UTAH UTES

Arizona State QB Listed As Doubtful In Latest Availability Report For Utah Game

Oct 10, 2025, 8:18 AM | Updated: 10:15 am

SALT LAKE CITY — On Thursday, the Big 12 released the second availability report of the week and there was a major surprise. Arizona State starting quarterback Sam Leavitt was listed as doubtful.

After initially being listed on Wednesday’s report as probable, Leavitt’s downgraded status 24 hours later was a shock. However, according to Sun Devil Source publisher Chris Karpman, it is accurate.

Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt listed as doubtful vs Utah

With Leavitt unlikely to play against the Utes due to the unspecified injury, senior quarterback Jeff Sims is expected to start in Leavitt’s place unless Leavitt’s status improves before Saturday.

Leavitt’s status was a downgrade from probable as listed by the Sun Devils just 24 hours earlier. He worked with ASU’s first team in practices on Tuesday and Wednesday, even speaking with reporters following the Tuesday session. There was no mention of injury by Leavitt or his coaches following either practice.

The Sun Devils lost the only game in which Leavitt didn’t play last season, when Sims started at Cincinnati due to injured ribs. It was also the only game in which running back Cam Skattebo lost a fumble.

Kyle Whittingham revealed no season-ending injuries vs WVU

Kyle Whittingham shared in his Monday press conference that Utah avoided anything significant on the injury front against West Virginia.

“None of those injuries were season-ending,” Whittingham explained. “Going forward, you’ll just check the availability report. But again, fortunately, not season-ending. We’ll see who we have available this week and who we don’t.”

RELATED: Arizona State Up Next, Utah Quarterback Devon Dampier: “We Have To Prove Ourselves”

Utah’s Availability Report vs. Arizona State

The opening availability list for Saturday’s contest at Rice-Eccles reveals a mix of confirmed losses and players still in the gray zone.

  • Out: S Rabbit Evans, S Nate Ritchie, WR Daidren Zipperer, TE Hunter Andrews, DE Paul Fitzgerald, S Josh Sovereign, OL Isaiah Garcia
  • Probable: DT Dallas Vakalahi

No Utah player appears on the “doubtful” or “questionable” list yet.

RELATED: What Stood Out From Kyle Whittingham’s Arizona State Week Press Conference

One sub-story: Nate Ritchie, who was carted off during the West Virginia game, is officially ruled out for this matchup. Whittingham confirmed that while the injury is serious, it’s not season-ending.

Utah plans to rely on a mixture of two-way athlete Jackson Bennee, freshman Nate Tilmon, or move cornerbacks into safety roles as depth options.

Arizona State’s Availability Picture

The Sun Devils are also dealing with attrition. Their initial report lists 10 players out, with several others doubtful or questionable.

Notable among them:

  • Out: DB Xavion Alford, DT Zac SwansDE Albert Smith III, WR Noble Johnson, QB Cameron Dyer, DL Zac Swanson

  • Doubtful: OL Desean Bryant Jr

  • Questionable: RB Kyson Brown, DB Montana Warren

  • Probable: QB Sam Leavitt, WR Jordyn Tyson, TE Chamon Metayer, DL Clayton Smith, S Xavier Skowron

RELATED: Utah Athletics Announces 2025 Hall of Fame Class

Coach Kenny Dillingham did offer a bit of encouraging news for Sun Devils fans: Jalen Moss is expected to return from absence, adding a wrinkle back into their offense.

He also suggested that DB Xavion Alford is likely still out, and DL Zac Swanson won’t probably return just yet.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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Arizona State QB Listed As Doubtful In Latest Availability Report For Utah Game