Under the bright West Texas sun, the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl delivered a heart-stopping contest between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Duke Blue Devils at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso on December 31. This matchup, a decade after their memorable 2014 clash, was billed as a collision of two proud programs—each facing adversity, each determined to close their season on a high note. In the end, it was Duke that emerged victorious, edging Arizona State 42-39 in a game defined by late drama, offensive fireworks, and the unpredictable nature of modern college football.
Both teams entered the Sun Bowl with plenty of storylines. Arizona State, fresh off an 8-4 campaign, had battled through a season riddled with injuries and roster upheaval. The Sun Devils’ head coach, Kenny Dillingham, had just signed a new contract, quelling rumors of a departure and providing a measure of stability for a program on the rise. Yet, the Sun Devils arrived in El Paso severely depleted: Dillingham confirmed that 19 players from his regular two-deep roster—including star quarterback Sam Leavitt, explosive wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, running back Raleek Brown, cornerback Keith Abney II, and defensive end Clayton Smith—were unavailable due to injuries, opt-outs, or transfers. "That’s the nature of it. You play every game to win the football game and do whatever we need to do to scratch and claw and win the football game," Dillingham remarked before kickoff.
Despite the absences, Arizona State’s spirit was undiminished. The Sun Devils, who had stunned the college football world by winning the Big 12 last year and coming a play away from a College Football Playoff berth, leaned on their remaining core. Defensive tackle C.J. Fite and defensive end Prince Dorbah anchored the trenches, while veteran quarterback Jeff Sims was tasked with leading the offense. Sims, more renowned for his mobility than his passing acumen, was expected to rely on his legs and short throws to keep the chains moving. With so many key playmakers out, lesser-known Sun Devils were thrust into the spotlight, eager to seize their moment on the bowl stage.
Duke, meanwhile, entered the Sun Bowl riding the high of an improbable ACC Championship. The Blue Devils’ season had been a rollercoaster—early nonconference losses to Illinois, Tulane, and UConn threatened to derail their campaign, but a 6-2 conference record and an overtime win over Virginia in the ACC title game put them back in the national conversation. Head coach Manny Diaz, in his first year at the helm, had quickly earned a reputation for thriving in close contests: Duke was 8-3 straight-up in games with spreads between +3 and -3 under Diaz. The Blue Devils were favored by 3.5 points, with a moneyline of -170, according to the latest odds.
Duke, too, was missing key pieces. Second-team All-ACC offensive lineman Brian Parker II, cornerback Chandler Rivers, and defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr. were all unavailable. But the Blue Devils retained most of their offensive firepower, including star quarterback Darian Mensah, who had announced his return for the 2026 season. Mensah, who completed nearly 68% of his passes for 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions during the year, was seen as a stabilizing force. Defensive end Wesley Williams, despite declaring for the NFL Draft, suited up for his final collegiate appearance.
The game itself was a wild, back-and-forth affair that lived up to its billing. Arizona State’s offense, despite being short-handed, exploded for 600 yards—an eye-popping total that underscored the resilience and adaptability of Dillingham’s squad. Jeff Sims, stepping into the starting role, orchestrated long drives with a combination of designed quarterback runs and quick passes, while running back Kanye Udoh and the offensive line bullied their way through a Duke front that had struggled against the run all season. The Sun Devils’ ability to win the battles in the trenches kept them in contention throughout, and for 57 minutes, they played nearly mistake-free football.
But as so often happens in bowl season, the game’s fate turned on a few critical moments. With Arizona State holding a narrow lead late in the fourth quarter, disaster struck. The Sun Devils, who had protected the ball so well, committed two costly turnovers in the final three minutes. Duke’s opportunistic defense pounced, swinging momentum and giving Mensah a short field to work with. The Blue Devils capitalized, scoring the go-ahead touchdown and then adding another to seal a 42-39 victory. It was a gut-wrenching finish for Arizona State, whose 600-yard offensive outburst was ultimately not enough to overcome the late mistakes.
The Blue Devils’ triumph marked their ninth win of the season, capping a campaign that saw them claim the ACC crown and now a Sun Bowl trophy. For Duke, the win was especially sweet considering the questions that had dogged them all year—could a five-loss ACC champion prove its mettle outside conference play? With Mensah at the controls and Diaz’s knack for navigating close games, the Blue Devils answered their critics in dramatic fashion.
For Arizona State, the loss was a bitter pill, but there were silver linings. The Sun Devils’ ability to move the ball at will against a quality opponent, despite missing nearly 20 contributors, spoke volumes about Dillingham’s coaching and the program’s depth. The performance of the offensive line and the defensive front, especially against a mostly intact Duke offense, bodes well for the future. As Dillingham looks to build on back-to-back strong seasons, the foundation appears solid—even if the Sun Bowl result stings in the short term.
Beyond the on-field action, the 2025 Sun Bowl held additional significance. It marked the eighth appearance for Arizona State in the storied El Paso classic, and the second ever for Duke—their only previous meeting being the unforgettable 2014 Sun Bowl, won by the Sun Devils in a late-game thriller. This year’s contest also served as the final broadcast for legendary CBS analyst Gary Danielson, who retired after two decades in the booth, adding a layer of nostalgia to an already momentous occasion.
In the end, the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl delivered exactly what college football fans crave: high drama, unexpected heroes, and a finish that will be talked about for years to come. Duke walks away with the hardware, but both programs leave El Paso with reasons to believe their best days still lie ahead. As bowl season continues to evolve with opt-outs and transfer portal chaos, one thing remains constant—the magic of college football’s postseason, where anything can happen and often does.
