TEMPE — The Arizona State Sun Devils took the college football world by storm in the 2024 season by the virtue of going from being projected to finish last in the Big 12 before the season into winning the league just months later.

Now, the program is in the same position in year three of the Kenny Dillingham era after defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders last week – the race for the conference crown has become one of the defining points of interest of this season according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly.

“ASU has certainly lined up a lot of parallels heading into Week 9 of 2025. Same record? Check. Same September mediocrity? Check. Same mid-October loss sans Leavitt? Check. Another SP+ ranking in the 50s? Check (55th).”

“Despite a 3-1 conference record and despite last week’s upset of Texas Tech, ASU has only a 4.8% title chance at the moment, per SP+. From a statistical standpoint, a conference title run would be just as unexpected as last year’s. It would be one hell of a story if they caught fire again.”

March 30, 2022; Tempe, AZ, USA; ASU helmets during a practice at Kajikawa Practice fields.

Football Asu Fb / Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Sun Devils are undeniably in a great spot at the moment – they sit at 5-2 despite not playing their best football to this point, save for last week’s victory. There have been pockets where the dominant team that finished the 2024 season has appeared, but it only reached a fever pitch against Texas Tech.

Arizona State head football coach Kenny Dillingham speaks to the media during a news conference at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 20, 2025. / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Xavion Alford (2) against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on three major takeaways from the win over Texas Tech here.

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