Sitdown Series - Brian Ward (2025)

The old saying goes that offense gets the glory, but defense wins championships. If that holds true, Arizona State is in great shape. The Sun Devil defense was a strong force in 2024, consistently stepping up in the big moments, and with most of the key players returning, defensive coordinator Brian Ward is feeling pretty good heading into his third season at the helm. On this episode, Brian gives us a detailed breakdown of the position groups, a look at his defensive philosophies, discusses the impact of a player-led culture, the challenges of defending Sam Leavitt, his appearance in the new EA Sports video game, and much more.

Twenty-five years go by fast, and over that time, we've seen many outstanding Sun Devils take the field. Who is the best of the best? We unveil our All-Quarter Century Team for Arizona State football.

Skat's gone. What're they going to do without Skat? ASU will take a step back without Skat. The national narrative is out there, and the pundits have been doubling down on it all offseason long. We get it. What Cam Skattebo did in Tempe will never be forgotten. But what those around the nation may not realize is that the backfield cupboard is anything but bare. Kyson Brown was the Sun Devils' second back last year, and flashed his vast potential, highlighted by a 100-yard game against Arizona. This spring, the rising junior made a strong case to be the lead back for ASU, showing good power to go with his track speed. He leads a deep backfield that looks to keep the Devils' offense in high gear in 2025. On this episode, we discuss his growth heading into Year 3, the depth of the backfield, Shaun Aguano's influence, the meaning of his new number, and more.

The college game has changed drastically in recent years, and the recent settlement of the House case only brings greater shifts. To get clarity on what's happened, what's about to happen, and what may soon happen, NIL agent Peter Boyle of Activate Sports Management joined us in studio for a detailed and thorough breakdown of the landscape post-House.

In recent years, women's basketball has surged in popularity. Meanwhile, the Sun Devil women's basketball program has had some rough seasons. But a new era is here in Tempe, one defined by effort, chemistry, and defense. The daughter of a defensive-minded coach, Molly Miller was a standout college player before entering coaching, where she has had wildly successful tenures, first at her alma mater Drury before leading Grand Canyon University to the NCAA Tournament. Molly is now a Sun Devil, and her first few months at the helm have already begun generating a buzz in the desert. On this episode, Molly and I discuss the origins of her devotion to defense, the pillars of a successful culture, her staff, the 2025-26 roster, her go-to move on the drive, and much more.

🎶 And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day! The much-anticipated "golden tickets" have been handed out by ASU to a select few priority 2027 local recruits. Is this a good strategy? We are joined by Adam Beadle from ArizonaVarsity.com to break down the strategic pivot (13:07). Then we take a look at the latest influx of baseball transfer portal additions before getting to know new 2026 defensive line commitment Ro Derrick III (42:58).

For Jason Mohns, the Sun Devils' Playoff run of 2024 was extra gratifying. Sure, his tight ends produced an All-Big 12 selection and were an integral part of the offense's success. But beyond that, Mohns—an ASU grad, a son of a former ASU coach, and Valley high school coaching legend—was a key part of the group that finally activated the Valley. With a deep group of tight ends in his room, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting follow-up.  On this episode, Jason and I discuss reigniting Sun Devil Nation, the good reason why spelling doesn't matter as much as it did, the 2025 tight ends, strengthening local recruiting relationships, and more.

In the heat of the summer, hot takes roam free. So let's cut through the noise and find out which actually matter. Joined by Ralph Amsden, we discuss the varying national and local narratives surrounding the Sun Devils and parse out which have merit. Plus, we get to know 2026 wide receiver commit Cooper Reid (1:22:00).

If recruiting is the lifeblood of a program, Texas may be beating the heart of the Sun Devils' rise. One of the key architects of this success is Bryan Carrington, an ace recruiter who is also overseeing an ascendent group of Sun Devil cornerbacks. With a talented group of corners on the field, and the makings of a terrific 2026 recruiting class off it, Carrington is one of the most impactful members of Kenny Dillingham's staff. On this episode, Bryan and I discuss the lessons from the title run, a rundown of the 2025 corners, the state of the Texas-to-Tempe pipeline, roster retention, and more.

Sometimes, home is where you need to be. After beginning his college career with two seasons at Texas, former Brophy Prep star Zac Swanson returned back to the Valley and transferred to Arizona State. He soon had his love of the game reignited and became a key part of ASU's defensive line as the Sun Devils made their march to the Big 12 crown. He'll once again be a critical part of the Devils' defense in the trenches in 2025. On this episode, Zac and I discuss his year back in the Valley, how he made the switch from futbol to football, his growth in the trenches, the program culture, the power of a pita, and much more