Tempe is loud. If you've ever walked down South Mill Avenue on a Saturday night when the Arizona State Sun Devils have a home game, you know that specific vibration. It isn't just college students looking for a party. It's a massive, multi-generational collective of alumni and fans who have been waiting—sometimes patiently, often not—for the university's athletic department to finally match its massive potential.
For decades, ASU was the "sleeping giant."
That phrase got tossed around so much it became a joke. Every time a new coach arrived or a new facility opened, people whispered about how the Sun Devils were finally going to wake up and dominate the Pac-12. But the giant kept hitting the snooze button. Then came the massive shifts in the NCAA: NIL money, the transfer portal, and the absolute chaos of conference realignment. Suddenly, the "sleeping giant" didn't have the luxury of napping anymore.
The Big 12 Jump and Why It Matters
ASU moving to the Big 12 wasn't just a logistical change. It was survival. When the Pac-12 effectively dissolved, the Arizona State Sun Devils found themselves in a frantic scramble for a home. Joining the Big 12 puts them in a conference that actually cares about its identity as a gritty, high-level football and basketball league. It's a cultural shift.
The travel is brutal now. Flying to Morgantown or Orlando isn't the same as a quick hop to Los Angeles or a drive to Tucson. But the revenue sharing and the stability of the Big 12 give ASU a floor they haven't had in years. Honestly, the fans seem more excited about playing teams like Oklahoma State or Kansas than they were about some of the late-night, low-viewership Pac-12 games that felt like they were happening in a vacuum.
Kenny Dillingham, the head football coach and a local guy who actually grew up rooting for the Sun Devils, is the face of this new era. He’s young. He’s frantic. He’s obsessed with "The Valley." Dillingham understands that to win at ASU, you can't just recruit nationally; you have to lock down the high schools in Phoenix, Chandler, and Scottsdale. For years, the best talent in Arizona was leaving for Oregon, Ohio State, or Alabama. Watching a kid from your own backyard win a Heisman elsewhere is a special kind of pain for a Sun Devil fan.
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More Than Just Football: The Rise of the Other Devils
If you only look at the football scoreboard, you're missing the real story of what's happening in Tempe. Take a look at the swimming and diving program. Under Bob Bowman—the guy who coached Michael Phelps—the Arizona State Sun Devils didn't just get better; they became a national powerhouse. Winning a national championship in 2024 wasn't a fluke. It was a statement. It proved that if ASU invests in elite coaching and facilities, they can beat anyone. Even the blue bloods.
And then there’s hockey.
A decade ago, ASU hockey was a club team. Now? They play in Mullett Arena, one of the most intimate and loud environments in college sports. They've made the NCAA tournament. They’ve beaten traditional powers. It's a sport that shouldn't work in the middle of a desert, yet the "Oasis" is constantly sold out. It’s proof that the Sun Devil brand is malleable. It can be whatever it needs to be as long as there is a commitment to winning.
The NIL Game and the 942 Crew
Success in 2026 isn't just about how many hours you spend in the film room. It’s about the "Sun Angel Collective." Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has completely flipped the script. Arizona State has a massive alumni base in the Phoenix metro area—one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. If the business community gets behind the Arizona State Sun Devils, the ceiling for what these teams can achieve is basically non-existent.
The student section, known as the 942 Crew, has changed the vibe of basketball games at Desert Financial Arena. It’s a literal curtain of distraction. They’ve turned a somewhat sterile basketball environment into a place where opposing free-throw shooters actually look terrified.
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The Reality of the Territorial Cup
You can't talk about ASU without talking about the school down south. The rivalry with the University of Arizona is one of the most underrated, genuinely hateful rivalries in the country. It’s not "polite." It’s visceral.
The Territorial Cup is the oldest trophy in NCAA Sanctioned Rivalry games. It dates back to 1899. For the Arizona State Sun Devils, beating the Wildcats isn't just a goal; it's a requirement for a successful season. Both schools moving to the Big 12 together was a relief for fans because the thought of losing that game was unthinkable. It’s the game that defines legacies in the state of Arizona. You could lose every other game, but if you win the Cup, you're a hero for at least a year.
What People Get Wrong About ASU
A lot of people think ASU is just a "party school." That's a lazy, 1990s-era take. Under President Michael Crow, the university has rebranded itself as a hub for innovation. They’ve been ranked #1 in innovation by U.S. News & World Report for a decade straight. This matters for athletics because it brings in money and high-level partnerships.
The athletic department is trying to mirror that "innovation" label. They are experimenting with how they schedule games, how they engage fans digitally, and how they utilize the massive footprint of the Tempe campus. It’s a business now. A big one.
The "Sun Devil Way" is about being gritty. It’s about playing in 110-degree heat and making the other team miserable. It’s about being the underdog that has every resource to be the favorite.
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The Road Ahead: Actionable Steps for Fans and Observers
If you’re trying to keep up with where the Arizona State Sun Devils are headed, don't just check the AP Top 25. That's a lagging indicator. Look at the recruiting rankings for local Arizona players. Look at the membership numbers of the Sun Angel Collective.
- Follow the local beat: If you want the real scoop, stop reading national sites that only cover ASU when there’s a scandal. Follow local reporters who are at the practices every day. They see the small shifts in team culture that don't make the highlights.
- Watch the mid-week sports: Go to a softball game at Farrington Stadium or a wrestling match. ASU’s Olympic sports are often where the most consistent excellence lives.
- Understand the Big 12 schedule: The new conference means different kickoff times and different rivalries. Familiarize yourself with the "Hateful Eight" teams that stayed in the Big 12; they are the heart of the conference ASU now calls home.
- Invest in the NIL ecosystem: If you're a fan who wants to see the football team compete with the likes of Utah or Kansas State, supporting the collective is no longer optional. It’s how the roster stays competitive.
The transition isn't over. Transitioning to a new conference while navigating the most volatile era in the history of college sports is a tightrope walk. But for the first time in a long time, it feels like the people running the show in Tempe have a map. The "sleeping giant" might finally be throwing the covers off.
Whether they can stay awake and actually dominate is the only question left to answer. The infrastructure is there. The coaching is young and hungry. The fan base is tired of being the "potential" team and is ready to be the "results" team. If the Arizona State Sun Devils can harness the energy of the Phoenix market and the stability of their new conference home, the next five years will be the most significant in the university's history.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal window in the spring; that’s where the immediate future of the roster will be decided. Pay attention to the renovations around the mountain. The physical landscape of Sun Devil Stadium (now Mountain America Stadium) is changing to accommodate a more modern fan experience. These aren't just cosmetic changes—they are the signals of a program that is finally acting as big as it actually is.