Arizona State’s quarterback, Sam Leavitt, will undergo surgery that will end his season, aimed at fixing a persistent injury, as stated by head coach Kenny Dillingham during an appearance on Arizona Sports radio’s Bickley and Marotta.

Leavitt was absent during the Oct. 11 loss against No. 24 Utah but played in all other games this year. In those matches against Texas Tech and Houston, he managed to pass for a total of 589 yards and two touchdowns. However, performance-wise, he was visibly restricted in his rushing against both teams, accumulating just 25 yards on 18 carries, contrasting with his earlier average of 56.2 yards per game before sitting out against Utah.

“Our guys are competitors. Our guys are fighters, and they’re resilient to do whatever it takes to win games. That’s the culture we’ve developed.”
Translation: “Our players strive to win, embodying the competitive spirit we’ve cultivated.”

Leavitt’s injury traces back to an incident during the Sept. 20 victory over Baylor. He briefly returned the following week to help guide Arizona State to success against TCU but later re-aggravated the injury before the Utah match.

As a former Michigan State transfer and the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Leavitt accumulated a total of 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns over seven games this season, along with five rushing touchdowns.

What does this mean for Arizona State?
The Sun Devils will pivot to Jeff Sims, a seasoned backup quarterback who has been in a supportive role behind Leavitt these past few seasons, filling in whenever needed. Sims directed the team against Utah, completing 18 of 38 passes for 124 yards, while also rushing for 66 yards on 21 carries. He appeared in the latest matchup against Houston, contributing one touchdown pass.

Additional concerns plague Arizona State’s offense as standout wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, anticipated to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is currently labeled as doubtful for the upcoming Big 12 Championship rematch against Iowa State. Consequently, Sims might need to rely more on wide receiver Malik McClain, who shone brightly with seven receptions for 159 yards in their game against Houston. Tight end Chamon Metayer will also be available after catching a touchdown from Sims last week.