Honestly, if you looked at the Arizona State football schedule a couple of years ago, you probably wouldn't have guessed we’d be talking about a program with a Big 12 trophy already in the case. But here we are. After a 2024 season that felt like a fever dream and an 8-5 follow-up in 2025, Kenny Dillingham has basically turned Tempe into a football town again.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be something totally different, though. It's not just about defending home turf anymore. It’s about surviving a schedule that looks like a gauntlet.
The 2026 Non-Conference Weirdness
Most teams schedule a few "cupcakes" to start the year. ASU is sorta doing that, but with a massive, 5,000-mile asterisk.
The big news that’s been floating around is the Union Jack Classic. Yeah, you heard that right. Arizona State is heading to London to face the Kansas Jayhawks in 2026. It’s the kind of thing that makes you scratch your head—why play a Big 12 opponent in England for a non-conference game? Basically, it’s a branding play. Dillingham wants the Sun Devils to be a national (and clearly international) brand.
But before they pack their bags for the UK, there are some local chores to handle. The schedule kicks off on September 5, 2026, against Morgan State at Mountain America Stadium. You’d expect a blowout there.
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Then things get real.
That Trip to College Station
On September 12, 2026, the Sun Devils travel to face Texas A&M. This is the game everyone has circled. Playing in the SEC’s backyard is a different beast entirely. We saw what happened when ASU went to Mississippi State in 2025—it was a 24-20 heartbreaker that proved the Sun Devils can compete with the big boys, but winning in a place like Kyle Field is another level of difficulty.
Breaking Down the 2026 Big 12 Matchups
While the official dates for the full conference slate usually drop later in the spring, we already know who the Sun Devils are facing. The Big 12 is a chaotic mess of parity, which is great for fans but terrible for your blood pressure.
- The Hawaii Game: There is a game against Hawaii on the books for 2026. This is a bit of a scheduling quirk. Because of the "Hawaii Rule," teams that play at Hawaii or host them can sometimes schedule a 13th regular-season game. It gives the staff extra flexibility, which they’ll need.
- The Kansas Rematch: Since the London game is non-conference, they still have to play the rest of the Big 12's heavy hitters.
- Territorial Cup: This is the one that still stings. Arizona took the cup back in 2025 with a 23-7 win in Tempe. In 2026, the game moves back to Tucson. Winning back the Territorial Cup is basically Requirement #1 for Dillingham if he wants to keep the fan base from getting restless.
Can the Roster Handle This?
We’ve gotta talk about the elephant in the room: the roster churn. The 2025 season ended with a wild 42-39 loss to Duke in the Sun Bowl, but the real story was who wasn't there.
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Sam Leavitt, the guy everyone thought was the future, ended up transferring to LSU after some injury struggles and coaching carousel rumors. That left a massive hole at QB.
Dillingham has been hitting the portal like a man possessed. He recently picked up Nigel Pringle, a 6-foot-2 corner from Arkansas, and Chance Rucker from Michigan State. It’s clear the focus for the 2026 cycle is length and speed in the secondary. You need that when you're playing teams like Texas Tech or TCU that will just chuck the ball 50 times a game.
The New Offensive Identity
Without Skattebo and now without Leavitt, the offense is in a transition phase. Watch out for Demarius "Man Man" Robinson. He got some burn in the Sun Bowl and looked like he could be the next explosive playmaker in the backfield. If the Arizona State football schedule looks daunting, it’s because the offense is still finding its "identity" in a post-Skattebo world.
Why 2026 Matters More Than 2024
The 2024 Big 12 Championship was incredible. It was a "lightning in a bottle" moment.
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But 2026 is about sustainability. Can this program stay in the top half of the Big 12 when they aren't the "surprise" team anymore? Every coach in the league has film on Dillingham’s tendencies now. The London trip, the SEC road test, and the brutal conference schedule will prove if ASU is a flash in the pan or a legitimate powerhouse.
Actionable Steps for Sun Devil Fans:
- Check Your Passport: If you're even thinking about the London game against Kansas, check your expiration dates now. International travel for a college football game is a logistical nightmare if you wait until the last minute.
- Monitor the Portal: The "spring window" for the transfer portal will be the final piece of the 2026 puzzle. ASU still needs a veteran presence at wide receiver to replace Jordyn Tyson.
- Secure Season Tickets: Mountain America Stadium was named the Collegiate Football Field of the Year in 2025. With the home schedule featuring more Big 12 rivals, those seats are getting harder to find.
The Sun Devils aren't just playing for a bowl game anymore; they’re playing to prove that the "valley" Dillingham talks about is actually a peak.