The Arizona State Sun Devils have taken to the Big 12 in a big way since they joined the conference in 2024.
That first season was a magic carpet ride as the Sun Devils came out of nowhere to win the Big 12 Championship and reach the College Football Playoff for the first time.
Last season the Sun Devils were no slouch. They won eight games and went 6-3 in Big 12 play. As they enter Year 3, the Sun Devils can win a second Big 12 title in three years. To do so, they’ll have to deal with more change than they’ve had to deal with since they joined the league.
Here are three things to watch as they prepare for the 2026 season.
A New-Look Offense
For the first time since he took over, head coach Kenny Dillingham doesn’t have the continuity on offense that he’s used to. His veteran quarterback, Sam Leavitt, chased the big NIL deal and transferred to LSU. Other top-shelf talent, such as wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, left for the NFL.
It’s not that Dillingham doesn’t have talent, it’s just not as cohesive as in past years because there isn’t a single returning starter on that side of the football. The wide receivers could be the group to watch, as he lured Colorado’s Omarion Miller, Boston College’s Reed Harris and Washington’s Raiden Vines-Bright.
Former Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley is the triggerman. Three of the five potential offensive line starters were backups last year. It will be important to watch how long it takes these Sun Devils to get rolling and whether that bleeds into Big 12 play
The Early Tests
Arizona State has, potentially, the most troublesome start to the season of any Big 12. After hosting Morgan State in a money game on Sept. 5, the Sun Devils head to Texas A&M to face the Aggies (I guess one SEC team isn’t afraid to follow through on scheduling a Big 12 team). The Aggies made the College Football Playoff last year so it should be a big test for Arizona State.
That is followed by the trip to London to face the Kansas Jayhawks on Sept. 19. It’s a big game for many reasons and not just because it’s the first Big 12 game abroad. ASU is taking on the challenge of opening the league slate overseas at a neutral site.
This is a critical stretch to watch. If Arizona State beats Texas A&M, that’s a huge CFP boost. If the Sun Devils lose, how bad is it? How will the trip to England impact the rest of the season, even with the bye week afterward? Plenty of interesting things to watch in those two games.
Don’t Mess with the Front Six
The Sun Devils could have one of the more intriguing front sixes in the country, considering they play a 4-2-5 formation. Defensive tackle C.J. Fite is back after a solid 2025 and could be an all-Big 12 performer in 2026. He was one of the league’s leaders in run tackles last season. Defensive end Jalen Thompson could be in for a big season as well.
The most intriguing player is linebacker Owen Long. The Colorado State transfer led FBS in total tackles and tackles per game last season. Dillingham sees him as a dynamic force in their defense, and he has anything close to the season he had with the Rams last year, the Sun Devils defense will be much better than a year ago.
