Breaking: Arizona State Enters 2025 Season as Big 12 Title Favorite
In a stunning development that reflects the meteoric rise of Arizona State’s football program, the Sun Devils enter the 2025 season as the undisputed favorite to repeat as Big 12 champions. CBS Sports’ college football analyst Shehan Jeyarajah has placed ASU at the top of his post-spring power rankings, cementing their status as the team to beat in the conference.
Arizona State’s impressive 2024 campaign—culminating in a Big 12 title and a near berth in the College Football Playoff—has reshaped the national perception of the program. Under head coach Kenny Dillingham, the Sun Devils exceeded expectations, compiling an 11-2 record and defeating Oklahoma State in a memorable Big 12 Championship game. With a high-powered offense and a disciplined, fast defense, ASU turned heads and silenced skeptics.
Now, heading into 2025, the expectations are even higher.
Much of the optimism surrounding the Sun Devils centers on the return of key players on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jaden Rashada, coming off a breakout sophomore season, leads the charge. Rashada threw for over 3,400 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024, developing into one of the most efficient passers in the conference. His leadership and poise in high-stakes moments were crucial in ASU’s championship run, and his return gives the offense a foundation to build on.
Joining Rashada are several other impact players, including running back Cam Skattebo, who rushed for over 1,100 yards last season, and wide receiver Elijhah Badger, a top Big 12 target known for his speed and route running. Defensively, the Sun Devils return standout linebacker Caleb McCullough and rising star safety Xavier Guillory, forming a core that helped limit opponents to just 21.3 points per game in 2024.
In his rankings, Jeyarajah emphasized Arizona State’s combination of veteran leadership, coaching stability, and explosive talent. “No other team in the Big 12 returns this much proven firepower,” Jeyarajah wrote. “ASU is balanced, battle-tested, and now carries the swagger of a defending champion.”
The rest of the Big 12 is in flux. Traditional powers like Texas Tech, Kansas State, and UCF are undergoing roster overhauls or coaching transitions. While several teams possess potential, none match the cohesion or returning production of Arizona State. For the Sun Devils, that translates to not only being the preseason favorite but potentially being the conference’s best hope for playoff representation in 2025.
Despite the accolades, Dillingham and his staff are preaching humility and focus. “Being picked No. 1 doesn’t mean anything unless we earn it again on the field,” Dillingham said in a post-spring press conference. “We’re proud of what we did last year, but this is a new team, a new season, and we have to prove ourselves all over again.”
The schedule will offer early tests, including a road matchup against Kansas and a non-conference showdown with Boise State. But if the Sun Devils navigate those challenges and continue their upward trajectory, a second straight Big 12 crown—and more—could be well within reach.
For now, Arizona State stands atop the Big 12 mountain, with the college football world watching to see if they can stay there.
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