The 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl features the 8-4 Arizona State Sun Devils and the 8-5 Duke Blue Devils. Here is the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Preview.
Arizona State won nine games to make their second-straight bowl game. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams this season: Texas State, TCU, Texas Tech and Iowa State. Their lone loss to a team that didn’t make a bowl game was to Mississippi State.
The Sun Devils score 24.7 points per game, tying them for 87th in the country. They pass for 211.1 yards (ranked 85th) and rush for 188.9 yards (ranked 29th) per game.
Sam Leavitt returned at quarterback after leading the team to the CFP last season. He is now in the trasnfer portal, so Jeff Sims is expected to start. Sims has passed for 886 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions on 52 percent completion. Five players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Leading receiver Jordyn Tyson is opting out of this game, so Malik McClain will be the leading receiver after having 22 catches for 378 yards.
Raleek Brown was the top running back for the Sun Devils, but he is opting out. Sims is the team’s second-leading rusher with 466 yards and three touchdowns. Kanye Udoh, a transfer from Army, will likely get the reps at running back after rushing for 240 yards and two touchdowns this season.
On defense, the Sun Devils concede 23 points per game, tying them for 52nd in the FBS. They allow 116.7 rushing yards (ranked 26th) and 225.7 passing yards (ranked 78th) per game. Keyshaun Elliott leads the team with 98 tackles. He also paces the team with seven sacks. Javan Robinson has made plays on the ball with eight passes defended.
Duke won eight games, including the ACC Championship, to make their fourth-straight bowl game. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season: NC State, California, Clemson, Wake Forest and Virginia. All five of their losses were to bowl teams: Illinois, Tulane, Georgia Tech, UConn and Virginia.
The Blue Devils score 30.4 points per game, ranking 21st in the country. They pass for 282.2 yards (ranked 14th) and rush for 132.5 yards (ranked 94th) per game.
Darian Mensah transferred in from Tulane to play quarterback for Duke. He has impressed with 3,646 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions on 67.9 percent completion. Seven pass-catchers have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Cooper Barkate has been the most productive with 68 catches for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns.
Two running backs have done most of the work for the Blue Devils. Nate Sheppard has had a great freshman season with 962 yards and 10 touchdowns. Behind him Anderson Castle has rushed for 470 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Duke’s defense allows 28.69 points per game, ranking 91st in the country. They give up 140 rushing yards (tied 52nd) and 269.2 passing yards (ranked 128th) per game. Caleb Weaver leads the team with 82 total tackles. Vincent Anthony Jr. had 7.5 sacks to lead the team, but he opted out. Chandler Rivers was a standout in the secondary with eight passes defended and two interceptions, but he also opted out.
Duke getting their quarterback to play in this game and having less players opting out could be the difference. Mensah can have a big day against the Arizona State defense that is missing a few key pieces.
Duke Blue Devils 34 Arizona State Sun Devils 30
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