The Big 12’s perfect bowl record didn’t make it through the Sun Bowl, as Arizona State fell in a 42-39 shootout to Duke. It was a game that had just about everything-big plays, big mistakes, and a whole lot of points-but in the end, it was the Blue Devils who walked off the field with the win, handing the conference its first postseason blemish.
For Arizona State, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Not only because the game was within reach, but because this loss came against a Duke team that, while solid, didn’t exactly look unbeatable.
And for Texas Tech fans watching from home, it probably stung a little extra. The Red Raiders’ only loss in the latter part of the season came at the hands of these Sun Devils.
Seeing them go down in a winnable bowl game doesn’t exactly help the narrative.
Still, if you were just a college football fan looking for entertainment, the Sun Bowl delivered. Both teams came out firing, and the scoreboard reflected that.
Arizona State’s offense kept pace all afternoon, but late mistakes and missed opportunities proved costly. A three-point margin in a game like this often comes down to just one or two plays-and that was certainly the case here.
As the dust settled, reactions poured in from all corners of the college football world. Some fans were frustrated, pointing to turnovers and mental errors that flipped the game.
Others, however, saw the silver lining. Arizona State was missing 16 players, and they were leaning heavily on young, untested talent.
Given the circumstances, there were flashes of promise that shouldn’t be overlooked.
One fan put it plainly: “Minus 16 players playing Duke at nearly full strength. This game is encouraging.
Young talent is promising.” That’s a sentiment echoed by many who’ve followed this team closely all year.
The Sun Devils may have lost the game, but they showed fight-and more importantly, they showed potential.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham has been a constant source of energy for this program, and while this season didn’t end the way the Sun Devils hoped, there’s a growing belief that he has the tools-and the vision-to get Arizona State back on track. As one fan tweeted, “Tough loss, but future is DEFINITELY looking bright. As long as Dilly is still in charge, we’re good.”
And that optimism isn’t unwarranted. Arizona State’s season has been a roller coaster, no question.
There were frustrating moments, sure, but also stretches of real growth. The Sun Bowl loss, while disappointing, doesn’t erase the progress that’s been made.
Duke fans, for their part, were gracious in victory. One supporter acknowledged the physical, penalty-filled nature of the game but still tipped their cap to Arizona State: “Great game, Arizona State. It may have been a little too feisty… but it was a lot of fun to watch.”
Of course, not everyone was in a forgiving mood. Some fans from rival programs didn’t hold back, criticizing Arizona State’s execution down the stretch.
“Two boneheaded mistakes at the worst time,” one fan wrote. “Had the win right in your hands.”
That’s the nature of bowl season-every snap is magnified, and every misstep is dissected. But for Arizona State, the bigger picture still matters. This was a young, shorthanded team that went toe-to-toe with a capable opponent and nearly pulled it off.
Yes, the Big 12 took a hit in the bowl standings. Yes, it’s a frustrating way for Arizona State to end the year.
But this program, under Dillingham’s leadership, is trending in the right direction. The Sun Devils may be down, but they’re far from out.
Keep an eye on them in 2026.