Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Sam Leavitt Sets Clear Expectations Before Arizona State’s 2025 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 3:48 PM ET

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has remarked before on the Sun Devils' status as one of college football's "sleeping giants." Nowadays, Dillingham is using another term to describe ASU's rapid to rise to relevance: "blue blood."

That's because the Sun Devils stunned the nation in 2024 by winning the Big 12 Conference in their first year as a member. Picked to finish last in the Big 12, Arizona State instead reached the College Football Playoff, where it lost a two-overtime thriller to Texas in the Peach Bowl.

Despite losing star running back Cam Skattebo to the NFL, Arizona State figures to have another strong group in 2025. Dillingham has relied on the transfer portal to replenish the roster; he has brought in former Army running back Kanye Udoh, Purdue cornerback Nyland Green and Oregon defensive tackle My'Keil Gardner in a bid to keep the 2024 momentum going.

NEW: Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt to On3's @PeteNakos_:

“I have the national championship and the 2025 Heisman as my goals. But I don’t like to look at things from a big perspective all the time. Just day-to-day getting better.”

Story: https://t.co/mjFn4tDblj pic.twitter.com/AtdX4YbMHI
— On3 (@On3sports) June 5, 2025

But quarterback Sam Leavitt is likely to determine how high the Sun Devils soar in 2025. In an interview with On3, Leavitt has revealed his ambitions for the new season, which kicks off with a home game against Northern Arizona on August 30.

"I have the national championship and the 2025 Heisman as my goals," Leavitt proclaimed.

He may not be considered among the betting favorites to win the Heisman Trophy, but Leavitt and wideout Jordyn Tyson are among the nation's most lethal returning duos. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and tossed 24 touchdowns agains six interceptions. Tyson was his favorite target; the junior made 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Leavitt only improved as 2024 continued. In the six games leading up to the Peach Bowl, Leavitt threw 16 touchdowns and only one interception in the heart of an eight-game winning streak for the Sun Devils.

Doubtlessly, that run of form has emboldened Leavitt to think big for 2025 -- as in, "securing Arizona State's first-ever championship" big.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: