Last week, Arizona State Sun Devils’ head coach Kenny Dillingham might have spent sleepless nights. Courtesy? His quarterback, Sam Leavitt. Leavitt went from probable on Wednesday to doubtful on Thursday and finally out on Friday, per the Big 12 report before the Utah game. But things started to turn in Dillingham’s favor before their Texas Tech matchup on October 18. After last week’s loss against Utah, Leavitt was deemed active. And the aftereffect was positive for Dillingham’s camp as his quarterback helped Arizona State to hand the Red Raiders its first loss of the season in a 26-22 win. 

So, it’s hard for Dillingham to keep his emotions under control. After the game, DevilsDigest.com posted the head coach’s quotes praising Leavitt. “The dudes a battler he’s a competitor, he was ready to play this week and I felt he was ready to play this week,” Dillingham said about Leavitt. “He just does everything he can for this football team and in this different moment he makes a difference.” How did Leavitt make the grand comeback?

Dillingham’s Sun Devils struggled to finish drives, settling for four field goals from Jesus Gomez. However, things fitted like a jigsaw puzzle when it mattered the most. Thanks to Leavitt, who threw for 319 yards and connected with Jordyn Tyson on a 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter, it looked like, ‘What’s the injury?’ 

So, the reports straight out of Dillingham’s camp were right. On October 15, Pete Thamel dropped an update. “Sorices: Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt is expected to be probable for the Sun Devils and is in line to play Saturday against No. 7 Texas Tech. He’s looked improved in practice this week as he battles through a lower-body injury.” Being a “day-to-day” decision, the quarterback made steady progress. 

“I feel good about Sam. I feel good about him right now,” Dillingham said. “There’s still two more days, but I feel really good about Sam and where he’s at.” And the Arizona head coach was absolutely on point with his analysis about Leavitt.

Against Texas Tech, the quarterback guided the Sun Devils on a 10-play, 75-yard drive to finish off a thrilling stretch in which three touchdowns were scored in the final 3:45. Leavitt went 5-for-5 on the drive, hitting a 33-yard 4th-and-2 pass to Tyson to put ASU deep in Texas Tech’s side of the field. 

There were no signs of scrambling as he ran like he did when he had yet to catch the injury. Leavitt was mobile enough to evade pressure on numerous occasions. He went 10 of 18 in the first half, shaking off the dust.

But the second half called for a busier time as Leavitt came up with 18 of 29. The emotional setback may be needed for the quarterback to rev himself up. What did he say about the tough days?

Sam Leavitt turned his tears into big smiles 

On October 18, ESPN PLUS’ Eliav Gabay tweeted, “#ASU Sam Leavitt said missing last week’s game hurt him so much he was crying on the bus on the way to the Utah game & it motivated him even more to deliver against No. 7 Texas Tech this week.” And with his grand comeback against Texas Tech, Leavitt made Dillingham proud, as did his mates.

Against Utah, Jeff Sims had to fill into Leavitt’s shoes. He came up with 18 passes out of 38 attempts for 124 yards and 21 carries for 52 yards. Even though Sims knew he wouldn’t be lucky enough to grab a starting role against Texas Tech, he only had positive words for Leavitt. “Sam is a great quarterback,” he said to Fox10Phoenix’s Blake Niemann.

He added, “I mean, Sam can go all the way. He can go as far as he wants to go. The sky is the limit for him, and just being around a guy like that and competing against him every day is good.” Leavitt has actually shot for the sky. And it actually shook things up in the Big 12 race. 

Thanks to Sam Leavitt’s heroic feat, Arizona State is riding high, firmly in the hunt for the Big 12 championship, and expected to be the betting favorite in its remaining five games. Kenny Dillingham and co.’s next assignment is against the Houston Cougars. Will Leavitt be in the topper in that test, too?