The college football landscape seems to be quite tame as far as quarterback competitions are concerned this offseason – not at Arizona State.
Sam Leavitt’s unfortunate departure forced head coach Kenny Dillingham to start over. This opened the door for one of the most consequential position battles in power four football.
Mikey Keene is Safe Floor Pick
GettyKeene is firmly in consideration to start.
This battle has been a high intensity one since spring football, with Keene serving as a conduit to increase competition.
Keene is a sixth-year senior and Arizona native that brings extensive experience to the table. He has always been an ideal fit in Dillingham’s offense – the transfer portal happened to play into this pairing.
Keene’s 34 starts and cerebral approach to the quarterback position give him an inside track in vital areas, but the competition continues to rage through this.
Blake Niemann of Fox 10 captured Keene’s statement on how he sees the competition evolving following Friday’s practice.
Jake Fette is Ceiling Bet
Fette is Arizona State’s highest rated recruit (per 247 Sports) at the quarterback position since Jayden Daniels in 2019.
The highly touted prospect joined the Sun Devils in January after graduating early, and has impressed ever since. The El Paso, Texas native jumps off the page as an incredibly collected and technically sound passer.
Fette’s talent is self-evident and he is more polished than many at his age, but giving him the nod it ultimately more of a gamble compared to the other two choices. Fette absolutely deserves consideration either way.
Cutter Boley is Best of Both Worlds
GettyBoley is the expected starter for Arizona State.
Boley is widely expected to be named as the starting quarterback – this isn’t a secret.
Boley transferred from Kentucky to ASU largely due to his faith in Dillingham and OC Marcus Arroyo. While Boley made breathtaking throws while at Kentucky, he also struggled with turnovers and consistency on a rep-to-rep basis.
The hope is that Arizona State’s elevated talent and coaching staff will ease Boley into his role as a big-armed “point guard” on the field.
All of Boley’s best traits (and worst) were on display during spring football – he has to cut down on turnover-worthy plays to completely secure the starting job.
Dillingham’s Decision Will Impact Big 12 Race
Arizona State is hopeful to win a second Big 12 title in three seasons. Texas Tech is currently the favorite to repeat as champions, but the Sun Devils will have a fighting chance – if the right decision is made.
Arizona State’s floor with Keene under center is likely eight victories, but the ceiling may be limited in conjunction. Starting Fette gives Dillingham an opportunity to develop the next star, but the potential volatility might be too much to ignore.
Boley is a risk to start. While the Kentucky native is extremely talented, he comes with question marks. Boley has the ability to take Arizona State to another Big 12 title. He also has the ability to throw the Sun Devils out of the biggest games of their season.
Arizona State’s 2026 season begins on September 5 against FCS foe Morgan State.
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