Overview
- The Sun Devils opened the season ranked No. 11 in both the AP Top 25 and coaches polls, their highest preseason spot since 1998.
- ESPN experts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach forecast Arizona State as the only Big 12 team to reach the College Football Playoff, slotting them as a No. 10 or No. 11 seed.
- Head coach Kenny Dillingham has shown his roster historical data on top-15 seasons and challenged them to "beat history" by avoiding familiar late-season declines.
- Quarterback Sam Leavitt returns after setting school freshman records, and a committee of Kyson Brown Jr., Kanye Udoh and Raleek Brown will share carries following Cam Skattebo’s move to the NFL.
- Early tests include an Aug. 30 home opener against FCS Northern Arizona, a road trip to Mississippi State and a Sept. 20 Big 12 debut at Baylor.