Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt ready to ‘run the show’ in Year 2

Sam Leavitt has a larger leadership role for the ASU football team entering 2025.

Jul 9, 2025, 1:24 PM Updated: Jul 10, 2025, 1:19 pm

After taking the Big 12 by storm in his first year as Arizona State won the Big 12 title and earned a College Football Playoff berth, Sam Leavitt is eager for a larger role within the offense heading into the new season.

Leavitt’s efforts last year didn’t go unnoticed. He won the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and was recently named Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

He posted an efficient year under center in 2024, throwing for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

Going into year two, Leavitt says his understanding of the game has grown. So has his comfort. Now he is ready to assume the role as one of the team’s primary leaders.

“Just from the beginning of the year to the end, I feel like my progress was night and day, and I don’t know if it was necessarily my knowledge of the game got so much greater,” Leavitt said at Big 12 Media Day on Tuesday. “You know, I definitely grew a little bit, but it’s comfortability within playing the game.

“Under that stage, commanding an offense, things along those lines. So now the fact that that’s the base, it’s just going to be an ascending trajectory from there and just all the guys who are going to be bought into me and listen to me when I say things and the checks that I’m going to get to and command of the offense. I’m really excited just to run the show.”

Leavitt and the Sun Devils had low expectations heading into last season.

They were ranked dead last in the Big 12’s 2024 preseason rankings, and although expectations are now high for Arizona State to replicate last season’s success, the Sun Devils have all the tools to do just that.

Cam Skattebo’s departure for the NFL allows for Leavitt to step into a more prominent role within the offense and continue to build his relationships with his receivers and teammates. His connection with wideout Jordyn Tyson last season became electric before the receiver’s injury, and the offense will be counting on both second-year starters to build on that.

The defense also has high expectations after retaining 10 out of their 12 starters.

A Big 12 title game and Peach Bowl appearance certainly helped provide Leavitt with some pressure-cooker experiences to learn from.