Arizona State vs. Duke Opt-Out Tracker, Transfers, Injuries, Starting Lineups, Best Bet for Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
The Arizona State Sun Devils will take on the Duke Blue Devils in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Wednesday afternoon in El Paso. Jack Borovitz analyzes this Arizona State vs. Duke transfer portal and opt-out tracker for Wednesday, December 31st in the Sun Bowl.
Jack Borovitz - December 31, 2025, 10:30 AM EST
5 Minute ReadArizona State vs. Duke Preview: Who Is Opting-Out, Injured for Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Wednesday, December 31st
The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl brings a first-time matchup since 1998 with dramatically different roster situations. Duke sits as a -3 favorite after the line opened at -1.5, a modest 1.5-point move toward the ACC Champions that reflects Arizona State's roster depletion. The total remained at 49.5, showing market confidence in the opening number. One team lost its starting quarterback to injury and the transfer portal plus its best receiver to the NFL Draft, the other kept its quarterback and most of its starters after winning the ACC Championship.
Arizona State enters with catastrophic quarterback uncertainty after Sam Leavitt entered the transfer portal. Leavitt suffered a season-ending foot injury against Houston on October 25 and has been out since Week 9. He threw for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns before the injury, earning Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors. Head coach Kenny Dillingham confirmed Jeff Sims will start with freshman Cam Dyer getting some reps. Sims is out of eligibility after this game, going 3-1 in four starts to close the regular season. WR Jordyn Tyson, a projected first-round NFL Draft pick, opted out. Tyson led the team with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns. RB Raleek Brown (1,141 yards, 4 TDs) and multiple offensive linemen also opted out.
Duke has roster continuity after QB Darian Mensah confirmed he will return for his redshirt junior season. Mensah threw for 3,646 yards and 30 touchdowns during the regular season, ranking in the top five nationally in both categories. The Blue Devils won the ACC Championship three weeks ago, beating Virginia to cap a 10-2 regular season. RB Nyheem Sheppard rushed for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns, providing a physical ground game. WR Cooper Barkate caught 68 passes for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. Head coach Manny Diaz said the team will be without only RT Brian Parker II, CB Chandler Rivers, and DE Vincent Anthony Jr., with everyone else practicing.
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Arizona State vs. Duke Date, Time, and Where to Watch Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
- Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: CBS
Arizona State vs. Duke Odds
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | Odds |
|---|---|
Arizona State +3 (-112) | Duke -3 (-108) |
Arizona State ML (+130) | Duke ML (-155) |
Over 49.5 Total Points | Under 49.5 Total Points |
Click here for the latest Arizona State vs. Duke Odds
Arizona State vs. Duke Opt-Outs Tracker & Injuries
Arizona State Transfer Portal
- QB Sam Leavitt (also injured)
- LT Josh Atkins (792 snaps)
- CB Javan Robinson (659 snaps)
- LB Tate Romney (101 snaps)
Kenny Dillingham allows players in the portal to play in bowl if they choose to do so. He said Jeff Sims would start at QB but freshman Cam Dyer will get some reps in the game.
Arizona State Opt-Outs
- WR Jordyn Tyson
- DB Xavion Alford (injured W2)
- CB Keith Abney II
- RB Raleek Brown
- RT Max Iheanachor
- LB Keyshaun Elliott
- TE Chamon Metayer
Arizona State Potential Opt-Outs
- DT C.J. Fite (will return in 2026; expected to play)
- DE Prince Dorbah
- RG Kyle Scott
- S Myles Rowser (declared for NFL Draft but dressed for practice; TBD on status)
- DL Justin Wodtly (declared for the NFL draft but said he'd still play in bowl)
- LB Jordan Crook (declared for the NFL draft but should still play)
Arizona State Injuries
- CB Rodney Bimage Jr. (hasn't played since Week 12; 177 snaps)
- OL Ben Coleman (lost for year in Week 7)
- DE Clayton Smith (recent knee surgery)
Duke Opt-Outs
- Starting RT Brian Parker II
- CB Chandler Rivers
- DE Vincent Anthony Jr.
DE Wesley Williams declared for NFL draft, but Manny Diaz says he expects him to play. Diaz also stated everybody else besides the three above are practicing.
QB Darian Mensah considered entering the NFL Draft but will return to Duke for his redshirt junior season.
Duke Injuries
- CB Kimari Robinson (missed ACC title game)
- DE Bryce Davis (missed ACC title game; 155 snaps)
- S Terry Moore (been out all year; will be drafted)
Arizona State vs. Duke Odds Breakdown - Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Arizona State's offensive limitations became glaring after Leavitt's injury. The Sun Devils ranked outside the top 100 nationally in points per play and sat near the bottom in third-down conversion rate during the regular season. Sims provided steady management in his four starts, going 3-1 with a notable win over Texas Tech, but without Tyson and Brown, the Sun Devils lack explosive playmakers. The defense ranked 19th nationally by allowing just 3.4 yards per rush attempt and 72.3 percent red-zone scoring, showing elite performance in critical situations, but the offensive depletion puts enormous pressure on a unit facing Duke's balanced attack.
Duke finished the season with momentum after winning the ACC Championship. Mensah averaged over 280 passing yards per game while Sheppard provided a physical rushing presence that complemented the passing attack. The Blue Devils ranked inside the top 20 in points per play and third nationally in fourth-down conversion rate, showing an aggressive approach that creates extra possessions. Duke forced multiple takeaways six times in the final ten games, showing ball-hawking ability against an Arizona State offense missing its starting quarterback and top receiver.
From a market perspective, the line raised from -1.5 to -3 toward Duke, showing respected money backing the ACC Champions despite being the favorite. The total remained unchanged at 49.5, suggesting the market efficiently priced Arizona State's offensive limitations from the opener. Duke went 6-6-1 ATS during the regular season while Arizona State finished 5-6-1, demonstrating relatively equal market efficiency. The Blue Devils have shown strong second-half adjustment tendencies and aren't shy about extending drives with fourth-down aggression.
Arizona State vs. Duke Best Bet
- Pick: Duke -3 (-108) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
The roster disparity decides this matchup. Duke has its starting quarterback, leading rusher, and top receiver all playing after winning the ACC Championship three weeks ago. Arizona State lost its starting quarterback to injury and the portal, lost its top receiver and running back to opt-outs, and enters with a sixth-year senior making his final start and an inexperienced freshman. The Sun Devils' offensive efficiency ranked outside the top 100 nationally even with their full roster. Laying a field goal lead with the more complete team coming off championship momentum is the right side in El Paso.
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