TEMPE – The biggest casualty of conference realignment isn’t always a championship race or a television contract. Sometimes it’s the games fans circle on the calendar years in advance, and Arizona State’s canceled home-and-home football series with LSU is the latest example.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!LSU cancels upcoming series against Arizona State:
LSU cancels 2-game home/home series with Arizona State in 2029-30, sources told @On3 https://t.co/6r1QFCBfHS
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 20, 2026
Head coach Kenny Dillingham celebrates with wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) after a touchdown drive against BYU during the first half at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 23, 2024. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Originally scheduled for 2029 and 2030, the series was scrapped per Brett McMurphy from On3 after the SEC expanded to a nine-game conference schedule. The decision was expected, especially after Florida previously canceled its own future series with the Sun Devils. From a scheduling standpoint, it makes sense. From ASU fans’ perspective, it’s another reminder that college football’s business model often outweighs its best matchups.
Sep 6, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Sun Devils running back Raleek Brown (3) runs the ball as Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Jalen Smith (10) makes the tackle during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
For the Sun Devils, the loss extends beyond two games. Under Kenny Dillingham, the Sun Devils have intentionally pursued nationally recognized opponents. Recent games against Mississippi State and an upcoming trip to Texas A&M reflect a program eager to measure itself against the SEC while elevating its national profile. Hosting LSU would have been another opportunity to showcase the program to recruits, television audiences and College Football Playoff voters, another layer that makes the cancellation sting.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham holds up his hands after a made PAT against NAU at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Aug. 30, 2025. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As power conferences expand and schedules become increasingly rigid, premier nonconference games are becoming more difficult to preserve. Fans crave contests that compare conferences, create memorable environments and generate national conversation. Those opportunities are becoming less frequent. The Sun Devils will eventually fill the open dates, and there will be other chances to earn national respect. But losing LSU represents more than a scheduling adjustment. It represents another reminder that in modern college football, flexibility is shrinking, and some of the sport’s most compelling matchups are disappearing before they ever have the chance to be played.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
