Sam Leavitt Confirms Transfer Plans After Tumultuous Season at ASU

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt has officially decided to move on. After two exciting seasons in Tempe—seasons filled with big plays, grit, and real star potential—Leavitt is heading for the transfer portal. The news broke on December 8, when reporter Anthony Totri confirmed what many around the program expected for weeks.

Sam Leavitt’s future started to look uncertain long before Monday’s announcement. A serious foot injury suffered against Baylor derailed his 2025 season and eventually required surgery. Even though he tried to fight through it, starting games against TCU, Texas Tech, and Houston, the injury never improved. By the end of October, head coach Kenny Dillingham had to deliver the tough news: Sam Leavitt was done for the year.

Injuries like that often open the door to transfer speculation, and this case was no different. By early winter, there were constant whispers about Sam Leavitt’s next move. His family tried to calm things down—his brother Dallin even publicly pushed back on online transfer talk—but momentum kept building. The biggest sign arrived on December 7, when Sam Leavitt became the only team captain missing from the program’s awards banquet. When Dillingham reached Leavitt’s name during introductions, he paused and simply said they wished him well “with whatever comes next.” That moment said everything.

Behind the scenes, Arizona State faced major challenges keeping him. The college football quarterback market has exploded, with some players landing multimillion-dollar NIL deals. While Leavitt’s estimated value at ASU was around $2.7 million, other programs were dangling significantly more. The Sun Devils couldn’t match those numbers, and Dillingham basically admitted before the Colorado game that the situation was out of his control.

ASU’s on-field issues didn’t help either. The offensive line struggled badly, giving up 19 sacks in seven games, and Sam Leavitt’s top receiver Jordyn Tyson is expected to declare for the NFL Draft. Combined with the financial realities, the move to the portal became almost inevitable for the 23-year-old quarterback.

Where Could Leavitt Land Next?

With the transfer window open from January 2–16, several programs are already being linked to Leavitt:

Clemson:
The Tigers see Leavitt as a strong successor to Cade Klubnik, whose eligibility runs out after this season. His experience in a Power Five conference and his early success at ASU match well with Garrett Riley’s offensive system.

Texas Tech:
Tech just finished a breakout year behind Behren Morton and landed a top-four playoff spot. With Morton nearing the end of his career, Joey McGuire’s fast-paced offense could be an ideal match for Leavitt’s mobility and playmaking. The Red Raiders also have deep NIL resources and have shown they’ll spend big.

Vanderbilt:
The Commodores have climbed out of SEC irrelevance thanks to dual-threat QB Diego Pavia, but Pavia won’t be back next season. Leavitt’s combination of athleticism and leadership makes him a natural fit for a program trying to stay competitive in one of college football’s toughest conferences.

Where he ends up remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Sam Leavitt is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in this transfer cycle, and plenty of programs will be lining up for a shot at him.

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