Not everything is rosy for the Sun Devils, unfortunately. Following the decision to undergo surgery to repair a lingering foot injury, Leavitt will miss not only the game against the Cyclones but the remainder of the season as well.

The news was confirmed by college football reporter Pete Thamel, who shared the significant blow on his official X account (formerly Twitter) — a major setback for a team that had high hopes of making a big splash this season.

“Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt will miss the remainder of the season, coach Kenny Dillingham confirms to ESPN. He’s set to have surgery,” the insider revealed via @PeteThamel.

How much do the Sun Devils lose without Leavitt?

Arizona State’s hopes for a late-season surge took a crushing blow with the news that star quarterback Sam Leavitt will miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign due to season-ending foot surgery.

Leavitt, who compiled 1,628 passing yards and 10 touchdowns through seven games, was the engine of the Sun Devil offense. His absence is a monumental loss, dismantling one of the Big 12’s most dynamic duos; Leavitt’s chemistry with standout receiver Jordyn Tyson (a thousand-yard receiver last season) powered their top scoring threats.

Who will replace Leavitt?

With Sam Leavitt officially sidelined for the rest of the season, Arizona State will immediately hand the reins of the offense to veteran transfer Jeff Sims. Sims, a redshirt senior who previously started at Georgia Tech and Nebraska, takes over with the Sun Devils fighting for postseason eligibility.

The dual-threat QB has a 5,096 career passing yards and 1,544 career rushing yards, providing a different dynamic. Sims has already stepped in this season, notably going 24-for-49 passing in relief appearances, and will now face the pressure of leading ASU through a critical final stretch of Big 12 play.

Leavitt and Skattebo were the engine behind last year’s team that reached the College Football Playoffs Quarterfinals and lost 39-31 in double overtime to the Texas Longhorns. The elimination stung, but it put the school in Tempe on the NCAA map. Now, the Sun Devils are going through a rocky stretch in their campaign. As reported, Leavitt could miss out on some key matchups this season.

“Arizona State star QB Sam Leavitt is expected to miss this weekend’s game against Iowa State,” as reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on X (formerly Twitter).

Spooky weekend

Halloween came early in Tempe, or so it appears, as the school has been in for a very scary week between Leavitt and Skattebo’s setbacks. Regardless, Kenny Dillingham’s program is determined to bounce back. So far, Arizona State (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) has put ranked teams on notice with wins over No. 24 TCU and No. 7 Texas Tech.

However, the latest loss to the Houston Cougars—with Leavitt exiting the field injured—could be all she wrote for the Sun Devils’ hopes of making the Big 12 Championship. On that note, Dillingham provided an update on Leavitt, who went down with an injury just hours before Skattebo did in the NFL.

“The first [injury] was just kind of a scare, hopefully, based off what we saw,” Dillingham said postgame, via On3. “The second one, we have got to look into it more before I really comment on it.”

Rematch

When the Sun Devils pay a visit to the Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium, the two programs will meet for the second time in schools’ history. The lone matchup took place last season when Arizona State defeated Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 Championship Game—led by an impressive Skattebo and Leavitt statline.

Back in December 2024, Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and two TDs, while catching two passes for 38 yards and another score. Meanwhile, Leavitt finished the day with 219 passing yards and three TD passes. Moreover, he rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown. Needless to say, Dillingham will now be without both of them as the Sun Devils enter uncharted territory in their first ever visit to Ames, Iowa in college football.

[Watch Texas vs Arizona State online for FREE in the US on Fubo]

The College Football Playoff quarterfinals bring a thrilling Peach Bowl matchup, where the No. 4 Texas Longhorns (12-2) face off against the No. 10 Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2). Texas, favorites by 12.5 points with a game total of 51, punched their ticket with a dominant 38-24 victory over Clemson.

Arizona State earned their spot with a statement 45-19 win over Iowa State, fueled by a high-octane offense and opportunistic defense. With both teams hitting their stride, this high-stakes clash sets the stage for an electrifying battle and a coveted spot in the semifinals.

When will the Texas vs Arizona State match be played?

Iowa will face Missouri this Wednesday, January 1st, in the highly anticipated 2025 Peach Bowl. The game will kick off at 1:00 PM (ET).

Texas vs Arizona State: Time by State in the USA

ET: 1:00 PM

CT: 12:00 PM

MT: 11:00 AM

PT: 10:00 AM

How to watch Texas vs Arizona State in the USA

Catch the 2024 college football clash between Texas and Arizona State live on Fubo (free trial). Alternatively, you can tune in to ESPN.

Kenny Dillingham and Steve Sarkisian issued a joint press conference ahead of Texas- ASU clash on January 1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Though the game has heated up in the last days, the two head coaches showed much respect for each other.

While the Longhorns quarterbacks, Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, took exception of Leavitt’s message, Dillingham made something clear about his QB’s mentality, along with star running back Cam Skattebo’s mindset.

“Sam [Leavitt] probably thinks he can beat Michael Jordan in basketball, because that’s Sam,” Dillingham stated, via InsideTexas on X. “[Cam Skattebo] thinks he’s the best running back of all time, because that’s Skat.”

Leavitt’s bold promise

Leavitt is coming off a strong NCAA season, finishing the regular season with over 2,600 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. The freshman quarterback in Tempe, Arizona has the right to think highly of himself.

“People keep counting me out since Day 1 and I’m gonna go prove I’m the better quarterback,” Leavitt said. “That’s how I’ve felt since Day 1. I’m gonna go play everybody on the map. I’ve watched him for a fair amount of time now, and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

Response from Texas

Though many criticized Leavitt’s self-centered comment, neither QB in Texas seemed to be too bothered by it. Instead, the two signal-callers in Austin took some weight off the statement, focusing on the game itself.

“I feel like as a quarterback you always want to think you’re the best,” Arch Manning stated, via Orange Bloods. “So I kind of understand where he is coming from. But Quinn is a dang good quarterback.”

“Yeah, I mean, I saw it,” Quinn Ewers said, per On3. “Just congrats to them on a great year and a great season. I’ve gotten to watch some of their games and he’s a talented player. And they’re a fun offense to watch. And again, just excited to be up against them.”

Texas and Arizona State will go head-to-head in the College Football Playoffs Quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 at 1p.m. ET.

The Sun Devils are fully embracing the underdogs role for their upcoming matchup against the Longhorns. While Texas won’t underestimate the Big 12 Champions, the Horns know they must win and silence the critics on their schedule.

Texas hadn’t had any Top-25 wins until their trumph over the Clemson Tigers, giving many a reason to believe the Longhorns weren’t as impressive as their record may have indicated. However, the win over Clemson was a statement for Quinn Ewers‘ side. But they must do it all over again when they take on the Sun Devils, or else the noise surrounding Austin will be unbearable.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt dropped a bold promise about beating Texas and showing he is the better quarterback in the matchup, a statement that Ewers didn’t take to heart, but Manning decided to step in, nevertheless.

“I feel like as a quarterback you always want to think you’re the best,” Arch Manning stated, via Orange Bloods. “So I kind of understand where he is coming from. But Quinn is a dang good quarterback, so I’m just excited for the game and excited to hopefully get a win.”

Leavitt’s message

The freshman QB in Tempe is coming off a sensational campaign. Having led Arizona State to a Big 12 Championship, passing for over 2,600 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, Leavitt is right to bet on himself. However, he has no put a lot of attention on himself, and he better be able to walk the talk on New Year’s Day.

“People keep counting me out since Day 1 and I’m gonna go prove I’m the better quarterback,” Leavitt commented. “That’s how I’ve felt since Day 1. I’m gonna go play everybody on the map. I’ve watched him for a fair amount of time now, and I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

Manning makes his plans for the future clear

While the focus in Austin is on the upcoming marquee matchup against Arizona State, a decision looms in the Longhorns’ QB room. Ewers hasn’t declared for the NFL Draft yet, and rumors about his potential return to college next season have been growing louder.

As a result, rumors have spread about Manning potentially entering the NCAA transfer portal if his spot as QB1 isn’t guaranteed for next season. However, the freshman quarterback cleared the air and took a lot of weight off the Longhorns’ shoulders.

“I really have no plans on entering the portal or anything,” Manning stated, via On3.

With that narrative put to rest, the Texas Longhorns can shift their sight entirely to January 1 at 1p.m. ET when they will go head-to-head with the Arizona State Sun Devils for a spot in the College Football Playoffs Semifinal.

Freshman Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt issued a bold promise prior to January 1st matchup with the Longhorns. Following a strong season, in which he led Arizona State to a Big 12 Championship, Leavitt is not satisfied and has sent a big warning to the Longhorns.

Quinn Ewers reacted to his counterpart’s statement during his media appearance on Monday, before the Longhorns took to the field in Atlanta for walk-throughs.

“Yeah, I mean, I saw it,” Quinn Ewers said, per On3. “Just congrats to them on a great year and a great season. I’ve gotten to watch some of their games and he’s a talented player. And they’re a fun offense to watch. And again, just excited to be up against them.”

Ewers extinguished the fire rather than raising the stakes. His statement reflects the prevailing theme heading into this College Football Playoff Quarterfinal match. While the Sun Devils fully embrace their role as underdogs and villains, the Longhorns have their sights set on a bigger goal, letting their performance on the gridiron speak for itself.

Leavitt’s warning to Ewers and Texas

Arizona State played its last game on December 7. It’s been almost a month since the Big 12 Championship game in which they took down Iowa State and were crowned as champions.

Texas, on the other hand, played last week against the Clemson Tigers. That first round matchup was closely watched by the Sun Devils, who are now eager to shock the country with a big win in Atlanta.

“People keep counting me out since Day 1 and I’m gonna go prove I’m the better quarterback. That’s how I’ve felt since Day 1,” Leavitt said, according to On3. I’m gonna go play everybody on the map. I’ve watched him for a fair amount of time now, and I’m just excited for the opportunity“

Arch Manning adds on to Ewers’ statement

While Arch Manning’s role during the NCAA playoffs is not expected to be big, the 19-year-old freshman is still a vocal leader in the program. As he was asked about Leavitt’s comments, the heir of Manning’s football royalty issued a sincere message.

“I feel like as a quarterback you always want to think you’re the best. So I kind of understand where he is coming from,” Manning said, via Orange Bloods. “Obviously, they’ve had a good year. But Quinn is a dang good quarterback, so I’m just excited for the game and excited to hopefully get a win.”

The Longhorns and Sun Devils will go head-to-head on New Year’s Day at 1p.m. ET during the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The winner will advance to the Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl where they’ll face either Oregon or Ohio State.

After securing a dominant 45-19 victory over Iowa State in the Big 12 Football Championship, Kenny Dillingham’s squad now sets its sights on advancing past the CFP quarterfinals, though standing in their way are none other than Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns.

Sam Leavitt, alongside running back Cam Skattebo, has been one of the standout figures for this team looking to make history this season. In the press conference ahead of the Peach Bowl, Leavitt gave a direct response when asked about what it means for him to face off against Ewers.

“I’ve watched him for a fair amount of time now,” Leavitt said. “I’m just excited for the opportunity. People keep counting me out since day one, and I’m gonna go prove why I’m the better quarterback.”

Since his arrival from Michigan State, the talented quarterback has put up exceptional numbers this season with the Sun Devils: he completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,663 yards and 24 touchdowns to five interceptions.

Sarkisian laments not having chosen Skattebo

Both the Longhorns and the Sun Devils boast exceptional talent within their rosters; however, they could have been even more powerful had they made the right choices at key moments in the transfer portal.

Amid laughs, Steve Sarkisian expressed regret for not having noticed Cam Skattebo during his time in Sacramento back in 2022. Had he done so, the head coach made it clear to the media that there would have been no doubt about recruiting him to Texas.

“In all reality, I wish I would’ve discovered Cam when he was transferring the first time around. I was unaware,” Sarkisian said with a laugh. “So, kudos to (Arizona State). They found him, and he’s a heck of a player.”

Jahdae Barron still maintains a close relationship with Xavion Alford

Defensive back Xavion Alford now represents the colors of the Arizona State Sun Devils and will soon face his former team in the Peach Bowl. During his time at Texas, he forged a strong bond with Jahdae Barron, who reflected on their great friendship despite their paths in the NCAAF having now separated.

“That’s my brother,” Barron said. “Throughout the whole season, we chat literally every week except this week. We’re always chatting, I’m always reaching out to him, he’s always reaching out to me. Just motivation to keep us going.”

“It’s going to be good,” Alford said. “I’m very close to Jahdae Barron, one of the better players over there, Jaylon Guilbeau, really close to those two guys. Just being a kid from Texas, went to high school in Texas, it was a great opportunity, a great experience. Now getting to play against them somewhere else, it’s kind of like the best of both worlds. I played with them, and now I get to play against them.”

In recent statements to the media, where Dillingham was asked about the number of players who previously passed through the Longhorns, the head coach joked about the possibility of adding Texas’ talented starting quarterback to his roster for the important Peach Bowl matchup.

“That is 100% our philosophy. (Sarkisian’s) actually going to give us Quinn and a few other guys this week,” Dillingham said. “So I’m fired up about that. Said he was going to give us about six or seven dudes for this game. He’s just going to let me know on game day, so I’m excited for that.”

In times when the transfer portal is causing a flurry of movement in the NCAAF, any player could move from one program to another at any moment. However, the potential arrival of Ewers to the Sun Devils is simply a joke from his coach and is far from happening.

Corresponding to the CFP quarterfinals, both the Sun Devils and Longhorns will face off in a high-stakes matchup on January 1st at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dillingham values the work done by Sarkisian

Both Arizona State and Texas have reached this stage in part due to the great work done by their coaches. In fact, the Sun Devils’ HC has nothing but respect for what Sarkisian has accomplished with the Longhorns, especially after having several players on his roster who were previously coached by him.

“The guys we’ve gotten from Texas and coach Sark’s program have been unbelievable, and that may be why we’re going back,” Dillingham said to the press. “We’ve gone back to the well, and some of their guys have hit the portal is, we know what we’re getting when we’re getting a guy from that program, and that’s a guy who’s worked really hard, competed and I’ve been pushed, and those are the things that we like to bring in.”

Currently, Arizona State has six former Longhorns on its roster: receivers Troy Omeire and Jake Smith, defensive ends Prince Dorbah and J’Mond Tapp, defensive back Xavion Alford, and defensive lineman Zac Swanson.

Texas key players injury update

Ahead of a big matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils, Steve Sarkisian provided a major injury update on two key teammates of Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning: Isaiah Bond and Cam Williams.

“I think Isaiah continues to make really good progress for us,” Sarkisian said. “Obviously, we’re quite a ways out. So my goal is that coming out of Christmas, he continues to progress in a positive direction.”

Regarding Williams’ situation, the HC expressed excitement about his potential return to the field: “Not as serious as we thought. That was more of a precautionary MRI, so we feel comfortable about that.”

[Watch Iowa State vs Arizona State online in the US on Fubo]

The Iowa State Cyclones and Arizona State Sun Devils are set to clash in the Big 12 Championship Game this Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Iowa State enter as slight underdogs with a +2.5 spread, while the over/under for the game is set at 51 points, hinting at an evenly matched showdown.

Arizona State are coming off a dominant 49-7 rout of Arizona, highlighting their offensive firepower and defensive strength. Meanwhile, Iowa State secured their spot with a gritty 29-21 win over Kansas State, showcasing their resilience. With both teams aiming to crown their seasons with a title, fans can expect an electrifying contest.

When will the Iowa State vs Arizona State match be played?

Iowa State take on Arizona State this Saturday, December 7th, in a highly anticipated Conference championshipmatchup of the 2024 college football season. The game will kick off at 12:00 PM (ET).

Iowa State vs Arizona State: Time by State in the USA

ET: 12:00 PM

CT: 11:00 AM

MT: 10:00 AM

PT: 9:00 AM

How to watch Iowa State vs Arizona State in the USA

Catch the 2024 college football clash between Iowa State and Arizona State live on Fubo. Alternatively, you can tune in to ABC.

[Watch Colorado vs Arizona State online free in the US on Fubo]

The Buffaloes are going through a bad situation after starting the season with three perfect wins, currently Deion Sanders’ team is mired in a 2-game losing streak, they lost against Oregon 6-42 and recently against USC 41-48.

The Sun Devils are in a worse situation than the Buffaloes, they are going through a 4-game losing streak, the only victory was during the first week of the season.

When will Colorado vs Arizona State be played?

Colorado and Arizona State play for the 2023 NCAA DI Football season today, October 7 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. Deion Sanders could finally get out of the losing streak and return to the winning streak path.

Colorado vs Arizona State: Time by state in the US

ET: 7:30 PM
CT: 6:30 PM
MT: 5:30 PM
PT: 4:30 PM

How to watch Colorado vs Arizona State in the US

This game for the 2023 NCAA DI Football season, Colorado and Arizona State at the Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Saturday, October 7, will be broadcast in the US by Fubo (7-day free trial) and other options to watch this game in the US is P12N.

[Watch USC vs Arizona State online free in the US on Fubo]

The Sun Devils have been mired in a losing streak since Week 2 when they lost to Oklahoma State by 15-27 and recently in Week 3 against Fresno State by 0-29.

The Trojans are enjoying a perfect season for at least the first three weeks of the 2023 season with a winning streak, they won against San Jose State 56-28, Nevada 66-14 and Stanford 56-10.

When will USC vs Arizona State be played?

USC and Arizona State play for the 2023 NCAA DI Football season today, September 23 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. The visitors have a lethal offensive line but the home team is willing to do anything to get out of the losing streak.

USC vs Arizona State: Time by state in the US

ET: 10:30 PM
CT: 9:30 PM
MT: 8:30 PM
PT: 7:30 PM

How to watch USC vs Arizona State in the US

This game for the 2023 NCAA DI Football season, USC and Arizona State at the Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Saturday, September 23, will be broadcast in the US by Fubo (7-day free trial) and other options to watch this game in the US is FOX.