The football grind of the Big 12 is beginning to take its toll, and Arizona State is on the verge of one of the hardest schedules in the conference. The Sun Devils will face some tough teams ahead with the strong records from their previous games.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham is aware that the task at hand is huge. Utah comes first on the schedule, a team built on toughness and defense, and the move to the Big 12 hasn’t slowed them down one bit. Houston comes next and has quietly assembled victories, and could prove their team to be one of the most efficient teams in the league.
It does not get any better there. Arizona State next has to deal with No. 11 Texas Tech, an offensive machine, which has gone on to pose a greater threat under Joey McGuire. Last but not least, the Sun Devils end the stretch with a match against No. 14 Iowa State. They are known to confuse their opponents using a rough defense.
The statistics speak for themselves: there are four opponents with a 17-1 record as a team, and there is hardly any room to lose. Arizona State is yet to establish its 2025 identity under Dillingham that displays spurts of explosive play but is still searching to determine a consistent pattern. This phase will test that growth.
Nevertheless, there is a chance within the challenge. Making a season-altering pull and grabbing even one upset would turn the tide of the Arizona State season and be a significant boost of confidence to the program. Wins over Utah, Houston, Texas Tech, or Iowa State will not come easily.
But this is the kind of test that can expedite the process and show that the Sun Devils have a place in the upper half of the Big 12. The pressure is about to rise, and how Arizona State handles it will say a lot about the program’s future.