ASU dips in latest ESPN College Football Future Power Rankings, Arizona takes big leap

ASU and Arizona are viewed as would-be challengers for an expanded College Football Playoff field, although the programs are headed in different directions.

ESPN’s latest college football future power rankings through the 2027 season, compiled by Adam Rittenberg, have the Sun Devils positioned at No. 27 and the Wildcats at No. 32.

The Kenny Dillingham-led Sun Devils were No. 12 in ESPN’s previous go at future projections of Division 1 programs, and the Brent Brennan-led Wildcats were No. 64.

This football program rater includes all 68 Power Four schools and stacks them up based on quarterback situation, offensive line/defensive line outlook, roster management, star power and coaching staff.

ASU: The why behind future power ranking

Look no further than the departures of the 2024-25 quarterback-receiver duo of Sam Leavitt (LSU) and Jordyn Tyson (NFL Draft) for why Rittenberg has questions that need answering entering the 2026 season.

Coach Kenny Dillingham has a keen eye for quarterbacks and added Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley after losing Sam Leavitt to LSU. Boley completed nearly 66% of his passes in his first season as a starter, while also logging four multi-interception games. Boley is a redshirt sophomore and could lead the offense through at least 2027. But he was pushed this spring by freshman Jake Fette, a top-150 recruit. ASU also brought in veteran Mikey Keene.

Rittenberg notes that the Sun Devils offensive line “has players with starts under their belt — just not very many.” It is also going to be without Max Iheanachor, who went 21st overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, the writer said feels more secure about the defensive line with returnees C.J. Fite and Clayton Smith and a couple of high-level transfers in Emar’rion Winston (Baylor) and Jalen Thompson (Michigan State).

In terms of star power, Rittenberg wrote that losing four players to the draft and others like running back Raleek Brown to the portal will require “a new group of stars to emerge.”

Fite is among the returners who could enter the All-Big 12 mix, and transfers such as (Colorado State linebacker Owen Long), (Colorado receiver Omarion Miller), (Boston College receiver Reed Harris) and Boley have that potential. Long earned third-team AP All-America honors and was a first-team All-Mountain West selection.

Retaining Dillingham after several Power Four programs made a play at him as well as other continuity in offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward helps ASU’s cause as well, Rittenberg writes.

Arizona: Big 12 contender, maybe more

The Wildcats, like the Sun Devils, lost four talented roster pieces to the draft but will get one more season from their incumbent signal caller, Noah Fifita.

Rittenberg recognized how “instrumental” the redshirt senior was in bringing Arizona up from 4-8 to 9-4, plus a bowl game appearance.

He has 785 career completions for 9,183 passing yards and 73 touchdowns and is on pace to finish as the program’s all-time leading passer. Arizona will have a sizable hole to fill in 2027.

All four of the Wildcats selected in the draft were defensive backs, with Treydan Stukes going the highest at No. 38 to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Rittenberg said defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales told him this spring that defensive end Tre Smith is among those who could be “a potential breakout player” for a side of the ball in need of replenishing. Smith is working back from shoulder surgery last season.

The Arizona offensive line, however, has more continuity among tackles with holdovers Tristan Bounds, Rhino Tap’atoutai and Matthew Lado.

Illinois transfer tight end Cole Rusk is among the “interesting portal players” added by Arizona, which lost a number of offensive weapons outside of Fifita, particularly at wide receiver in Javin Whatley (graduated), Luke Wysong (graduated) and Kris Hutson (graduated).

Outside of Fifita, star power in the eyes of Rittenberg comes in the form of junior linebacker Taye Brown, who will be in his third season with the Wildcats.

Brown earned third-team All-Big 12 honors after recording 93 tackles, including 8.5 for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. Brown will team with Chase Kennedy, who had eight tackles for loss last fall.

Arizona is bringing back both its offensive and defensive coordinators in Seth Doege and Gonzales, respectively.

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