#image_title
0
0 ASU has a brutal road ahead—and it starts this Saturday with a visit from the No. 7-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Sun Devils will then face Houston and Iowa State in the following weeks, a stretch that could define their season.
To make matters worse, head coach Kenny Dillingham announced Monday that starting offensive lineman Ben Coleman and linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu will miss the remainder of the season due to injuries sustained during Saturday’s bludgeoning in Salt Lake City. Safety Xavion Alford is also out indefinitely.
👉 [Watch Coach Dillingham’s full interview here.]
Injury Setbacks Threaten Momentum Ahead of Crucial Stretch
With the season halfway over, it’s time to evaluate where ASU stands—especially compared to preseason expectations. The Sun Devils entered the season ranked No. 11 in the Big XII but quickly dropped from the polls after an early loss to Mississippi State. They clawed their way back to No. 21, only to fall out again following the loss to Utah.
Now sitting at 4-2 overall (2-1 Big XII), ASU still controls its own destiny. But in a top-heavy Big XII, any backward glance could be fatal. Every game from here on out matters—starting with this weekend.
ASU opens as an 11.5-point underdog at home, and the uncertainty around QB Sam Leavitt’s status only adds to the intrigue.
Can the Sun Devils rally and make a run toward the Big XII title game in December? Or is this the beginning of a downhill slide?
Same Story, New Season? ASU Once Again Falling Short of Expectations
If it feels like you’ve seen this story before, you’re not wrong. Once again, Arizona State football finds itself midseason, underperforming compared to lofty preseason expectations.
With Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson both earning Preseason All-American honors, the question around Tempe wasn’t if ASU would compete—but how high the ceiling could be. Add in the return of nearly 90% of last year’s defensive starters, and College Football Playoff whispers were growing louder by the week.
Now, halfway through the season, that noise has quieted.
When asked ahead of this week’s media scrum about the team’s performance so far, head coach Kenny Dillingham said:
“I believe in who we are, and I know external people have their own opinions on where we should be and all that, but I have my own opinions as well, and I’m happy with where we’re at.”
— (via Damon Allred – full article linked here)
From a fan’s perspective, it’s hard not to feel a sense of unease. The status of Sam Leavitt, an inconsistent run game, and a defense that’s failed to meet expectations—all raise fair questions at the midway point.
And yet, if Coach Dillingham says he’s confident in the direction of the team, maybe fans should lean into that belief.
After all, there’s still a lot of football left—and a lot of pride on the line.
The Road Ahead: Ground Game Must Anchor ASU’s Identity
As the Sun Devils gear up for the most defining stretch of their season, the margin for error has all but vanished. A top-10 Texas Tech team looms this Saturday, with Houston and Iowa State waiting in the wings. These next three games won’t just test ASU’s talent—they’ll test its character.
With Sam Leavitt’s status still in question, all eyes now turn to the ground game—and Raleek Brown may be the key to keeping ASU’s season alive. Once a five-star prospect and transfer standout, Brown has shown flashes of explosiveness, but he’ll need to become a consistent force if the Sun Devils hope to survive the weeks ahead.
The offensive line, reeling from the loss of veteran Ben Coleman, must rally to open up lanes and protect whoever is under center. And the defense, once seen as the bedrock of this team, needs to rediscover its edge and set the tone early.
More than ever, this team must lean into its identity—not as a high-flying preseason darling, but as a gritty, determined group fighting to prove that the story isn’t over yet.
If ASU is going to right the ship, it won’t be flashy. It’ll be built on toughness, control of the clock, and trusting playmakers like Brown to carry the load. Because if the Sun Devils want a shot at the Big XII title in December, that road starts now—and it runs straight through the trenches.
One thing is clear: the second half of the season will define not just ASU’s record, but its identity. The early-season hype, the preseason accolades, the CFP buzz—all of it fades quickly when adversity hits. And right now, adversity is staring the Sun Devils in the face. Injuries have piled up, questions remain under center, and the defense has yet to meet expectations. But there’s still time—time to regroup, time to fight, and time to prove this team is more than just a missed opportunity.
If Raleek Brown can ignite the offense, if the defense can rediscover its grit, and if this team can rally around each other the way Dillingham believes they can—then ASU isn’t done yet.
The road ahead is tough. But the story? That’s still unwritten.
About the Author
