Diablos del Sol | Arizona State Sun Devils
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Diablos del Sol | Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State Sun Devils 2027 Preview
Can Weis Jr. keep the Sun Devils from taking another step-back?
The Devil's Due Mailbag — Season Preview
By Diego Alfaro
Published: August 31st, 2027
Three years ago, the Sun Devils rode a magical second year with Kenny Dillingham to their first, and to this date, only, College Football Playoff appearance. In 2024, optimism was high with Sam Leavitt returning that they could once again reach the Playoff, but the Sun Devils faltered to an 8-5 record after a loss in the Sun Bowl.
Once again, Arizona State entered 2026 with the optimism that they could leverage Dillingham's brilliance into another Playoff run, and while they won a bowl game, it was just enough to get them to 8-5.
Now, with Dillingham gone and Charlie Weis Jr. taking his seat at the table, ASU fans are just hoping that the program doesn't continue its backward slide since the Playoff appearance.
"I'm not making any promises, but I think we're going to surprise some people," declared Weis Jr. after the Sun Devils left Camp Tontozona earlier this week.
"The offense is dangerous and we really think we shored up a lot of the deficiencies that plagued last year's defense."
The biggest difference, at least for the Sun Devils' fans who attended practice at Camp Tontozona, is at quarterback.
"I hate when you have a competition that runs into the season," complained one longtime Sun Devils fan, Ramon Cherry, "If you don't know who is 'the guy' by the end of camp, news flash, you don't have one."
"Thankfully, this year we've got one," boasted Ramon with a beaming smile.
Charlie Weis Jr. apparently agrees with the fan base, having named Austin Mack the starting quarterback ahead of their Week One clash with Big XII rival BYU.
"This doesn't mean Jake doesn't have a future in Tempe. It just means, right now, we feel Austin gives us the best chance to win."
"This'll be a critical time for Jake, in all honesty," continued the first-year coach, "How he handles this setback could define the rest of his career."
When asked what he expects Fette to do after losing the starting job, Weis Jr. was candid.
"Stay ready."
Austin Mack has plenty of toys to play with—from Raiden Vines-Bright, to Jerome Bettis Jr., and of course Austin Carlisle and Kyson Brown—meaning at the very least, the Sun Devils should remain one of the most lethal offenses in the country.
One spot AD Graham Rossini wants to see improved, markedly, is turnovers.
"We threw 24 interceptions last season between our starters. I'm not a coach, but something tells me that's a bad formula," pointed out the AD. "My goal for the team is less than fifteen, in a perfect world."
While the offense will look to continue its explosiveness with less turnovers, the defense is being remade from the ground up.
When longtime Sun Devil CJ Fite was asked about what was different for Arizona State this year, the senior tackle laughed.
"It'd be easier to tell you what's the same."
Fite quickly clarified his comments, "Which is good. We wouldn't be where we want to be at season's end playing the way we did last year."
Until they prove their mettle, the secondary will continue to be the biggest question mark for the Sun Devils.
"We know all eyes are on us, we're ready," stated a confident JaBril Rawls after Camp Tontozona. Rawls has accepted the role of leader in stride, taking the departed Ashton Stamps' role as the quarterback of the defense.
Perhaps the biggest thing working in the Sun Devils' favor, is a relatively light schedule.
"They missed Texas Tech and Baylor, same with OK State and Kansas State," noted one ESPN analyst, "WVU is obviously a marquee game. But after that? I don't see why they wouldn't be favored against anyone else on their schedule."
That's a schedule that includes BYU, Texas A&M, and Utah.
Bold words, to say the least, from the ESPN staffer. But he's not alone.
"Oh definitely," added Ramon when asked about the ASU schedule, "WVU gonna be a dogfight, but after that? BBQ chicken. We smokin em all year in the Valley."
Arizona State's season will open on September 4th when the 24th-ranked BYU Cougars travel to Tempe, Arizona in Charlie Weis Jr.'s home debut.
2027 Arizona State Sun Devils Schedule
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Diablos del Sol | Arizona State Sun Devils
Six Arizona State Defenders Make All-Big XII Pre-Season Team
Nine total Sun Devils honored prior to season
The Devil's Due Mailbag — Pre-Season All-Americans
By Diego Alfaro
Published: September 1st, 2026
The All Big-XII teams were announced today, and the Sun Devils were prominently represented. Surprisingly, it wasn't the office generating rave reviews prior to the 2027 season.
It was the defense.
The Sun Devils had six players named 1st-team All-Big XII, with nine total selections. Tackle Ethan MacKenny was the only offensive player honored, being nominated to the second-team.
"For a team that's well-regarded for their offense, the defense may finally be catching up," noted one rival Big XII AD.
For a team that spent 2026 wondering how they would improve their oft-maligned defense, they appear to be trending in the right direction, at least at the start of the campaign.
Arizona State will look to deploy their bevy of All-Big XII defenders on September 4th against the BYU Cougars.
Arizona State Pre-season All-Big XII Selections
DE Keon Keeley (1st)
DE Quintavius Johnson (1st)
DT CJ Fite (1st)
MLB Luke Ferrelli (1st)
FS Adrian Wilson (1st)
SS Martell Hughes (1st)
OT Ethan MacKenny (2nd)
LB Myles Graham (2nd)
SS Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (2nd)