Arizona State Could Turn to Freshman QB for Crucial BYU Matchup

Arizona State's season has been a mixed bag, with four wins and two losses in Big 12 play. The team enjoyed victories over Morgan State and Hawai'i, as well as a comeback win against Kansas State, but also suffered significant defeats, including 48-10 losses to Texas A&M and 55-19 at home against Baylor. Their most recent loss, a 53-25 defeat at Texas Tech, has raised concerns about their ability to maintain a winning record.

The Sun Devils' offense has been averaging 30.9 points per game, but their defense has been struggling, allowing 29.9 points. This lack of defensive strength makes their upcoming game against No. 8 BYU on Saturday particularly crucial. The Cougars have been on a roll, with a 6-1 record and 3-1 conference standing. However, they were also upset 39-31 by UCF just a few weeks ago, highlighting the unpredictable nature of college football.

A win for ASU could provide the much-needed momentum for the remainder of their season. Conversely, a loss would drop them to .500, potentially jeopardizing their chances of securing a bowl game invitation. With just 24 hours remaining before kickoff, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that freshman Jake Fette is set to start the game, marking his first start in college football.

This decision is not yet finalized, as sixth-year quarterback Mikey Keene is considered a game-time decision following a knee injury suffered during the Kansas State matchup.

Fette, a 6-foot-1 freshman from Del Valle High School in El Paso, Texas, arrived at Arizona State as a highly touted recruit and the team's top signing in the 2026 class. Ranked by 247Sports as the No. 9 quarterback in the country, he has already amassed an impressive résumé at the high school level, throwing for 2,737 yards and 28 touchdowns, alongside 1,105 rushing yards and 18 rushing scores.

However, Fette's college career thus far has been limited, with only two appearances this season, completing 4 of 8 passes for 58 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions.

Fette would step into the role vacated by veteran Mikey Keene, who is dealing with a knee injury and will likely start the game if he is deemed fit to play. The outcome of this game will have significant implications for Arizona State's head coach, Kenny Dillingham, whose tenure has seen mixed results. After leading the Sun Devils to an 11-3 record in his first season and a Big 12 championship in 2024, Dillingham led them to an 8-5 finish last year, ultimately falling to 9-5 this season.

Heading into this match against BYU, Dillingham's future remains uncertain, despite publicly stating his intent to stay with the program. The Sun Devils will face a series of challenging opponents in their remaining schedule, including Colorado, UCF, Oklahoma State, and Arizona, all of which could shape their season's narrative significantly.