ASU FOOTBALL

ASU, Arizona football rank near bottom of Pac-12 preseason media poll

Jul 28, 2022, 3:46 PM

In this Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, the Pac-12 logo is displayed on the field at Sun Devil Stadium d...

In this Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, the Pac-12 logo is displayed on the field at Sun Devil Stadium during an NCAA college football game between Arizona State and Kent State in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)

The Pac-12 Conference preseason media poll for football was released on Thursday.

Arizona State and Arizona found themselves near the bottom of the barrel at No. 10 and No. 11, respectively.

Despite the conference going away from the North and South divisions in favor of the top two teams with the highest winning percentages facing off in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game, the poll is predicting Utah to repeat as champions over Oregon.

The Sun Devils and Wildcats will go into the 2022 season trying to prove the doubters wrong, with the two programs’ currently on different trajectories for very different reasons.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Following a tumultuous offseason filled with roster turnover and uneasiness, the Arizona State football program finds itself in unfamiliar territory.

The Sun Devils endured an NCAA investigation coaching scandal that led to three assistant coaches being dismissed from the program due to the coaches participating in impermissible local meetings with recruits.

Former Arizona State defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator Antonio Pierce, as well as former offensive coordinator Zak Hill both resigned as part of the total of five coaches who are no longer with the program.

Entering the season with low expectations, a plethora of former Sun Devils from 2021 are no longer on the team due to the transfer portal and NFL Draft.

ASU lost quarterback Jayden Daniels (LSU), defensive tackle Jermayne Lole (Louisville), offensive lineman Ezra Dotson-Oyetade (TCU), wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton (Oklahoma), linebacker Eric Gentry (USC), running back DeaMonte Trayanum (Ohio State), wide receiver Johnny Wilson (Florida State), defensive back Tommi Hill (Nebraska), wide receiver Geordan Porter (New Mexico), wide receiver Lonyatta Alexander (Washington), linebacker Jordan Banks (Northwestern State) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (Florida) all to the transfer portal this past offseason.

However, there are a good amount of returning starters from last season that the Sun Devils will bring back.

Those returners include fifth-year senior linebackers Merlin Robertson and Kyle Soelle, fifth-year senior cornerback Timarcus Davis, redshirt junior corner Jordan Clark and graduate wide receiver Bryan Thompson.

Arizona State also brought in former Florida quarterback Emory Jones, who threw for 2,743 yards while throwing 19 touchdowns to 13 interceptions last season as a Gator.

Arizona Wildcats

After a 1-11 (1-8) season in head coach Jedd Fisch’s first season, the Arizona Wildcats will look to put last year behind them in hopes of gaining respect among their Pac-12 counterparts.

Despite the uncharacteristic year they endured last season, there is still a good amount of returning talent on the roster.

The Wildcats currently have three players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference Teams.

Those players include punter Kyle Ostendorp (first team), wide receiver Jacob Cowling (second team) and defensive lineman Kyon Barrs (second team).

Arizona also brought in transfer quarterback Jayden de Laura from Washington State this offseason.

For the Cougars last year, de Laura threw for 2,798 passing yards while tossing 23 touchdowns to nine interceptions.

ASU Football

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo...

Brandon Cadiz

ASU football’s Cam Skattebo headlines PFF’s top 101 college players

Arizona State's Cam Skattebo was near the top of the list in PFF's top 101 college players from last season. Leavitt and Tyson also crack the list.

3 hours ago

ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham says he wants a covered area to practice in...

Damon Allred

ASU’s Kenny Dillingham eyeing a facility change for better efficiency

Kenny Dillingham on Friday said ASU is in the process of getting a covered area for practice that's connected to the football facility. Players currently shuttle to practice fields on the other side of Rural Road.

1 day ago

Tempe brewery NIL...

Arizona Sports

Tempe brewery signs sponsorship and NIL deal with ASU

Tempe-based Huss Brewing Co. announced it has signed a multifaceted sponsorship deal with Arizona State University, which includes the creation of a Sun Devil specific ale.

4 days ago

ASU's Kenny Dillingham and Sam Leavitt...

Damon Allred

Kenny Dillingham needs ASU hungry for fall 2025, details offensive tweaks

Kenny Dillingham has a tall task in front of him in getting ASU to sustain good football into 2025 and prove its magical 2024 was not an aberration.

4 days ago

Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan #4 of the Arizona Wildcats runs during the second half against the ...

Brandon Cadiz

Mel Kiper Jr: Tetairoa McMillan a top 10 prospect, Cam Skattebo outside top 5 RBs in NFL Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. has Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan as a top-seven prospect and Arizona State's Cam Skattebo top 10 in his running back rankings.

4 days ago

Larry Fitzgerald...

Damon Allred

Larry Fitzgerald praises Kenny Dillingham following ASU offer to son Devin

Larry Fitzgerald threw some credit Kenny Dillingham's way following his son's recent offer to be a Sun Devil.

4 days ago

ASU, Arizona football rank near bottom of Pac-12 preseason media poll