Kenny Dillingham came into the Big 12 guns ablazin’ in 2024.

With the program’s first 11-win season in nearly 30 years, he led Arizona State to a conference championship in its first year in the league, nearly pulling off a stunning upset over Texas in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.

The Sun Devils were the favorites to repeat last fall, but injuries to several key players prevented them from ever really contending to win back-to-back Big 12 titles, even with an upset over Texas Tech in October that served as the highlight of an 8-5 campaign.

If the first three years of Dillingham’s tenure were one era, ASU is likely entering a new era this fall after the charismatic young coach flirted with taking the Michigan job before signing a new extension with the program, all while dealing a large amount of roster turnover, most of it natural.

Let’s meet the Sun Devils squad that Deion Sanders and Colorado will face Nov. 7 in Tempe.

Offseason storylines

Star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and right tackle Max Iheanachor were first-round draft picks, but the biggest departure from the ASU roster this offseason was arguably quarterback Sam Leavitt.

It became clear after injuries hampered Leavitt’s sophomore season that one of the key pieces of the 2024 Big 12 title team was going to finish his college career elsewhere. Reports suggested late in the regular season that Leavitt was seeking an upgrade in NIL compensation from the Sun Devils and those in his camp were shopping him around to other top programs around the country.

After a long process in the transfer portal, Leavitt, fittingly, wound up at LSU with new coach Lane Kiffin.

Dillingham had already replaced Leavitt by then with a pair of transfer additions in Kentucky’s Cutter Boley and Mikey Keene, a veteran who didn’t play in 2025 at Michigan but has multiple years of starting experience.

In addition, the Sun Devils put together a solid transfer portal class defined by players who could instantly become stars on both sides of the ball.  

On offense

Outside of star left tackle Jordan Seaton, the biggest loss in the portal for Coach Prime and the Buffaloes was wide receiver Omarion Miller, who followed in Tyson’s footsteps by going from Boulder to Tempe.

Miller is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he set career highs in receptions (45), receiving yards (808) and touchdowns (eight) as the top weapon for a CU offense that struggled when the ball wasn’t in his hands.

In addition, ASU also brought in Reed Harris from Boston College after a similar breakout season with nearly 700 yards to go with five touchdowns.

Whoever is at quarterback will have plenty of opportunities to make big plays just with that duo, but returner Derek Eusebio should have a role at wide receiver as well.

Speaking of quarterbacks, it’s anyone’s guess who starts in Week 1. Boley could be viewed as the favorite given he started games for Kentucky in the SEC last season, but Keene was a productive starter for multiple seasons at Fresno State before backing up freshman phenom Bryce Underwood in Ann Arbor.

Don’t discount freshmen Cameron Dyer and Jake Fette, either.

At running back, Kyson Brown is back after getting injured in late September and missing the rest of the season. He projects to be the starter after Releek Brown (over 1,100 rushing yards last year) left for Texas.

Up front, left tackle Jalen Klemm is back, while Oklahoma transfer Luke Baklenko should replace Iheanachor at right tackle.

On defense

Defensive coordinator Brian Ward is entering his fourth season in his role and his Sun Devil units have developed a clear identity during his tenure: aggressiveness and forcing turnovers.

The ASU defense underwent a large amount of overhaul this winter with the likes of linebackers Jordan Crook and Keyshaun Elliott, defensive linemen Justin Wodtly and Prince Dorbah, defensive backs Keith Abney II and Myles Rowser all gone.

Veteran defensive tackle C.J. Fite is back, and that’s important, as is the return of safety Adrian Wilson, but the Sun Devils will need several newcomers to have an instant impact.

The most notable defensive transfer addition was former Colorado State linebacker Owen Long, who was an All-American after leading the nation in tackles.

Jalen Thompson is a defensive lineman from Michigan State who also projects to have a big role for a unit that will need to put pressure on the quarterback and create turnovers in order to avoid getting carved open by opposing passing attacks. 

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The Arizona State Sun Devils file

2025 record: 8-5 (6-3 Big 12)

Head coach: Kenny Dillingham (4th season, 22-17 record)

Offensive coordinator: Marcus Arroyo (3rd season)

Defensive coordinator: Brian Ward (4th season)

Key returners: RB Kyson Brown, WR Derek Eusebio, OT Jalen Klemm, DT C.J. Fite, S Adrian Wilson

Key newcomers: QB Cutter Boley, QB Mikey Keene, WR Omarion Miller, WR Reed Harris, OT Luke Baklenko, DL Jalen Thompson, LB Owen Long, S Lyrik Rawls