College football is weird now. One day you're playing for a rose in Pasadena, and the next you’re flight-tracking a bus to Morgantown because conference realignment decided geography doesn't matter. But for Arizona State vs Utah, the move to the Big 12 didn't just preserve a matchup; it turned a respectful regional series into a full-blown tactical war.
Most fans think this is just another game on the schedule. They’re wrong.
Honestly, if you haven’t been paying attention to what Kenny Dillingham is building in Tempe or the vacuum left by Kyle Whittingham’s recent retirement, you’re missing the most interesting power struggle in the "New West."
The 2024 Upset and the 2025 Revenge
Let's talk about October 11, 2024. That Friday night in Tempe changed everything. Utah rolled into Mountain America Stadium as 6-point favorites, expected to bully the Sun Devils. Instead, they got hit in the mouth.
Cam Skattebo—the kind of running back who looks like he enjoys a good car crash—went off for 158 yards and two massive touchdowns. Arizona State walked away with a 27-19 win. It wasn't just a victory; it was a statement. Dillingham, who was literally a high school sophomore when Whittingham started coaching at Utah, proved his "Mountain Lab" experiment was ahead of schedule.
Then came 2025.
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Utah doesn't forget. When ASU traveled to Salt Lake City on October 11, 2025, the Utes absolutely dismantled them 42-10. It was a brutal reminder that Rice-Eccles Stadium is where dreams go to die. Utah’s defense, a unit that has consistently been the gold standard in the West, forced the Sun Devils into mistakes they hadn't made all year.
The End of the Whittingham Era
You can't talk about Arizona State vs Utah without talking about Kyle Whittingham. Or rather, the hole he left behind.
In December 2025, the legend finally called it a career after 21 years. Think about that. Most of the kids playing in this game weren't born when he took the job. Dillingham has been vocal about his respect for Whittingham, famously saying he wants to model ASU after the culture Utah built.
"The culture that he's established there is elite, bottom line," Dillingham said. He basically admitted he’s trying to copy the Utah blueprint: brawn, tenacity, and identifying talent that others overlook.
But here is the catch.
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With Whittingham gone, the hierarchy is wide open. For years, Utah was the big brother. Now? Arizona State is looking at that empty throne in the Big 12 and thinking, Why not us? ### By the Numbers: A Series of Runs
- The Early Days: Utah dominated the 1960s, but then Frank Kush turned ASU into a powerhouse.
- The Long Drought: ASU actually held an 11-game winning streak over Utah from 1977 all the way to 2014.
- The Recent Shift: Before 2024, Utah had won four straight, including that horrific 55-3 blowout in 2023 that Dillingham still probably has nightmares about.
- The Current Tally: As of the 2025 season, Utah holds the upper hand in recent years, but the all-time series remains a see-saw.
Why the Big 12 Changes the Stakes
In the Pac-12, this was about recruiting Southern California. In the Big 12, it’s about identity. Both programs pride themselves on being "tougher" than the flashy teams in Texas or the traditional powers in the Midwest.
When these two meet, it’s usually the most physical game on either team's calendar. Forget the spread offenses and the 50-point shootouts you see elsewhere. This matchup is won in the trenches. It’s about 4-yard runs and defensive ends who play like they have a personal vendetta against the quarterback.
Arizona State is currently in a "Mid-Tier" battle according to most 2026 analysts, sitting around a .500 conference record, while Utah is trying to maintain its status as a perennial contender without its Hall of Fame coach.
What to Watch For Next
If you’re betting on this game or just watching as a fan, stop looking at the quarterback stars. Look at the offensive lines. In 2025, ASU returned 16 starters—the most in the FBS. They have the experience. Utah, meanwhile, has the system.
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The "Two Hams"—as some fans jokingly called the Dillingham/Whittingham era—is over. We are now in the era of Dillingham vs. the Legacy.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to understand the trajectory of Arizona State vs Utah, keep an eye on these three specific metrics:
- Red Zone Efficiency: In their 2024 upset, ASU was nearly perfect in the red zone, while Utah settled for field goals. That 8-point gap was the game.
- Transfer Portal Retention: ASU is building through the portal (see: Jordyn Tyson and Sam Leavitt), whereas Utah has traditionally relied on high-school development. Watch which philosophy holds up in the late-season grind.
- Home Field Advantage: Neither team travels exceptionally well to the other's stadium. The home team has won the last three matchups by an average of 18 points.
The next time these two programs meet, don't expect a polite handshake. Expect a fight for the soul of the new Big 12. Arizona State is no longer the "little brother" in the desert, and Utah is fighting to prove that their culture wasn't just one man deep.
To stay ahead of the curve, track the defensive line recruiting classes for both schools this February. The team that wins the battle for the 300-pounders in the trenches is the team that will control this rivalry for the next decade. Follow the snap counts of returning linemen like C.J. Fite at ASU; those are the players who actually decide the outcome of this physical gauntlet.