ASU's Dillingham Made Right Call With Dramatic Quarterback Change

Head coach Kenny Dillingham prevented any of this from coming to fruition, as he and staff constructed a transfer portal class that was among the best in the nation.

Read why the change at quarterback ultimately is a benefit to the Sun Devils below.

Leavitt's Dramatic Ending at ASU Was Secret Blessing

Chris Hummer of CBS Sports reaffirmed what has been known or speculated on for some time about Leavitt's exit in a manner that makes it more evident that the Sun Devils moving on was beneficial for the program.

"The behind-the-scenes reviews of Leavitt from the Arizona State staff were mixed, and teams had concerns about Leavitt's health coming off his Lisfranc injury, especially given the expected investment in bringing him to campus -- a number that would eventually balloon to $4-million-plus."

"Arizona State ended up signing Kentucky QB Cutter Boley instead at a steep discount -- in the $1.5 million to $2.5 million range compared to Leavitt."

Several factors emerged that made a reunion with Leavitt unlikely, including his price tag, behind-the-scenes dealings with his representatives, and the clear tension that led to a mixed report card from Arizona State staff when other programs inquired.

Leavitt being the second or third option on the market for powerhouse programs was partially due to the injury concerns that followed him, but is also a reflection on the feedback that programs received and certainly points to the fact that the departure ended up being addition by subtraction for the Sun Devils.

Boley coming in as the heir apparent is also set to be a major change, as the Kentucky native was seemingly undervalued at his dream school while at the University of Kentucky. The redshirt sophomore took a sizable discount to play in Tempe and has embraced the role of being a true leader.

While Boley may not have the raw athleticism that Leavitt does, he is very likely to embody what it means to be a Sun Devil on a more consistent basis and is slated to prove many doubters wrong in 2026.