No one expected Arizona State to do much in 2024, and certainly no one predicted the Sun Devils would win the Big 12. Kenny Dillingham took a team that finished 3-9 in his first year and completely turned things around. By the time they reached 11 wins, made it to the Big 12 title game, and pushed Texas to double overtime in the Peach Bowl, people were left wondering, ‘Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be a rebuild?’ And now? The pressure is on again. But this time, it’s not about proving doubters wrong—it’s about showing it wasn’t a fluke.

The big story coming out of spring ball wasn’t even about revenge. It was Sam Leavitt—Arizona State’s redshirt freshman-turned-field general—who dropped one of the best rookie QB performances in the nation. 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns, just six picks, plus five more scores with his legs? Those aren’t just freshman stats—that’s future Sunday talk. And he was one OT drive away from turning the Peach Bowl into a signature playoff win, trading haymakers with Quinn Ewers.

So now here we are: Year 2. Expectations are high. Pressure is even higher. Cam Skattebo is gone, leaving behind a stat line that seems unbelievable and big shoes to fill. But Leavitt is not just back—he’s better.

According to Chris Karpman, who broke it all down on the Cover 3 Podcast, Leavitt has evolved from a highlight-hunting gunslinger to a more disciplined field general: “Biggest thing, I think, is with his understanding of defenses, situationally. He and Dillingham talked a lot in spring ball about his willingness to take checkdowns, accept the small gain, and move on to the next play—rather than always be needing to kind of scramble around and do things that are a little bit more heroic. It’s not, may be in his nature or DNA to take something that’s simple and basic, that’s gonna give them some forward momentum when he knows that there’s potential for bigger plays out there. But he seems to be more cognizant of that.”

The biggest change for Sam Leavitt is understanding how defenses react, especially in difficult situations. He and Dillingham spent the spring discussing how to take the simple throws and short yardage rather than always aiming for a big play. While it goes against his natural instinct to look deep, he’s now choosing his moments more wisely. Sandwich that between his mobility and elite ball security—lowest INTs among regular starters last season—and you’ve got a scary good sophomore in the making. “He is really mobile and active with his feet, and he is one of the best ball security quarterbacks in the country,” Karpman added too.

And let’s not forget the weapons.

When you ask ASU fans what went wrong in the Peach Bowl, they’ll point to the absence of Jordyn Tyson. Leavitt has one of the nastiest returning receivers in the country—Jordyn Tyson. He missed the postseason, and he still put up 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. On third downs alone? 300 yards on 18 grabs. That’s 16.67 yards per third-down catch. And that just means he’s the Grim Reaper of drives—if you’re a defense, he’s the end of your hopes.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly pointed out that 79% of ASU’s starters are back. That’s not just experience—that’s continuity with a chip on its shoulder. And if you’re asking what success looks like in Tempe this year, Karpman didn’t hesitate: “Success is at least nine wins. Like, probably 10 wins is what most ASU fans are going to look at. And a repeat of Big 12 Championship for this to be considered a successful season—just given that you have two-thirds of your starters returning, most of your top backups. Sam Leavitt—he’s a Heisman whispered candidate early on.”

The road is low-key smooth, though. But trips to Utah, Iowa State, and Colorado in late fall scream trap games. ASU hasn’t won in Salt Lake City since 2017. Cold weather could mess with the Sun Devils’ rhythm, but hey, if Leavitt keeps his cool and that O-line holds firm (four starters return), then Arizona State just might cook again.

The Sun Devils’ biggest problem? Who’s going to replace Cam Skattebo!

You hear “Arizona State 2024,” and the first name that jumps out isn’t Leavitt, Tyson, or Dillingham—it’s Cam Skattebo. Offensive MVP in the Peach Bowl despite the loss? Facts. His stat line: 1,711 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns, plus another 600+ through the air and three receiving scores. Oh, and don’t forget the 42-yard touchdown pass. The Giants’ RB was a one-man marching band.

Bud Elliott from Cover 3 kept it real: “Last year… 294 carries and 52 targets. That’s basically half the offensive plays going through Skattebo.” That kind of workload isn’t just rare—it’s irreplaceable. So, how does Dillingham move forward without his MVP?

Karpman didn’t sugarcoat it. This isn’t going to be a one-man show. “Unlike the last several seasons, where ASU had a 1,000-yard rusher consistently… I feel this is the time when they’re going to be more by committee. The skills are very complementary in their running backs.” And that committee starts with these names: Kyson Brown, Tevin White, Raleek Brown, and Kanye Udoh.

Kyson Brown is set to step in as Arizona State’s lead running back, a role he’s prepared for after backing up Cam Skattebo. And this season isn’t about replacing Skattebo’s output but rather combining different skills: Raleek for space, Tevin for speed, and Udoh as the power runner.

Tevin White is a legit track guy with a 10.6 100-meter dash. Raleek Brown? Folks forgot how hyped he was coming out of high school. Transferred from USC and spent 2024 on the sidelines with a grade-three hamstring injury. Now he’s healthy and ready to roll. Add in Udoh—an Army transfer with 1,000+ yards and 10 touchdowns last season—and suddenly ASU’s offense doesn’t look like it lost a step. You’ve got three backs with completely different styles. They’ll also benefit from an offensive line returning four starters. To truly offset a talent like Skattebo, you need strong chemistry in the trenches—and ASU has it.

The silver lining here? You don’t have to feed one back 30 times a game to move the chains. With Leavitt’s improved decision-making, Tyson back healthy, and a committee of versatile backs, this offense could be even harder to scheme against.