Sold-Out Showdown: ASU Football Prepares for Historic Season Opener

By: Samantha Roseff

TEMPE, Ariz. – The anticipation for 2025 Arizona State football is electric. From a haboob sweeping through Mountain America Stadium to record-breaking ticket sales, ASU football is more than ready for the season opener. 

Following a historic run in 2024, ASU is making even more history. Last season, the Sun Devils joined the Big 12 starting the year ranked dead last in the conference, and wound up shocking the football world finishing as Big 12 champions. This year, the hunt to be the champion hasn’t changed. 

Head coach Kenny Dillingham is anticipating an “unbelievable crowd” for the season opener against NAU. For the first time since 1998, the home opener is officially sold out. When Dillingham first arrived at ASU, he challenged the community to reinvest in this program. With a 98 percent season ticket renewal rate this year, the Valley has responded. 

Home Field Advantage is Real in the Valley

ASU fans’ representation at home games slowly increased throughout the 2024 season as the belief in the program grew. By the end of the season, Sun Devil fans showed out, creating a home support that propelled the team to Big 12 championship.

“I hope it’s like last year, I hope there’s a true advantage,” Dillingham said. “I hope our guys run out of the tunnel and they’re like, ‘Holy cow,’ there’s 14,000 students that you’re staring at running onto the field after the fireworks.”

Dillingham is expecting packed stands, a roaring crowd, and a stadium that unsettles opponents, and he has confidence in the crowd to show up and show out.

 “I hope we have people cheering when we’re on defense and it’s third down,” Dillingham said. ”Which we will.”

 At InfernoFest, an event to get students excited for the new semester and fall season, Dillingham set the bar even higher. 

“I want to break the one-game student attendance record,” Dillingham said.

That game is tonight, and only time will tell. He even had the freshman “practice” the tradition of shaking their keys and getting loud on defensive third downs. 

Sun Devil Football released a hype trailer for the 2025 season. It begins with the heartbreak moment of losing against Texas in the College Football Playoff but pivots to the offseason. The Sun Devils are on the hunt to prove that the 2024 season wasn’t just a fluke. 

The trailer closes with, “y’all write the story,” and that story starts now.

Thank you for reading Sun Devil Daily! Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with Arizona State news! For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at santo.d0506@gmail.com. Also, make sure to check out the Sun Devil Daily shop for merchandise! Forks up!