ASU QB Sam Leavitt on preparing for Territorial Cup: ‘Embrace the moment’
Nov 28, 2024, 4:00 PM | Updated: 7:21 pm
Sam Leavitt #10 of the Arizona State Sun Devils scrambles with the football against Mory Bamba #4 of the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half of the NCAAF game at Mountain America Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Cougars 28-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
As Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt prepares to play in his first Territorial Cup game against Arizona on Saturday, the freshman quarterback is taking other people’s word when it comes to the history of the rivalry.
“I’ve heard a lot. I feel like you can’t really grasp it until you play in it,” Leavitt said after practice on Tuesday. “I’m gonna take everybody’s advice and go into the game and just embrace the moment and just feel the passion.”
Leavitt said he is preparing the same way for the game like any other week. He adds that him and the team are expecting a ‘highly passionate game’ from the Wildcats despite their 4-7 record and being eliminated from bowl contention following their 49-28 loss to TCU last week.
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“It’s the same as any other week. You don’t view it different than anything else,” Leavitt said. “Going into the game, it’s going to be high passion. They’re going to have a high motor and probably play the hardest they’ve played all season so we’re ready for it.”
In 10 games played this season, Leavitt has thrown for 2,153 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions while also rushing for four scores. His quarterback rating of 75.8 is 23rd best in the nation. Leavitt and the Sun Devils are looking to win the program’s first Territorial Cup matchup in football since 2021.
With the potential opportunity for the Sun Devils to clinch a spot in the Big 12 championship on Saturday, Leavitt said he is not trying to look ahead going into the Sun Devil’s matchup against the Wildcats.
“That’s in the back of your head and that’s how every single week is, you know, once you win a game, the next one is more important,” Leavitt said.
“That’s how it’s been for the past few weeks and I don’t think it changes anything with approach or how we view the game and everything like that because if you practice every single day as hard you can and prepare the same it’s not like you can prepare any harder. The game shouldn’t be any bigger and I have the same emotional stability, every single game because I prep the same way every single time so no stage is any different.”
ASU and Arizona will kick off at 1:30 p.m. MST on Saturday. Listen to the game on 98.7 FM, the Arizona Sports app or ArizonaSports.com.
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