Nobody—and I mean absolutely nobody—saw this coming. If you’d told a Sun Devil fan back in August that their team, picked to finish dead last in the Big 12, would end the year as conference champions with a 11-3 record, they’d have probably asked what you were drinking on Mill Avenue. But that’s exactly what happened. The 2024 Arizona State football schedule wasn't just a list of games; it was a weekly middle finger to every preseason projection in the country.
Honestly, the "experts" had it all wrong. They looked at the 3-9 disaster from the year before and assumed Kenny Dillingham’s second year would be more of the same. Instead, ASU became the story of the season.
The Non-Conference "Is This Real?" Phase
The season kicked off at Mountain America Stadium on August 31 against Wyoming. People expected a win, sure, but a 48-7 shellacking? That was different. Sam Leavitt, the transfer QB, looked like he’d been playing in Dillingham’s system for a decade. He wasn't perfect, but he was poised.
Then came the Mississippi State game on September 7. That was the first "wait, are we actually good?" moment. Cam Skattebo—the man who runs like he’s trying to break through a brick wall—went for 262 rushing yards. ASU won 30-23, and suddenly, Tempe was buzzing. They followed that up with a gritty, heart-attack-inducing 31-28 win over Texas State on a Thursday night.
Three wins. Zero losses. The 2024 Arizona State football schedule was looking a lot friendlier than it did on paper.
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Welcome to the Big 12 (The Reality Check)
Lubbock is where things usually go to die for visiting teams, and for a second, it felt like the dream was over. ASU dropped their Big 12 opener to Texas Tech, 30-22, on September 21. It was a sloppy game. Penalties, missed opportunities, the usual stuff that kills a young team.
But then, the bounce back happened. It wasn't just a bounce; it was a leap.
- October 5 vs. Kansas: A 35-31 thriller that went down to the wire.
- October 11 vs. Utah: The "Blackout" game. Utah was ranked #16. The Sun Devils took them down 27-19. This was the night the rest of the country realized ASU wasn't just "lucky."
Then, of course, they went to Cincinnati on October 19 and laid an egg, losing 24-14. It was frustrating. Typical ASU, right? One step forward, two steps back. Except, that was the last time they'd lose for a very long while.
The November Run Nobody Predicted
If you want to know how this team won a trophy, look at November. The 2024 Arizona State football schedule had them on the road for some of the toughest environments in the Big 12.
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They went to Stillwater on November 2 and absolutely dismantled Oklahoma State 42-21. Then they survived a shootout against UCF (35-31). But the real statement? November 16. Manhattan, Kansas. It was cold. It was hostile. #16 Kansas State was supposed to end the Cinderella story. ASU won 24-14.
At this point, Skattebo was a Heisman dark horse and Leavitt was the coolest guy in any room he walked into. They finished the regular season by beating BYU 28-23 and then—the sweetest part for any Devil fan—absolutely embarrassing Arizona in Tucson, 49-7, to reclaim the Territorial Cup.
The Big 12 Championship and Beyond
On December 7, in front of a stunned crowd in Arlington, Texas, Arizona State didn't just play for a title; they owned it. They beat Iowa State 45-19. It wasn't even close. From being picked 16th in the preseason poll to lifting the Big 12 trophy? It's the kind of stuff they make movies about.
They eventually went to the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day 2025. It was a CFP Quarterfinal match against Texas. It went to double overtime. ASU lost 39-31. It sucked, sure, but the fact that they were even there, standing toe-to-toe with a powerhouse like Texas, was a victory in itself.
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Why the 2024 Arizona State Football Schedule Worked
- Home Dominance: They turned Tempe back into a fortress.
- Skattebo's Will: You can't coach that kind of grit. He finished with 11.1 rushing first downs per game on average, which is just insane.
- The Dillingham Effect: The guy is a mad scientist with a headset.
The 2024 season wasn't just a fluke. It was a blueprint. If you’re looking to follow the Sun Devils into the 2025 and 2026 seasons, keep an eye on how they handle those middle-of-the-season road trips. That’s where championships are won or lost.
If you’re a fan or just a bettor looking at future odds, the lesson from the 2024 Arizona State football schedule is simple: Never count out a team that plays with a chip on its shoulder as big as Camelback Mountain. Check the transfer portal updates for 2026, as Dillingham is already reloading with guys like LSU transfer Ashton Stamps to keep this momentum going.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep a close watch on the spring camp reports starting in March. With the core of the 2024 championship team either moving to the NFL or entering their final years, the defensive secondary rotations will be the biggest indicator of whether ASU can repeat as Big 12 contenders. Follow the official Sun Devil Athletics portal for verified roster changes and ticket packages for the upcoming home openers.