A day after quarterback Sam Leavitt no-showed at Arizona State's annual team banquet, multiple reports say he is indeed headed to the transfer portal, which officially opens Jan. 2 and will remain so through Jan. 16.

Leavitt, who helped the Sun Devils to an unexpected Big 12 championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff in 2024, threw for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns, with three interceptions, with a foot injury limiting him to seven games. He last played against Houston on Oct. 25. He had foot surgery during the first week of November.

Leavitt did not travel with the team to road games. He was with the team at practices leading up to the Territorial Cup game against Arizona. His teammates have said he has been at the football facility every day.

Leavitt was at ASU for two seasons, following his transfer from Michigan State after the 2023 campaign. He became one of the team's most popular players, along with Cam Skattebo and Jordyn Tyson, who led ASU on its magical championship run.

Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in his only full season in an ASU uniform. That showing in 2024 earned him Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors as well, and earned him Heisman Trophy buzz heading into the 2025 season. He had a knack for delivering game-winning drives.

He struggled early with the foot injury originally sustained in the game at Baylor on Sept. 20, one of those games in which he led a game-winning drive. He tried to play through the ailment, but was ruled out of the Oct. 11 game at Utah, two days before it. He came back the following week and propelled the Sun Devils to a 26-22 upset of Texas Tech the following week.

He left the game against Houston twice and never returned after the second time. That was the last time he appeared in uniform.

Leavitt not showing up at the team banquet was a bit of a surprise, given some of his actions of the past. He has donated the proceeds from his merchandise sales back into the ASU collective and made a personal donation to the Pat Tillman Foundation.

He had other schools pursue him after the 2025 season and still returned to Tempe despite more lucrative offers elsewhere.

Reports first surfaced three weeks ago that Leavitt intended to enter the portal, although those were refuted at that time by Leavitt's older brother Dallin, who indicated Sam had not made up his mind.

The Sun Devils are losing several key offensive players, most notably Tyson, Leavitt's favorite target, who is expected to declare for the NFL draft and is regarded as the top wide receiver available. ASU is also losing most of the offensive line, as well as core players on the other side of the ball.

Whether Leavitt returned or not, Dillingham was likely going to pursue a quarterback in the transfer portal. Leavitt's replacement, Jeff Sims, is out of eligibility, and Sims' backup over the last few games has been a true freshman, Cam Dyer.

The Sun Devils have a highly touted quarterback, Jake Fette, who was part of the just-signed recruiting class.