The Arizona State Sun Devils enter 2026 with a clean slate and will hope to avoid the key injuries that hit them last season, when top QB Sam Leavitt and top receiver Jordyn Tyson battled injuries. Offensively, there has been a lot of turnover. The quarterback room is brand new, and Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley is projected to start at QB. Boley doesn’t have the same running ability as Leavitt or backup Jeff Sims had. Kyson Brown returns at running back after missing last season, but the Sun Devils will miss Raleek Brown, who bolted to play for Texas. They will also break in a new offensive line combination, so offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo has his work cut out for him.

The Sun Devils return just 3 of their top 11 tacklers from a year ago. Top Tackler Jordan Crook moved over to the Canadian Football League; Keyshaun Elliot and Myles Roswer are now in the NFL. Arizona State brought in two new edge rushers, Emar’rion Winston from Baylor and Jalen Thompson from Michigan State. The Sun Devils are inexperienced at linebacker and will be breaking in a host of new starters in the secondary. Once again, Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward has his work cut out for him. The 36-year-old Kenny Dillingham has been impressive in his first four seasons as head coach and will need to earn every dime to get his team back on top of the BIG 12.

Arizona State will feature a new special teams coach, new field goal kicker, new punter, and a new punt returner this year. Things will be a mystery in the desert.