The Sun Devils are no longer underdogs.
Going into the program's first season in the Big 12, the Sun Devils were at +10,000 odds to win the conference. Head coach Kenny Dillingham defied the odds, finishing the season 11-3 and bringing playoff football to the desert.
Going into the 2025 season, ASU's preseason odds are now +550, a drastic change from what they were just one year ago. For Dillingham, the mentality remains identical no matter the record.
"Literally the exact same," Dillingham said on the team's mindset per Sun Devil Athletics. "Except I know that there's going to be a lot more fun environment out there when we take the field."
As the team prepares for its sophomore season in the Big 12, here are some notable schedule details and roster insights.
Key returners:
ASU was able to return 16 of its starters from last season. ESPN’s Bill Connelly put together a "continuity table" to analyze each Big 12 team's returning production level.
Connelly ranked ASU No. 1 in the conference, with 221 starts returning, 61 transferring in, and 18 redshirt freshmen. ASU topped with 79% total production retention, 78% on offense and 79% on defense.
Redshirt sophomore Sam Leavitt returns to Tempe after a breakout season in 2024-25. The Michigan State transfer won the starting job before the season and never looked back. He threw for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions. Leavitt believes that he's prepared for whatever this season brings.
"It's the comfortability of knowing what I'm actually stepping into," Leavitt said per SunDevilSource. "Knowing what it takes to win a game, knowing what it takes to win multiple games and be a successful team overall."
Leavitt, who is currently top 10 in Heisman odds per ESPN, returns alongside his number one target for another season. Redshirt junior Jordyn Tyson takes the field again after an injury to his collarbone against the University of Arizona at the tail end of last season.
Tyson was the leading receiver last season for ASU. The Texas-born receiver caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. The closest receiver to him was former Sun Devil running back Cam Skattebo with 605 yards.
"I did anticipate (Tyson) being an elite player," Dillingham said per SDA. "I think he's really taken that and he's put in the work to double down on his talent, and I think that is the part that excites me the most is his maturity level, his commitment to be great."
Moving from passing offense to passing defense, another key returner is redshirt senior defensive back Xavion Alford. The safety's 2024 season led him to being named to the Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list, given to the most outstanding defensive player in football.
Alford finished last season with 85 total tackles, five pass-breakups, seven passes defended and two interceptions. He has become a leader on this team, and it shows leading up to the season.
"We've been going back and forth all camp," Alford said per Speak of the Devils. "That's signs of a good team … definitely proud of this team."
Top newcomers:
One of the top newcomers is running back is junior Kanye Udoh. He arrives in the Valley after two seasons at Army West Point. Udoh led the Black Knights' running back room last season with 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Offensive Coordinator Marcus Arroyo highlights how the 220-pound rusher has adjusted to the offense.
"What he ran at Army versus what we have are very different," Arroyo said per SunDevilSource. "He's done a great job with it. Mature kid who's smart, and we knew that's what it would take."
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt senior defensive back Kyndrich Breedlove has the task of replacing former ASU defensive back Shamari Simmons.
Breedlove comes to ASU from Purdue after tallying four pass-breakups, seven passes defended and three interceptions. He steps into an important part of the defense, and he believes he's ready to replace Simmons, the Sun Devils' leading forced fumbler last season.
"I just feel like that comes from being aggressive, playing fast and just doing your job," Breedlove said per SunDevilSource. "If we do our job, the plays will come to us."
Finally, redshirt senior kicker Jesus Gomez joins Sun Devil football to potentially solve ASU's kicking game. After the Sun Devils made a measly 11 field goals last season, Gomez enters with 20 made in 25 attempts last season.
Unlocking the kicking game will be a huge addition to the team after ASU was constantly having to go for it on fourth down last season.
"He is very, very consistent, you're not going to wake up and say, 'What Jesus am I going to get today?'" Dillingham said per SDA. "He's going to have the exact same process over and over again. I've got the utmost confidence in him."
Matchups to watch:
Some matchups to watch: ASU at Baylor, at home against Texas Tech, and away at Iowa State.
Baylor is set to take a step forward after finishing 8-5 last season. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson looks to compete with Leavitt at the top of the Big 12, and the Bears look to push for a title.
The Sun Devils will travel to Ames, Iowa, to take on the Cyclones in a rematch of the Big 12 Championship game. Even after major losses in the NFL Draft, they still want to contend and showed it after a 24-21 win over No. 17 Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 23.
The home game to watch out for is Texas Tech. The Red Raiders were one of two Big 12 teams to get the better of ASU last season, and they return with a strong roster. After an 8-5 season, Texas Tech has an "open checkbook" and reportedly spent more than $12 million on 21 transfers.
Everything kicks off in Tempe this weekend against Northern Arizona University.
Arroyo is ready to turn the corner and continue the success after going from the underdog to the top dog.
"You go into last year and you do what you got to do, and now you reap the benefits," Arroyo said per SunDevilSource. "It's a byproduct of winning and doing things the right way."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at niall.rosenberg@gmail.com and follow @RosenbergNiall on X.
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Niall Rosenberg is a lead Sports Reporter at the State Press. He has previously worked with sports teams such as the Rockford Rivets of the Northwoods League. He is in his 2nd semester with the State Press with the chance to cover football and other sports.
