A Dark‑Horse Forecast for 2026
Arizona State’s 2024 season will be remembered as the year the Sun Devils turned a modest preseason outlook into a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth. The victory was not just a one‑off; it set the stage for a 2026 campaign that many analysts now label a genuine dark‑horse.
Oddsmakers have taken notice. BetMGM Sportsbook listed the Sun Devils tied for eighth in the conference odds to win the Big 12, a placement that reflects both respect for their recent surge and caution about sustaining it. Paul Myerberg, a veteran college football writer, described Arizona State as the Big 12’s “sleeper” team for the upcoming playoff, emphasizing the combination of experience and new talent.
The key to that projection lies on the line of scrimmage. The program’s top transfer class bolsters the offensive front, addressing the biggest weakness exposed in earlier seasons. By shoring up protection and opening lanes for the backfield, the Sun Devils aim to convert the explosive playmaking that carried them to the playoff into a more balanced, repeatable attack.
While the Big 12’s hierarchy still favors Texas Tech, BYU, Utah and Houston, the sleeper narrative extends beyond the Sun Devils. Washington holds a similar status in the Big Ten, Oklahoma in the SEC, and Clemson in the ACC. Yet the common thread is clear: teams that can blend proven leadership with high‑impact transfers often emerge as the surprise packages that reshape playoff brackets.
For Arizona State, the path to another upset hinges on continuity. Head coach Kenny Dillingham, who guided the 2024 run, must keep the roster cohesive while integrating new pieces. If the offensive line clicks early and the transfer acquisitions adapt quickly, the Sun Devils could once again defy expectations and punch a ticket to the playoff, proving that their 2024 breakthrough was not a fluke but the beginning of a new era.