Devil’s Junkie Podcast

Win at Kansas State raises the stakes for the Sun Devils as they host BYU

(24 minutes)

 

In the blink of an eye, Arizona State's 2024 season has gone from surprising to improbable, and the icing on the cake could be for a program that was predicted to finish last in a 16-team conference to now qualify for the Big 12 championship game.

 

But first things first, and in their last home game of the year, the Sun Devils will face a BYU squad that, up until last week, was undefeated and currently stand in ASU's way of playing for the conference title. So, to review a huge road win at Kansas State and discuss a significant Saturday contest in Tempe, I am joined by former ASU quarterback, the 1987 Rose Bowl MVP, and the color analyst on the Sun Devil Network, Jeff Van Raaphorst to dive into those topics and much more..

Sun Devils continue to roll, significant road matchup ahead

(19 Minutes)

 

ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham admitted that going into the game against UCF last week, he was wondering if the fine line between confidence and cockiness was breached. Looking back at that contest, even though it resulted in a Sun Devil 35- 31 win, it does seem that it was a valid concern.

 

But that sentiment is certainly being thrown out the window now, as here we are several days before the matchup on the road with No. 20 Kansas State, and ASU finds itself already as a touchdown-plus underdog.

 

What have we learned from the win over the Knights last Saturday and how does Arizona State match up against arguably its most challenging opponent to date this season? Analyst Cole Topham breaks down ASU's performance, detailing some of the strengths and weaknesses it has exhibited not only last Saturday but throughout the season and sizes up the Sun Devils' upcoming opponent.

ASU looks to build on the momentum of bowl eligibility

(29 minutes)

The program’s turnaround in Kenny Dillingham’s second year may have been quicker than expected, as the Sun Devils doubled its win total from last season and guaranteed that they will be part of postseason play. So how much more can Arizona State improve its record, while it may not have the services of their star running back Cam Skattebo this weekend? I’m joined by Speak of the Devils co-host Brad Denny to review the convincing 42-21 road win at Oklahoma State, discuss the effective turnaround by Dillingham, and how ASU will have to deal with potentially doesn’t having Skattebo in the lineup as they host UCF on Saturday.

Can ASU make it a November to remember?

(37 minutes)

Sports are the ultimate "what have you done for me lately" type of entertainment. Therefore, ASU’s loss to Cincinnati and a bye week to extensively mull it over can cloud fans’ optimism over a current and surprising 5-2 record.

 

What have we learned about Arizona State’s season to date, and can we draw conclusions about how ASU is going to finish down the home stretch? Sun Devil network sideline reporter Kevin Turner and I discuss that topic and many others in this week’s podcast episode.  

 

ASU exceeding expectations at the season’s halfway mark, look to build momentum

(17 minutes)

Handling adversity is hard, but handling success is, surprisingly or not, is even more challenging. So, how does ASU make sure that a needle-moving win over Utah doesn’t become a flash in the pan? 1987 Rose Bowl MVP and the Sun Devil Network’s color analyst Jeff Van Raaphorst joins me to analyze the Sun Devils’ performance in the win over the Utes and talks about the productive mental approach that will be much needed for Arizona State to reverse the trend of subpar road game performances.

Bye Week mailbag addressing the fans’ questions

(55 Minutes)

 

Even at a 3-1 record, there is plenty for the Sun Devils to fix over the bye week, and the questions ASU fans submitted to me are replied in great detail in this podcast’s episode

Sun Devils show resolve during perfect non-conference record

(32 minutes)

As they are about to enter Big 12 play, and at a 3-0 mark, ASU has arguably been one of the early season surprises in the conference. What can we learn from another gritty win to project for the rest of the season? I’m joined by the Sun Devil Network’s sideline reporter, Kevin Turner, who provides his field-level insight into the Texas State win and discusses the overall trajectory of the program.

Discussing QB Sam Leavitt's play and more in ASU's win over Mississippi State

(21 Minutes)

 

There were many white-knuckle moments during the 30-23 win over Mississippi State, and the most heated postgame topic among the Sun Devil fan base was quarterback Sam Leavitt's struggles and the passing game. We invited Sun Devil Network analyst Jeff Van Raaphorst to break down Leavitt's performance and provide his insight on Arizona State's overall showing in their second victory of the year.

Beware of week one overaction after lopsided win

(29 minutes)

What a difference a year makes when it comes to ASU season openers. Last Saturday's 48-7 win over Wyoming was in sharp contrast to the too-close-to-comfort 24-21 win over Southern Utah in 2023. There is a genuine sense of excitement in Tempe, but is this a victory that has to be quickly forgotten with a higher-caliber opponent in Mississippi State coming to town?

To discuss this topic and others, I invited Brad Denny from the Speak of the Devils podcast to be my guest in this week's episode. Thank you so much for tuning in!

Discussing ASU's Big 12 Media Day Storylines

My interview on Fox Sports 910's Roc and Manuch Show detailing Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark's vision for the conference, Kenny Dillingham's comments, and more