With the expansion of the Big 12 Conference up to 16 teams, the media’s preseason poll is in and ASU football was dead last.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to the X (formerly Twitter) graphic below presented by the Big 12, ASU received just 141 points which was the lowest total out of any school in the conference. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils’ arch-rival Arizona was voted No. 5 in polling with 762 points and received three first-place votes.
The people have spoken… allow us to present the 2024 #Big12FB Media Preseason Poll ???? pic.twitter.com/9JQw1J21Fv
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) July 2, 2024
At the top of the list, former Pac-12 program Utah received the most points (906) and first-place votes (20) as they are projected to be the No. 1 team. Also making the switch from the Pac-12 to the Big 12, Colorado had 400 points, slotting in at No. 11.
When examining why the media determined Arizona State to be the worst out of the conference going into the season, there are numbers to back up its argument.
ASU went 3-9, allowed 31.8 points per game and was blown out by 25-plus more times (4) than they won a game last season. They also were dealt with arguably the hardest schedule, with upcoming matchups against all of the top five teams on the poll.
They do have two four-star recruits joining the team this year in O’Dea (Wash.) High School running back Jason Brown and Tualatin (Ore.) High School tight end Jayden Fortier which can be promising, but the media does not believe they can both single-handedly lift ASU higher, according to the polls.
There were also no ASU players named on the preseason All-Big 12 Team, which was released Tuesday as well. In comparison, five Arizona Wildcats made the list: wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, punter/kicker Tyler Loop, linebacker Jacob Manu and defensive back Tacario Davis.
It will be interesting to see how everything pans out when considering where the Sun Devils program is at. With defensive end BJ Green transferring to Colorado after being a second-team All-Pac-12 honoree and no newcomers named to any all-conference teams at another Power Four school in 2023, the upgrade in competition will soon reveal whether ASU is in danger of another horrid season or if they prove the doubters wrong.
ASU football carrying on rich tradition of holding camp in Payson at Camp Tontozona
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
