. 14-14.
- 2nd Quarter: Duke started to find cracks in the Sun Devil secondary. ASU stayed close with a massive 54-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez right before the half. 28-24 Duke.
- 3rd Quarter: ASU clawed back. Sims found Khamari Anderson for a score and then converted the two-point try himself. 35-32 Duke.
- 4th Quarter: ASU actually took the lead! A 6-yard pass to Malik McClain made it 39-35. Then, the defense just... couldn't get the stop they needed. Duke’s Darian Mensah hit Que’Sean Brown for an 18-yard strike with two minutes left. Final: 42-39.
Why This 8-5 Season Feels Like a Crossroads
Kenny Dillingham has been preaching "Activate the Valley" since he stepped on campus. In 2024, it worked. 11 wins. A Big 12 title. A CFP berth. Life was good.
But 2025? It felt like a regression. 8-5 is a winning record, sure. Most programs would kill for that. But after the heights of the previous year, losing the Territorial Cup 23-7 to Arizona and then dropping the Sun Bowl felt like a splash of cold water.
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The roster is in total flux. Sam Leavitt, the guy everyone thought was the future, is officially an LSU Tiger now. Raleek Brown, the 1,000-yard rusher who was the engine of the offense, headed for Texas. It’s tough out here in the NIL era. You spend all year developing a kid just to see him leave for a bigger bag or a "better fit" elsewhere.
The Transfer Portal Chaos in Tempe
Right now, as we sit in January 2026, the arizona state football game score from the bowl game is almost secondary to the "score" Dillingham is trying to settle in the transfer portal.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Since the winter window opened on January 2nd, ASU has been one of the most active teams in the country. They’ve landed some serious talent to replace the departures:
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- Cutter Boley (QB): Coming in from Kentucky. He’s 6’5”, huge arm. He’s the favorite to take the keys in 2026.
- Owen Long (LB): This is the one I’m excited about. He led the FBS in tackles at Colorado State last year. 151 tackles! He’s basically a heat-seeking missile.
- Reed Harris (WR): A 6’5” target from Boston College. With Malik McClain and the other veterans, the receiving corps might actually be better next year.
Looking Ahead: Can Dillingham Steady the Ship?
The 2026 schedule is a gauntlet. Texas A&M. BYU. Texas Tech on the road. If the Sun Devils don't fix the defensive lapses that cost them the Sun Bowl, it's going to be a long autumn.
The defense, led by Brian Ward, had moments of brilliance in 2025, but they were giving up nearly 94 points over a three-game stretch at one point. You can't win in the Big 12 like that. Not when every week feels like a track meet.
What you should do next:
If you're a Sun Devil fan, stop doom-scrolling the Sun Bowl highlights. It’s over. Instead, keep an eye on the spring practice reports starting in March. Watch specifically for how Cutter Boley builds chemistry with the new transfer receivers. The arizona state football game score in the 2026 season opener against Texas A&M will tell us everything we need to know about whether Dillingham's "intentional" roster building is actually working or if the Sun Devils are stuck in middle-of-the-pack purgatory.