When quarterback Sam Leavitt left Arizona State, many questioned his motivation. Yet in the fast-paced world of NIL, others believe his reasoning wasn’t difficult to explain. A program legend discusses his feelings about the departure.
Arizona State Legend Jake Plummer Opens Up About QB Sam Leavitt’s Departure
Leavitt and the Sun Devils made headlines in 2024 by winning the Big 12 championship. They nearly upset the University of Texas in an overtime loss during the opening round of the College Football Playoff.
Despite high hopes for the next season, Leavitt’s injury-plagued year led him to enter the transfer portal. Plummer, widely regarded as Arizona State’s top quarterback, spoke with sportscasting.com about Leavitt’s move to LSU.
He said, “I never played the game for the money. I got that opportunity again with the Cardinals in ‘98, and we beat the Dallas Cowboys for the first playoff victory in 50 years. Those kinds of things don’t happen when you’re looking for greener pastures. I just played the game because I loved it.”
“I wanted to leave an impression. I wanted to take a program like ASU and do something that people would remember. We did that. I can’t blame him for leaving, but I would have loved to have seen him stay. I wish him well, and I hope he has a lot of success at LSU,” Plummer added.
Instead of redshirting, which was the practice for many incoming freshman quarterbacks, Plummer took the starting job over.
During his career, he defeated six ranked teams, won a conference championship, and left school as the all-time leading passer in terms of yards. Plummer’s 8,626 yards are among the highest in program history, ranking 4th. As a result, when he speaks about his alma mater, it gathers attention.
Leavitt left Tempe on December 9, 2025, entering the transfer portal, where he remained until signing with LSU on January 12, 2026. He joins an LSU program that underwent major changes during the offseason.
First, Brian Kelly was fired. Then, Lane Kiffin was hired, with a budget to bring in players needed to compete for a national title. In addition to Leavitt, a significant number of transfers and recruits are expected to take the field in Baton Rouge this fall.
When healthy, Leavitt catalyzed Arizona State’s success. He only held the No. 14 slot in the PFSN CFB Offense Impact Rankings, which measure efficiency and production. Plummer’s comments reflect an alum’s mixed feelings in a college football landscape where departures like Leavitt’s are now common.
Whether Leavitt will match his previous success in the upcoming season remains uncertain.
