Sam Leavitt delivered two electric seasons with the Sun Devils, quickly becoming one of their brightest stars. But a foot injury that required surgery cut his 2025 campaign short. That’s when the first transfer whispers started. His family pushed back on the rumors, but the writing felt like it was already on the wall. Even the coaching staff knew they had to be ready for anything.

Things almost became clear on December 7th when Leavitt became the only team captain not present at the Arizona State awards banquet. During the program, Dillingham paused when it came time to introduce Leavitt, instead telling the audience that the program “wished him well, whatever comes next.” Now we have a confirmation.

On December 8, Anthony Totri broke the news that Leavitt wants to enter the transfer portal.

Leavitt first injured his foot in the game against Baylor, but he kept grinding through it for weeks, even starting against TCU, Texas Tech, and Houston. Still, the foot just wasn’t getting better. On October 31, Kenny Dillingham confirmed the bad news of Leavitt needing season-ending surgery. Late-season injuries often fuel the ‘fresh start somewhere else’ talk. That’s exactly what happened here. By January, rumors of a possible transfer were everywhere. His brother Dallin tried to shut it all down, even replying directly to reports from On3’s Pete Nakos.

“Why would you do that? Dallin said. That’s not where things are right now…he’s still deciding what he wants to do.” At the end of the day, that’s where things ended up.

There were already whispers that Leavitt’s camp was “shopping” him to big-time programs ahead of a Jan. 2 portal entry. And honestly, Arizona State probably could’ve kept him if they were willing to pay up. The transfer market is wild right now, with some quarterbacks rumored to be getting $3 million deals and even numbers as high as $7.7 million. That’s way more than Leavitt’s estimated $2.7 million NIL value at ASU at the time. However, the Sun Devils just don’t have that kind of cash to lock down one player, even a quarterback. So before the Colorado game, with the situation going nowhere, Kenny Dillingham basically admitted it was out of his hands.

Those were just the off-field issues. On the field, Arizona State didn’t make life any easier. The offensive line gave up 19 sacks in just seven games. And now his top target, Jordyn Tyson, is expected to enter the NFL Draft. Put it all together, and the 23-year-old has every reason to jump into the transfer portal.

Potential landing spots for Sam Leavitt

The buzz around Sam Leavitt is real. With the portal opening just once this season from January 2nd to 16th, let’s look at some potential spots where Leavitt may land. First, Clemson can be a good fit for him. Dabo Swinney’s Tigers eye Leavitt as the seamless successor to Cade Klubnik. The present QB’s eligibility expires after this season. Leavitt’s proven P5 chops, leading ASU to a conference crown in his first full start, align perfectly with Garrett Riley’s scheme.

Next up, it’s Texas Tech. The Red Raiders had a spectacular run this season under QB Behren Morton. Tech legit stole the top 4 spot in the playoffs. Yeah, that good he was. Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders covet Leavitt to replace Behren Morton post-senior year, fueling their No. 8-ranked total offense that thrives on up-tempo chaos. His 10 rushing scores over two seasons would electrify Lubbock. Plus Tech has an immense war chest, which was evident in their $5.1 million splash on five-star OT Felix Ojo. So Leavitt can have all his financial demands met at Lubbock.

Lastly, the Commodores can be a great option for the 23-year-old. Vanderbilt is no longer the SEC’s punching bag thanks to dual-threat QB Diego Pavia. However, just like everyone else, Pavia won’t be there next season. Leavitt’s championship pedigree and mobility echo Pavia’s game-changing style, positioning Vandy to sustain relevance in football’s gauntlet.