Key Big 12 starting quarterback to have season-ending surgery
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The Arizona State Sun Devils just suffered a massive blow, as head coach Kenny Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta on Friday morning that sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt will undergo season-ending surgery.
Leavitt suffered a foot injury during the Sun Devils’ win over the Baylor Bears back on Sept. 20, and Dillingham said Friday that surgery is now the only way to remedy the lingering injury.
“It’s been something that’s been lingering,” Dillingham said. “Like I said, he’s been battling and fighting. He’s the ultimate competitor. This is like the worst, obviously, news that he wanted to hear because it means he can’t play football. He loves the game of football. He loves this place. So, it’s definitely unfortunate for him.”
Leavitt burst onto the scene at ASU last season, guiding the team on their magical Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff run alongside current New York Giants’ star running back Cam Skattebo.
The gunslinger entered 2025 with high expectations, but the lingering foot injury has limited him to just 1,934 total yards and 15 total touchdowns this season. Dillingham was also asked if he thinks Leavitt will ever suit up for the Sun Devils, seeing as how he’s draft eligible, to which Dillingham had no answer.
“I wish I could answer that question,” Dillingham said. “I’m not even beginning to process what his next steps are. I haven’t even asked him that. I just feel bad for him that he has been dinged up all year, and he’s been battling for our football team. It’s unfortunate that it just hasn’t gotten any better.”
Arizona State (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) was already on the outside looking in on the Big 12 title race. The Sun Devils are 1 of 4 league teams with 2 losses thus far. Texas Tech and Houston are each 4-1 in Big 12 play while BYU and Cincinnati are both sitting at 5-0 atop the league.
Per BetMGM, Tech is still the overwhelming favorite (-155) to win the league. New users can grab our BetMGM bonus code.
