Alright, college football fans, strap in—because Greg McElroy just shook the table with a take that might have Colorado fans losing their minds. Well, Deion Sanders’ squad just had a wild 2024 season, finishing 9-4. His two-way star Travis Hunter won the Heisman, and both he and Shedeur are on NFL’s radar as potential top draft picks down the road. Now you’d think the Buffaloes would be front and center in grabbing that spotlight next year, right? Especially with all their offseason recruiting moves. But nope. McElroy has another name in mind. And let’s just say things are about to get spicy in the Big 12.

On February 24th, Greg McElroy hopped on his podcast, Always College Football with Greg McElroy, and dropped a bombshell prediction: Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt could be the guy to steal the Heisman shine in 2025. “They bring back 35 of their 44-man to deep, including their quarterback Sam Leavitt, who—I really believe this—I think when we fast forward to the middle of the year, Sam Leavitt’s got a chance to be in the Heisman Trophy conversation. I think his ceiling’s that high,” McElroy said.

Wait, hold up. Arizona State? The same team that was projected to finish dead last in the Big 12 in the 2023 season? Yep. But then they went and flipped the script, shocking everybody by taking home the conference title and making a College Football Playoff run before getting clipped by Texas in an absolute war at the Peach Bowl. And a big reason for that? Sam Leavitt.

Leavitt was cooking all season long, slinging it for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns, only six picks, and a solid 61.7% completion rate. And don’t sleep on his legs—he also put up 443 rushing yards and five TDs on the ground. The man’s got wheels for days. The Sun Devils’ trident-thrower was so nasty in 2024 that he walked away with Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection.

And McElroy isn’t just high on Leavitt—he’s giving love to his right-hand man, wideout Jordyn Tyson. “I also don’t think he had some outrageously deep wide receiver core. He really had just one guy, but that one guy in Jordyn Tyson was pretty dang good.” Junior wideout Jordyn Tyson was straight-up Leavitt’s go-to guy, turning defenses inside out with his playmaking skills. He was putting up numbers before bad luck hit—he went down in the second half against Arizona on November 30, knocking him out for the postseason. But before that? He was straight torching secondaries.

Tyson racked up 75 catches for 1,101 yards, averaging a mean of 14.7 yards per grab, and punched in 10 touchdowns. Five of those games? He went over the century mark, including a wild 12-catch, 176-yard, two-TD show against Kansas State on November 16. The man wasn’t just cooking—he was serving five-star meals. AP took notice, slapping him with a Third-Team All-America nod, and the Big 12 crowned him Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Safe to say, when he was on the field, DBs were catching nothing but Ls. Ain’t gonna lie, Texas is low-key lucky that Tyson didn’t play.

“I’m telling you—Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson, those two together, quarterback and wide receiver, respectively, they’re going to be in a really good spot.” In simple words, they finna cook in the 2025 season.

Greg McElroy’s bold prediction for 2025 season

Greg McElroy wasn’t low-key done yet. Not only is he backing Leavitt for Heisman contention, but he’s also got Arizona State pegged as a legit playoff contender next season. And guess who he’s NOT hyping up? Deion’s Colorado Buffaloes.

“I think the schedule’s pretty manageable,” McElroy said. “They have three very tough games that are all on the road—at Utah, at Iowa State. But we’ll get a good indicator of what they’re capable of when they go on the road to Starkville to take on Mississippi State…I look at their playoff forecast, And while, you know, Kenny Dillingham’s going to continue to bang the drum about, ‘Hey, nobody respects us, nobody has any of this.’ I’m sorry to be the rat poison coach, but I think the playoff forecast for Arizona State next year is actually likely. I think you have a real chance to get back and win the Big 12 yet again.”

Translation? Arizona State’s got a real shot at running it back for the Big 12 crown and maybe even a playoff bid. That’s gotta sting for Colorado fans, who are banking on a big 2025 season with the additions of Julian Lewis and Kaidon Salter at QB, plus a nasty transfer portal haul.

ASU’s schedule sets them up for success, too. After some warm-up games against Northern Arizona, Mississippi State, and Texas State, they hit Big 12 play against Baylor, Utah, and Texas Tech. And a must-watch showdown against Colorado on November 22—potentially the biggest game of the Big 12 season.

So, while the Buffs are stacking talent and looking for redemption, McElroy’s rolling with the Sun Devils and their rising star QB. Arizona State came out of nowhere in 2024—who’s to say they won’t do it again? And if Leavitt keeps balling like he did last season. Don’t be surprised if he’s standing in New York come December 2025, posing with that Heisman Trophy. Deion and the Buffs better take notes—because McElroy just put them on notice.