Arizona State Sun Devils
Big 12 program under Kenny Dillingham. 2026 NFL Draft cycle featured notable prospects Max Iheanachor (OT, 11 on Nate Tice's big board) and Jordyn Tyson (WR).
Current Show Posture
As of 2026-07-26:
The show's Arizona State read is respect for the Dillingham infrastructure paired with skepticism about the 2026 roster and schedule math. Ty likes the portal receiver upgrades and trusts Dillingham's offensive adaptability, but he sees too many ways for the season to settle near 6-6: Cutter Boley has the tools but not yet the ball-security trust, the running back room and offensive line are deep but unsettled, the defense lost most of its opening-game starters, and the defensive front took another hit with MyKeil Gardner's Achilles injury.
Dan is slightly warmer because he trusts the staff to protect Boley better than Kentucky did and to design around offensive-line weakness with screens, quick game, and structure. Even that glass-half-full version is a 7-5 or 8-4 case rather than a conference-contender case. The preview's dividing line is whether Arizona State can keep Boley out of hero-ball mode; if the run game and line do not settle by late September or early October, the show expects the schedule to expose the Sun Devils quickly.
2026 Big 12 Preview Snapshot
- Win range: Ty lands at 6-6; Dan is closer to 7-5 or 8-4 if the offense protects Boley.
- Upside case: Dillingham, improved receivers, and a better quarterback-coaching environment turn Cutter Boley's tools into a functional offense.
- Failure point: unsettled running back/offensive-line answers force Boley to carry too much and recreate the interception problem.
- Roster concern: the defense lost 10 opening-game starters, and the defensive line was already thin before the MyKeil Gardner injury.
- Schedule concern: Week 2 at Texas A&M, road games at Texas Tech, BYU, and Arizona, plus the London game, leave little margin for a slow offensive build.
Evolution Timeline
- 2026-06-16 — The show respected the Dillingham program build but treated Arizona State's 6.5 win total as fragile because travel, QB/OL uncertainty, and defensive turnover stacked together. 2026-06-16 Arizona State Travel And Rebuild Risk Make 6.5 Fragile
- 2026-07-26 — The full Big 12 preview sharpened the concern: Arizona State must prevent Cutter Boley from becoming a hero-ball quarterback behind an unsettled run game and line. 2026-07-26 Arizona State Needs To Protect Cutter Boley From Hero Ball
Falsifiable Calls
- 2026-07-26 — Ty projected Arizona State at 6-6. Resolution: TBD.
- 2026-07-26 — Dan placed Arizona State in the 7-5/8-4 range if Cutter Boley improves and the staff protects him. Resolution: TBD.
Recurring Frames
- Teeter Teams — Arizona State remains a 6.5-win pressure-test team whose program infrastructure is stronger than its immediate risk profile.
- QB protection problem — The show is not evaluating Boley's tools in isolation; the key is whether Dillingham can keep him from having to solve unstable line/run-game conditions by himself.
Episode Appearances
- 2026-04-14 Spring Intel - QB Battles, Line Questions, and Offseason Buzz
- 2026-04-21 NFL Draft Preview with Nate Tice
- 2026-04-28 Fantasy Footballers Crossover with Jason Moore — Jordyn Tyson alma mater; Jason's #1 rookie WR for fantasy.
- 2026-06-16 Teeter Teams - Florida, Arizona State, Wisconsin and Teams Living On The Edge — 6.5-win teeter case; Ty likes the Dillingham program build but starts under because travel, QB/OL uncertainty, and pass-defense turnover stack up.
- 2026-07-26 Big 12 Preview Part 3 - Utah's Identity Question, Houston's Rise and Oklahoma State's Reboot - team preview on Cutter Boley's risk/reward, receiver upgrades, run-game uncertainty, defense losses, and schedule.
- 2026-07-20 Big 12 Preview Part 1 - Power Tiers and Big Storylines - preview, schedule, roster, or conference-context discussion.
Running Takes
- 2026-06-16: 2026-06-16 Arizona State Travel And Rebuild Risk Make 6.5 Fragile — the coach and infrastructure are better than the immediate schedule/risk profile.
- 2026-07-26: 2026-07-26 Arizona State Needs To Protect Cutter Boley From Hero Ball - the staff must keep unsettled line/run-game issues from forcing Boley into turnover-heavy hero ball.