A Schedule That Tests Every Facet
Arizona State enters the 2024 campaign with a win projection of only 6.5 games, a figure that reflects the program's recent struggles. Over the last two years the team managed just 19 victories combined, leaving the coaching staff with a narrow margin for error as they navigate one of the most challenging schedules in the Big 12.
The non‑conference opener against Morgan State on September 5 offers a modest foothold before the real battles begin. Morgan State finished the previous season 4‑8, but the game will serve as a litmus test for a Sun Devils squad eager to build early momentum.
The early conference stretch includes a trip to face Baylor on October 3, a team that narrowly edged ASU 27‑24 last season with a last‑second field goal. Baylor will be without quarterback Sawyer Robertson but will welcome Florida transfer D.J. Lagway, while coach Dave Aranda's seat is reportedly under pressure after a 5‑7 finish.
Arizona State will also test itself against Central Florida on November 14, a program that slipped to 5‑7 last year but is counting on new quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who is recovering from a torn ACL. The Knights, once a 9‑4 team, will look to rebound under fresh leadership.
The schedule then shifts to a high‑profile road test at Colorado on November 7, where the Sun Devils will meet a Buffaloes team that went 3‑9 a year ago but added wide receiver Danny Scudero, who topped the nation with 1,297 receiving yards at San Jose State.
Later in the season, Arizona State travels to Kansas for a London fixture on September 19, a game complicated by time‑zone changes and the novelty of playing overseas. The matchup against a Kansas team that finished 5‑7 but is led by senior quarterback Avery Johnson promises to be a pivotal moment in the conference race.
The final stretch brings a home showdown with Arizona on November 28, a rivalry that will be complicated by the Wildcats' multiyear starter at quarterback and a defense anchored by coach Danny Gonzales. Additional road tests against BYU, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M will round out a schedule that, according to Phil Steele, ranks as the 33rd toughest in the nation.