ASU Arrives at Big 12 Media Days With a Target on Their Back

Kenny Dillingham and six Sun Devils head to Big 12 Media Days as the co-favorites to win the conference.

FRISCO, TX (KYMA, KECY) - The Arizona State Sun Devils shocked the college football world last year. After being picked to finish dead last in preseason poll, ASU won the Big 12 on their way to the College Football Playoff.

Now, as the program returns to Big 12 Media Days on Tuesday, the tone is very different. ASU enters 2025 as a co-favorite to win the conference. On BetMGM, ASU is +600 to win the conference/

Despite the last years success and the high expectations, Dillingham continues to remind his team to stay grounded and motivated.

"I showed them the tweets saying 'you're really good.' Then I said, 'Can we get back to reality?'" Dillingham said. "We are 0-0. There've been a lot of teams who win big one year and then come back to reality. What would be special would be the continue to build off of that."

The Sun Devils bring back a loaded roster, returning 17 starters from last year’s squad - including quarterback Sam Leavitt, who was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and All-American wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

However, ASU will need to replace the production of star running back Cam Skattebo, who is now with the New York Giants in the NFL. Dillingham acknowledges it will take a group effort to fill Skattebo's shoes.

ASU turns to Army transfer Kanye Udoh, as well as returns Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown.

"I think they all have a different skill set that they can provide to mitigate what we're losing in Skat," Dillingham said. "Not one person can replace Scott. His play style was so unique that you have to have multiple people replace him."

Arizona State will open the 2025 season at home on August 30th, when they host the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at Mountain America Stadium.