It feels like Arizona State’s quarterback situation flipped fast, and now the Sun Devils are right in the thick of portal watch with Dylan Raiola officially on the market. Pro Football Focus listed ASU as one of three schools to keep an eye on for the former five-star quarterback, along with Oregon and Miami, and the connection makes a whole lot of sense.
With Sam Leavitt hitting the portal, Arizona State needs a quarterback. Not in theory, not down the road, they need one right now. Leavitt’s departure wasn’t exactly a surprise. The signs were there, from missing the team banquet to all the noise leading up to it, but it still leaves a pretty big gap heading into 2026. So naturally, ASU is going to start showing up on lists for just about every transfer QB worth a look. And when it comes to Raiola, he’s definitely one of the more talented names in the portal, whether people want to admit it or not.
The thing about Raiola is this: people love to hate on the kid over the Mahomes stuff, but the arm talent is legit. He’s raw, sure, but he’s got tools. Kenny Dillingham has built an incredible culture in Tempe and isn’t trying to take a step back. So why not swing for a guy who still has a ceiling worth developing?
Here’s the issue, though: there’s a whole lot of uncertainty at ASU right now. Dillingham has been tied to the Michigan job, and while nothing is official, that smoke hasn’t gone away. At one point, betting odds even had him as the favorite. Whether that’s real movement or just online buzz, it’s out there. And until Michigan makes a hire, nobody’s going to feel too comfortable assuming Dillingham is locked in for 2026.
So for Arizona State, it’s a bit of a balancing act. On one hand, they’ve got an open quarterback spot and a program that looks like it’s ready to stay relevant. On the other hand, they’re still waiting to see if their head coach sticks around. If he does, bringing in a name like Dylan Raiola makes a lot of sense. If not, all bets are off.
