The No. 11 Arizona State Sun Devils opened the 2025 season with a 38-19 win over in-state rival Northern Arizona on Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt accounted for four touchdowns and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson shined in his return from injury, but penalties and uneven execution left head coach Kenny Dillingham frustrated despite the win.
Fast Start, Sloppy First Half
The Sun Devils opened strong, forcing an NAU three-and-out and then marching 59 yards for a touchdown capped by Raleek Brown’s 6-yard scoring run. On the next drive, a fake punt kept the offense on the field and set up Leavitt’s 19-yard touchdown strike to Tyson for a 14-0 lead.
From there, though, the offense stalled. ASU committed eight penalties before halftime, including two that wiped out long touchdown passes. The Sun Devils settled for a field goal on one promising drive and went into the locker room up just 17-6.
“We can’t have 12 penalties for 93 yards that cost us probably an additional 170 yards, 150 yards of total yardage,” Dillingham said. “That starts with me. I’m the end all be all when it comes to stuff like that.”
Leavitt Sparks Offense After Halftime
Leavitt jump-started the offense on the opening drive of the second half with a 52-yard touchdown run, the longest play of the game. He added an 18-yard scoring run late in the third quarter and sealed the win with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tyson in the fourth.
“Sam’s hard on himself. He’s never going to be satisfied, but he had a really good football game,” Dillingham said. “Some unbelievable throws into the pressures we were struggling picking up.”
Leavitt finished 25-for-39 passing for 283 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 73 yards and two more scores.
“I know I can run,” Leavitt said. “The biggest thing was not taking off too predetermined from last year. I extended plays while pushing the ball downfield, and that’s something I really wanted to work on.”
Tyson Returns in Style
Tyson was the game’s breakout star, catching 12 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns in his first game since a season-ending injury last year.
“I actually worked on that catch,” Tyson said of his highlight-reel second touchdown grab. “Me and my trainer worked on ball skills, and I never had the opportunity to really do it on the field until now.”
Dillingham praised Tyson’s growth on and off the field: “He’s grown up as a person. He studies ball at a high rate, takes care of his body. He’s a true pro.”
Defensive and Special Teams Notes
The ASU defense limited NAU to 89 rushing yards and just 2-for-15 on third downs, though the Lumberjacks found success on fourth down (3-for-5). Linebacker Jordan Crook said the unit wasn’t satisfied: “I think it was a solid performance but not to our standard. Too many penalties, but it was good to see everybody flying around. We know that is not our standard.”
Special teams were a mixed bag. ASU allowed one long kick return but also converted a fake punt and blocked a punt. “Other than that, I thought our special was quite great,” Dillingham said.
ESPN+ Broadcast Issues
For much of the second half, ESPN+ viewers were left in the dark as the video feed went down, causing many to miss Leavitt’s long touchdown run. ASU athletic director Graham Rossini apologized on social media: “We have to be better for our fans and our program.”
Former Sun Devil star Cam Skattebo weighed in online, suggesting a nationally ranked team deserves a more reliable broadcast platform.
Final Numbers
- Total yards: ASU 458, NAU 331
- Rushing yards allowed (ASU): 89
- Third downs: NAU 2-for-15, ASU 2-for-10
- Penalties: ASU 12 for 93 yards
What’s Next
Arizona State (1-0) will hit the road to face Mississippi State next Saturday, Sept. 6, in a key non-conference matchup. Northern Arizona (0-1) hosts Utah Tech in its home opener.
