Honestly, if you took a nap during the 2024 season and woke up in Tempe right now, you’d probably think you were dreaming. Or in a different dimension. The ASU football Sun Devils didn’t just transition to the Big 12; they basically kicked the door down, won the conference title in their first try, and landed in the College Football Playoff.
But then 2025 happened.
It was supposed to be the "encore." Instead, it became a brutal lesson in how fast the college football gods can take away what they gave. By the time the Sun Devils limped into the Sun Bowl against Duke on New Year's Eve, the roster looked like a walking triage unit.
Why the 2025 "Collapse" Isn't What You Think
People look at the 8-5 record from this past season and assume the magic is gone. They’re wrong. You’ve got to look at the depth chart to see the real story. Losing Cam Skattebo to the NFL (where he was crushing it for the Giants before his own injury) left a massive, Skattebo-sized hole in the offense.
Then the injuries hit.
- Sam Leavitt, the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in '24, was "dinged up" (as Kenny Dillingham puts it) for almost the entire season.
- Jordyn Tyson, arguably the best deep threat in the Big 12, missed significant time before deciding to head for the 2026 NFL Draft.
- The offensive line used so many combinations it felt like they were drawing names out of a hat.
Despite all that, Dillingham somehow willed this team to eight wins. Most coaches would have folded after the heartbreaking overtime loss to Texas or the late-season skid against Arizona. He didn't.
The $7.5 Million Commitment
The biggest win of the year didn't even happen on the grass at Mountain America Stadium. It happened in an office. On December 20, 2025, Kenny Dillingham signed a five-year extension averaging $7.5 million a year.
That is massive.
It’s not just about the money in Dillingham’s pocket, either. He fought for an $11 million assistant pool. In the "arms race" of the Big 12, that’s how you keep your coordinators from being poached by the Alabamas of the world. Dillingham literally used the Michigan coaching vacancy as leverage to force the university to step up. Bold? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Roster Shakeup
If you're an ASU football Sun Devils fan, you need to get used to some new names, and fast. The 2026 season is going to be a total reset. With more than half the starters out of eligibility or heading to the league, the transfer portal is basically the team's primary grocery store right now.
Jaren Hamilton is the name everyone is whispering about. The former Alabama transfer flashed in 2025—remember that 101-yard game against Texas Tech?—but with Tyson gone, he has to be "The Guy." He’s got the speed. He’s got the routes. Now he needs the targets.
The Big Guys Up Front
One of the most underrated wins for the staff was landing Jarmaine Mitchell. He’s a 6'8" JUCO tackle who was the #1 recruit at his position. Georgia wanted him. Dillingham got him. If the Sun Devils are going to protect whoever starts at QB in 2026, it starts with Mitchell on the blind side.
On the defensive side, Rodney Bimage Jr. is the anchor. He’s coming off a stinger that ended his 2025 season early, but the kid is a heat-seeking missile at corner. With Keith Abney II likely gone, Bimage is the undisputed leader of the secondary.
The Quarterback Room: Leavitt or Fette?
This is the question that's going to dominate message boards all spring. Sam Leavitt is a redshirt sophomore who is draft-eligible. He could leave. He could portal. Or he could stay and cement his status as a Sun Devil icon.
But keep an eye on Jake Fette.
Fette is the crown jewel of the 2026 recruiting class. He’s a local kid, highly touted, and he’s exactly the kind of "offensive wunderkind" pupil Dillingham loves. If Leavitt decides he’s done with the college grind, the Fette era might start sooner than anyone expected.
👉 See also: Charlie McAvoy Injury Update: What Really Happened to the Bruins Star
The Reality of the Big 12 Grind
The Big 12 is weird. There are no "blue bloods" anymore with Texas and Oklahoma gone. It’s a league where a team like West Virginia or Iowa State can beat you on any given Saturday if you aren't focused.
ASU is 14-5 in conference play over the last two years. That’s elite. But the "NIL factor" is still a hurdle. While schools like Utah and BYU have stable infrastructures, ASU is still catching up. Graham Rossini, the AD, is moving mountains to fix this, but it takes time and donor checks.
Stadium Vibes and the Fan Experience
If you haven't been to Mountain America Stadium lately, the "Mountain Village" vibe is real. They’ve finished the 360-degree walkway and the East Sideline Club is basically a luxury lounge that happens to have a football game attached to it. They sold out every home game in 2025. That kind of home-field advantage is the only reason they beat Colorado in that slugfest in November.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Track the Portal: The winter window is shorter this year (Jan 2 - Jan 16). Watch for ASU to target experienced defensive tackles and a veteran "bridge" QB if Leavitt departs.
- Watch the Spring Game: Keep a close eye on the chemistry between Jaren Hamilton and the QBs. The vertical passing game was the missing ingredient in the second half of 2025.
- Support NIL: If you want the Sun Devils to compete with the likes of Texas Tech (who is currently landing five-star recruits), the local collectives need the "Golden Ticket" initiative to thrive.
- Check the Schedule: With Morgan State added to the 2026 non-conference slate, the Sun Devils have a manageable path to bowl eligibility before the Big 12 gauntlet begins.