The Arizona State football team will enter the 2024 college football season with some very low expectations, according to a preseason poll for the Big 12 Conference.
How low?
The Big 12 media poll picked the ASU football team to finish 16th in the conference in the upcoming season.
16 as in last.
With Arizona State, Arizona, Colorado and Utah joining the Big 12 this season and Texas and Oklahoma moving to the SEC, there are 16 teams in the Big 12 Conference this season.
And it's not like ASU was close to being a lot higher in the poll, based on voting from media members in the conference … the Sun Devils had 141 votes, behind No. 15 Houston's 157 and No. 14 Cincinnati's 196. No. 13 BYU received 215 votes and No. 12 Baylor received 268.
Big 12 football championship odds 2024:Utah, Kansas State favored to win conference
What does a successful season for Sun Devil football look like in 2024?
The Oklahoman recently took a look at one burning question for all 16 teams in the Big 12 this season and the question for ASU really got us thinking.
The question: "What does a successful season look like?"
Joe Mussatto wrote: "Arizona State has a new athletic director in Graham Rossini and a second-year coach in Kenny Dillingham — both of whom are charged with cleaning up messes in the athletic department and within the football program after Herm Edwards’ dismissal. Arizona State will have to be graded on a curve this season."
Big 12 football title game prediction:Pac-12 reunion predicted
Betting odds put ASU football's win total at 4.5 wins in 2024
So, what would be a successful season for Kenny Dillingham and the ASU football program this season?
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Sun Devils' over/under win total odds at 4.5 wins this season, tied for the lowest in the conference.
So, according to those odds, Arizona State winning five games this season would be a success as ASU looks to put the recruiting scandal in the past and build in the second year under Kenny Dillingham.
Dillingham and his staff have been doing wonders on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, but the team lost a lot of talent in the offseason.
Is five wins possible?
Big 12 football power rankings:Kansas State, Utah lead 2024 over/under win totals odds
Arizona State football given 35.7% chance to win six games this season
How about more than five wins for ASU this season?
Interestingly, ESPN's College Football Power Index has the Sun Devils' projected record at 4.7-7.3 this season, with Arizona State given a 0.6% chance to win the Big 12, a 0.8% chance to make the College Football Playoff and a 0.1% chance to make the National Championship Game.
It gives ASU a 35.7% chance to win six games this season.
Would six wins be a successful season for the Sun Devils in 2024?
When does college football season start?Week Zero schedule, dates, games, TV channels
Not just quantity of wins for ASU football in 2024, but quality
The Sun Devils open the season hosting Wyoming and Mississippi State, before playing at Texas State and Texas Tech.
They then host Kansas and Utah before traveling to Cincinnati and Oklahoma State.
The season ends with a home game against UCF, a road game at Kansas State, a home game against BYU and then on the road against Arizona.
It's hard to quantify how many wins would be a success for the Sun Devils in 2024, because it depends on who those wins are against.
Five or more wins would be a good place to start for the Sun Devils in their first year in the Big 12, especially after the team went 3-9 in its final season in the Pac-12.
But not all wins are equal.
A victory over Arizona would obviously be deemed a huge success for Dillingham, should ASU find a way to upset the Wildcats in that final regular season game. An upset over Utah or Kansas State would also be huge for the program and its future.
What do you think a successful season for the Sun Devils looks like in 2024?
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
BEST BETS: These are the best Arizona college football betting sites
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
Local Arizona State
Most Popular
Comments / 0