ESPN’s Pete Thamel Places Sam Leavitt in Top 5 QBs, Boosts Big 12’s Stock

Pete Thamel dropped a bombshell in a recent episode of ESPN’s College GameDay Podcast, naming his Top 5 quarterbacks for the 2025 campaign, with Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt jumping in at No.  4.

His inclusion carries significant weight: Leavitt was a redshirt freshman phenom, guiding ASU to an 11–3 record, a Big 12 title, and their first College Football Playoff birth after transferring from Michigan.

Thamel said he “took Sam Leavitt at four,” citing not just a solid freshman season—2,885 passing yards, 24 TDs against only six INTs and 443 rushing yards—but also his capacity for growth under coach Kenny Dillingham. “There’s enough pure arm talent there… much better infrastructure around him,” he noted, referencing Dillingham’s quarterback development track record.

That optimism isn’t just speculative. Dillingham himself joined GameDay to back Leavitt all the way. He called him “every bit as good” as former Heisman contenders and praised Leavitt’s clutch performances, likening his scrambling in double-OT vs. Texas to Jake Plummer. “He works like a champion. I wouldn’t trade him for any quarterback in the country.”

The Sun Devils’ ascension is tied directly to Leavitt’s emergence. ASU shocked the nation by overcoming preseason cellar projections to hammer Iowa State 45–19 for the Big 12 crown, then challenged Texas in the CFP quarterfinals.

Leavitt was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, second-team All-Big 12, and played a pivotal role in ASU’s program rebrand.

Thamel’s Top 5 also includes Clemson’s Cade Klubnik at No. 1, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier at No. 2, Penn State’s Drew Allar at No. 3, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers at No. 5. But Leavitt’s inclusion sets him apart among four-star buzz and SEC powerhouses.

Why it matters for ASU and the Big 12: Leavitt’s ranking spotlights ASU’s credibility in year two of its return to the conference. With elevated expectations and a QB now recognized among the country’s elite, the Sun Devils enter 2025 with a national spotlight, heightened NIL appeal, and a legitimate shot at another CFP run.

Expectations now hinge on proving this was no fluke. More yards, fewer mistakes, and sustained performance translate Thamel’s pre-season respect into on-field production, and ASU could punch into the Heisman conversation and challenge for back-to-back high-profile postseason spots.