Sam Leavitt’s Arizona State exit warning just turned from rumor to reality. After months of speculation on Leavitt’s transfer portal move, the quarterback’s absence at the team banquet on Sunday made things evident. When every other team captain was right up there, this made it pretty clear that something significant was happening behind the scenes.

“BREAKING: Sam Leavitt was the lone captain not at ASU’s banquet tonight, per several people in attendance,” ASU insider Chris Karpman said on X. “The other captains went on stage individually. When it came time to honor Leavitt, Dillingham told the audience that he ‘wished him well in whatever his future may hold.”

It’s hard to tell whether Dillingham is referring to the NFL or a portal move.

Last month, On3 reported Leavitt was expected to enter the transfer portal before the 2026 season. Steve Wiltfong and Pete Nakos indicated that Leavitt’s representatives are actively looking for opportunities for him. They have already planned to enter the portal on January 2.

Now that he didn’t show up at the team’s banquet, fans grew anxious, and head coach Kenny Dillingham’s emotional statement added to the concern.

“It would be cowardly not to recognize this, captain. We wish him well, whatever comes next,” Dillingham said.

Whatever might be the reason behind his absence, Karpman didn’t like Leavitt’s gesture of not being at the banquet at all.

“My opinion is that Sam Leavitt should have been at the banquet to convey respect and appreciation for his teammates and coaches,” Karpman said. “It’s pretty straightforward. Had he not been able to attend due to an emergency, that would have been conveyed. It wasn’t. So it’s a bad look for him.”

NIL emerges as the real deal behind the entire transfer portal chaos. Leavitt holds a $1.8 million valuation, with Sun Devils having deals with Powerade, PayPal/Venmo, Adidas, and Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, which already makes him financially strong.

Even AD Graham Rossini made it pretty clear that the team is ready to compensate Leavitt in the best possible way and do “whatever it takes to build a great team.”

So NIL can’t be the reason. But football factors are among the reasons.

Arizona State failed to protect Leavitt this season, allowing 19 sacks in seven games. On top of it, his top target wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson, is expected to enter the NFL Draft, which makes it more evident.

Even though Sam Leavitt’s father, Jared Leavitt, dismissed all the rumors of Leavitt’s potential move as untrue as his absence from the team’s banquet raises concerns.

Sam Leavitt’s season was already cut short after he suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot against Baylor, which needed surgery and restricted him from football activities for up to six months after the injury.

But despite that, he racked up 1,628 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He even rushed for 306 yards with five scores. Last year, he took the Sun Devils to the CFP. Therefore, losing a player like him would be a significant blow to Kenny Dillingham and the team.

For now, Leavitt’s status is uncertain, but the team is ready for its bowl game.

Kenny Dillingham’s team gets ready for the Bowl game against Duke

After missing out on the championship this season, Kenny Dillingham and his team are heading to the Troy the Tiger Sun Bowl to face Duke. A wave of injuries to key players, combined with inconsistent offense and special teams production, derailed their season. Fans were frustrated about returning to the Sun Bowl after Dillingham raised the team’s standards.

While teams like Notre Dame opted out of the bowl game after the CFP snub, and Iowa State and Kansas State backed out, citing coaching changes and injuries, Kenny Dillingham’s team is still showing up.

As they know, despite the jabs, the Sun Bowl remains a significant part of Arizona State’s football history. No bowl has hosted them more often, as this marks their eighth appearance in the game. The Sun Devils hold a 4-2-1 record in the game and have won four of their last five Sun Bowls as they look to unleash themselves.

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To sum up, ASU first stepped onto the Sun Bowl stage in 1940 and returned the following year before a long absence from El Paso until 1997, when they beat Iowa.

Now, Kenny Dillingham and the team are hoping for similar success in the Sun Bowl and to end their season on a happy note before Leavitt’s chaos hits them.