Oregon basketball vs. Arizona live score: March Madness prediction, where to watch
Oregon basketball vs. Arizona live score: March Madness prediction, where to watch
The Oregon Ducks and Arizona Wildcats are no strangers to high-stakes games against each other, but it usually came in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament rather than the NCAA Tournament.
For the first time ever, Oregon and Arizona will meet in March Madness on Sunday night. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16 and face the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils. It would be the sixth time that an Altman-coached team would reach the second weekend of the tournament, while Arizona's Tommy Lloyd would be looking to make the Sweet 16 for the third time in his four years as the head coach of the Wildcats.
Both teams are coming off of blowout wins in the first round, and are likely feeling pretty good going into this matchup. The Ducks dismantled the Liberty Flames, 81-52, in the first round on Friday night, led by strong games from both Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad. In a game that was expected to see Oregon use their size to dominate in the paint, the Ducks came out and shot the lights out, hitting 48% from beyond the arc.
Similarly, Arizona looked flawless in its first-round game against the Akron Zips, winning 93-65. The last time the Ducks and Wildcats met was in the semifinal of last year's Pac-12 Championship. Arizona was a Top-10 team in the country and a shoo-in for March Madness, while Oregon's only road to the NCAA Tournament was as an automatic qualifier. The Wildcats had destroyed the Ducks twice already that season, but in the conference tournament, Oregon came out on top and booked their ticket to the tournament the next day with a win over Colorado.
Sunday's game will be the 61st meeting between these two teams, and that history should make for a great game.
Duck basketball fans can find everything they need to know ahead of Oregon's second March Madness game below. We will provide live score updates and analysis throughout the evening.
What channel is Oregon vs Arizona on today? Where to watch, stream live
TV channel: TBS
TBS Stream: NCAA March Madness Live app | Sling TV
Oregon will tip off vs. Arizona on TBS. Streaming options include the NCAA March Madness Live app and Sling TV. Announcers for the game are Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, and Andy Katz.
Oregon vs. Arizona start time, TV Channel, and Location
TV Channel: TBS
Start time: 9:40 p.m. ET, 6:40 p.m. PT
Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle (WA)
Oregon vs Arizona preview
Oregon: The Ducks are going to need to rely on their shooting and defense in this one, with big games needed from Jackson Shelstad, Nate Bittle, and TJ Bamba, in particular. While Oregon dominated Liberty with its size, they won't have the same luxury against an Arizona team that is equally as big and skilled. If the Ducks can make their shots, they've got a chance at moving on to the Sweet 16. However, this season has featured many cold streaks for Oregon, so it's a real question as to which offensive team shows up.
Arizona: Led by Caleb Love and Jaden Bradley, the Wildcats are a team that can put up points in a hurry with elite guard play. They also have the ability to dump it inside to Henry Veesar and pound in the paint as well. As with many games in March, this one seemingly is going to come down to who can shoot better, and if Love, who is every experienced in the tournament, can get hot, then Arizona has a great chance to move on to the Sweet 16.
Oregon vs Arizona odds, betting line, spread
Odds according to BetMGM.
Moneyline: Arizona -175 // Oregon +145
Spread: Arizona -3.5 // Oregon +3.5
Over/under: 151.5
Keys to the Game
Oregon
Control the tempo, especially on defense. Arizona likes to play with pace which helps them score a lot of points.
Force Caleb Love to take bad shots.
Force Arizona to take threes. As a team, they shoot over 20 per game but make less than a third.
Arizona
Get Caleb Love hot early.
Force Bittle into switches on pick-and-rolls to open up the paint. The Wildcats are one of the most efficient interior offenses in the country.
Protect the defensive glass. Arizona has been bad at preventing offensive rebounds and second-chance points all year.
Oregon vs. Arizona Predictions, Game Picks
Arizona 77, Oregon 71: It's not easy to pick against Dana Altman and the Ducks in March, but when going up against an experienced tournament team like Arizona, who can score in bunches, it's the gut feeling that I have. When the Ducks play their best, they can compete with almost anyone in the nation, but we've seen then subvert expectations many times this year, with long stretches of games passing by without shots falling. I like Oregon's ability to keep this one close, thanks to their perimeter defense, but in the end, I think Caleb Love and the Wildcats prove to be too much to handle.
Oregon vs. Arizona Stats
Oregon
PPG: 76.4
76.4 PPG Allowed: 70.4
70.4 FG Percentage: 45.9
45.9 3FG Percentage: 34.4
Arizona
PPG: 82.1
82.1 PPG Allowed: 72.2
72.2 FG Percentage: 47.6
47.6 3FG Percentage: 32.9
Oregon vs Arizona championship odds
Odds according to BetMGM:
Oregon Ducks: +15000
Arizona Wildcats: +5000
Oregon Ducks basketball schedule 2023-24
Below are the past five games of Oregon Ducks 2023-24 basketball season.
Mar. 4 73-64 Win vs. Indiana Hoosiers Mar. 9 80-73 OT Win vs. Washington Huskies Mar. 13 72-59 Win vs. Indiana Hoosiers Mar. 14 74-64 Loss to Michigan State Spartans Mar. 21 81-52 Win vs. Liberty Flames (NCAA Tournament) Mar. 23 Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats (NCAA Tournament
Arizona Wildcats basketball schedule 2023-24
Below are the past five games of the Arizona Wildcats 2023-24 basketball season.
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's super regional win vs. West Virginia
Five takeaways from LSU baseball's super regional win vs. West Virginia LSU baseball is headed to Omaha. After sweeping West Virginia in the Baton Rouge Super Regional, LSU punched a ticket to the College World Series. The Tigers erupted for 16 runs in Game 1 before plating 12 more in Game 2. It was just what we wanted to see from the LSU offense after the Tigers' bats were inconsistent at points this spring. Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson didn't pitch at the elite level they did in the regional, but both were good enough to get the wins. Anderson allowed six earned runs, but made it through seven innings in Game 1. Eyanson held WVU to three runs and struck out seven of the course of five innings in Game 2. Tigers' head coach Jay Johnson has now led LSU to Omaha in two of his four years in Baton Rouge. LSU's last CWS trip came in 2023, when the Tigers won it all with Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews. Before LSU continues its quest for another national title, here are five takeaways from LSU's Super Regional win. 1. LSU responded in the seventh inning LSU controlled the game early, scoring six runs in the first two innings. WVU began to stage a comeback. The Mountaineers scored three runs in the fourth and plated another in the fifth. Then, LSU had a response of its own. LSU scored six runs in the seventh inning, putting the game out of reach. It started with a two-run single off the bat of Chris Stanfield. Not long after, Derek Curiel scored on a throwing error. Steven Milam kept the rally going with an RBI double. Jake Brown capped it off with a two-run shot to center field. West Virginia had the momentum entering the seventh, and the Mountaineers were a couple of swings away from tying it up. Good teams respond like LSU did in the seventh. 2. Anderson and Eyanson were good enough Good pitchers find a way to do enough even when they don't have their best stuff. Neither Kade Anderson nor Anthony Eyanson had their best, but they combined to pitch 12 innings and both got the win. Anderson held WVU to one run through five innings, which allowed LSU to build a substantial lead. West Virginia put up some runs in the later innings, but Anderson hung in there and threw 109 pitches, keeping LSU's bullpen rested. On Sunday, Eyanson held WVU to three runs in five innings. Between the regional and the super regional, Eyanson allowed just three runs over 13.2 innings. LSU can't expect eight shutout innings from Anderson and Eyanson every night, but the Tigers proved they can win a different style of game vs. West Virginia. 3. Steven Milam was a star Steven Milam had ups and downs in the regular season, but he's been a star for LSU in the NCAA Tournament. He stayed hot vs. West Virginia. On Saturday, Milam came to the plate with LSU up 3-1 and the bases loaded. Milam put one in the bleachers to give LSU a 7-1 lead. Milam walked twice and scored two runs. On Sunday, Milam had two more extra-base hits with four RBI. Again, he walked twice and scored twice. If Milam is going to hit like this, it changes the outlook for LSU's lineup. It gives the Tigers another all-around bat in the middle of the lineup. "He will play baseball for a very long time if he takes the caliber of at-bats that he has," Jay Johnson said of Milam last weekend. 4. Potential emergence of Cooper Williams Aside from Casan Evans, LSU's bullpen has struggled in recent weeks. Even Zac Cowan has faltered after being one of the nation's most effective relievers for most of the year. LSU needed another bullpen arm to emerge -- it might just be Cooper Williams. Williams, a true freshman, was ranked as the No. 12 left-handed pitcher in the 2024 class by Perfect Game. He began his career without allowing an earned run in his first 12 appearances, but didn't see a ton of high leverage spots in the regular season. After LSU struggled to get outs last Sunday vs. Little Rock, Williams entered and pitched 3.2 scoreless innings. Then, a week later vs. West Virginia, Johnson called on Williams with the tying run at the plate. Williams delivered and gave LSU 2.2 innings, allowing just one run. That'll play. In 19.2 innings, Williams owns a 1.83 ERA this year. LSU will need a strong effort from the freshman in Omaha. 5. LSU looks like a complete team The Super Regional was LSU at its best. The Tigers have not played two straight complete games like vs. a quality opponent all year. Sure, the Tigers have found ways to win, but LSU was dominant in every phase of the game vs. the Mountaineers. This team is good enough to go all the way in Omaha. We had questions about the lineup entering the weekend. Those were answered. We know guys like Derek Curiel and Daniel Dickinson are going to produce, but when Milam, Brown, and Josh Pearson are showing off the power too, it's hard to find outs vs. this group. And Tiger fans should feel better about the bullpen now, too. LSU finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the polls for a reason. When this squad plays to its potential, it's the best in the country.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Recruiting Rumor Mill: Gigantic June rolls on as visits continue
The busiest month of June is in full swing and there is tons of news coming out every day, especially with another busy weekend in the books. Here's the latest in this Recruiting Rumor Mill from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney. MORE: Four-star RB Favour Akih staying home at Ohio State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info Penn State was a phenomenal visit for the Erie, Pa., native who's now at Carrollton, Ga., but his weekend trip to Texas A&M – long considered the front-runner – might have topped the Nittany Lions. Advertisement The Aggies' coaching staff made it clear to Barney that he's a 'need' in their program and the type of elite cornerback who can make their defense the best in the country. It might be tough to top Texas A&M as his decision gets closer. The 2027 four-star quarterback from Palestine (Texas) Westwood landed an offer from Texas after working out in Austin over the last few days. Being from Texas and landing an offer from the Longhorns is a huge deal to Bryant and he loved the 'great coaching' he got during the workout. Texas surges way up his list with Oregon, Florida State, Michigan, Texas A&M and SMU so far. After camping at Clemson, an offer from the Tigers 'would immediately put them near the top of the list' as Burns loved working with position coach Matt Luke in recent days. Luke told the 2027 four-star offensive tackle from Rabun Gap (Ga.) Nacoochee that before moving forward with an offer he wanted to meet Burns' family and that definitely made a good impression. Advertisement Tennessee is also very high on Burns' list with Florida, Maryland, Texas A&M and Syracuse up there. Working out at Ole Miss was big for Curtis in recent days as he landed an offer from the Rebels and has now set up a visit to be back in Oxford soon. The word is Ole Miss is in Curtis' top five but it wouldn't be surprising if the Rebels are even higher given his limited Power Four offers. Getting to work with position coach Randall Joyner was a huge draw for the Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin standout during his time there. An Auburn visit went well and there's talk that Oregon could move up quickly if he becomes a bigger priority but Alabama is the team to beat and is No. 1 for sure. Advertisement That's the word after the five-star safety from Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances was back in Tuscaloosa this weekend as Edwards now sees why 'Alabama has been great these past years.' Heading into his weekend visit at Florida State, the four-star linebacker from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy had Florida as his top school. The word is that has now changed with the Seminoles taking the lead in his recruitment and the 'loyalty' he's seen from the coaching staff. It wouldn't be a total shocker if a commitment was close. The three-star defensive back from La Verne (Calif.) Damien has been committed to Syracuse since late November but Utah is surging in his recruitment after he loved his visit in Salt Lake City recently. A midweek visit to Michigan State happened and then Gates will be at BYU this weekend. Advertisement A final decision should come in late July or early August as the Utes are currently the biggest threat to flip him. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH SYRACUSE FANS AT Georgia had been the leader in Goodwin's recruitment but he canceled his visit to Athens (it could be rescheduled during the season) as Oregon and Michigan have emerged as the two new frontrunners in his recruitment. SMU is also in there especially after a great recent visit there. The Ducks and the Wolverines are the two clear front-runners though as summer continues. After backing off his pledge to Mississippi State in recent days, a handful of programs have emerged for the 2027 four-star safety from Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County. Advertisement South Carolina and Tennessee could end up battling it out for him with North Carolina and Florida State as two others to definitely watch as things pick up again in his recruitment. On June 1, the three-star offensive lineman from Las Vegas (Nev.) Clark committed to Washington but since that time, Harris has landed offers from Georgia, Texas and LSU. Still, though, the word is that Harris found his 'home' at Washington and even with those major SEC offers, he doesn't seem to be second-guessing his pledge. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WASHINGTON FANS AT Haviland had a great first visit to Clemson and felt the 'family-like culture' there even though he had never been there before as the 2027 four-star tight end from Milton, Ga., loved his trip there recently. Advertisement The hold-up is that Clemson has not offered yet – even during this visit – as Haviland has more than 30 offers with Georgia and many others already involved. Hudson had a phenomenal weekend at a 7-on-7 tournament at Nebraska working with Huskers QB commit Trae Taylor and that connection could be huge as Hudson's recruitment continues. The 2027 No. 1 tight end will keep building that relationship and seeing if that momentum stays with the Huskers is crucial as LSU is going to be tough to beat along with Texas A&M. Florida, USC and Oregon are also high on the list. All this could change, though, since Hudson visited and got offered at Ohio State on Sunday as the Buckeyes join that top group as well and was a top program for him before offering. After camping at Clemson, an offer from the Tigers 'would mean a lot because I know Clemson does not mess around' and an offer would reflect they think he's one of the top players. The 2027 four-star athlete from Charlotte (N.C.) West Charlotte loved working with the coaches and loved the detail-oriented approach to the program. Advertisement An offer from Clemson would be massive as Virginia Tech, Duke, South Carolina, Ohio State and Michigan are standing out most. Texas A&M is 'definitely one of the ones at the top of the list' after a great official visit to College Station this weekend as the Aggies remain one of the favorites. Alabama is still battling right at the top for the five-star edge rusher along with Auburn and others. This could end up being a battle between the Crimson Tide and the Aggies until the end. After a great visit to Oregon last week, the Ducks had emerged as the clear front-runner for the 2027 four-star quarterback from Tacoma (Wash.) Lincoln. But the chatter now is that there has been a change since Kaho absolutely loved every single thing about his weekend visit to Washington as the Huskies have now become the team to beat. Advertisement The UW staff told Kaho he's the main priority and the top target in the 2027 class so that made a major impact to Kaho and his family. The four-star linebacker from Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial has been to Texas A&M numerous times but this was his best trip yet as coach Mike Elko and DC/linebackers coach Jay Bateman made it clear how King would be utilized in the Aggies' defense. This trip made his upcoming July 4 decision even harder as Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas round out his top four. There has been a ton of Notre Dame chatter around this recruitment so the Aggies and the Irish could battle it out until the end. Kreul set off some alarm bells this weekend when showing pictures of his Florida visit on social media and calling it his 'dream school.' Advertisement The four-star edge rusher from Orlando who's now playing at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy will be in touch with the Florida staff 'a lot moving forward' and he loves the culture of constant development in Gainesville. Oklahoma has been considered the team to beat but if the Gators have a big season then they could surge right to the top. The thinking has been that South Carolina leads for Matthews and that Texas has been making a serious move up in his recruitment but Florida State could now be the team to watch. The Cornelius (N.C.) Hough four-star cornerback had an 'incredible' visit to Tallahassee over the weekend and loves how 'consistent and genuine' the staff has been. From coach Mike Norvell to DC Tony White and position coach Patrick Surtain Sr., the Noles are absolutely in this race again especially if they can keep the momentum in the closing weeks. Miller had a great visit to Clemson in recent days for camp and hit it off with position coach Matt Luke, staffer Carson Cramer and others. He landed an offer from the Tigers and the 2027 four-star offensive lineman from Anna, Texas, recognizes how big of a deal (and how rare that is) for players in his class. Advertisement Clemson definitely made a great impression but the question will remain what kind of momentum it has especially with schools closer to home like Oklahoma and all the Texas programs heavily involved. Parks' recruitment is still in the early stages but Notre Dame is going to be there until the end after being back on campus for the Irish Invasion on Friday and because of family connections to the program. His godfather is Chris Zorich and his cousin is Tony Jones Jr. so the 2027 four-star defensive tackle from Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice has been coming to games since he was nine years old. Many others will be involved but the Irish will be there until the end and could be tough to beat. Tennessee still might be very tough to beat but Alabama is trying hard and now Michigan is giving the four-star linebacker something to seriously consider. Playing for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and position coach Brian Jean-Mary is a massive draw for Rouse and now seems even bigger about spending time with them on his official visit. The Vols still could be at the top but Michigan is closing strong. Ole Miss is still at the top of Shumaker's list especially after working out in Oxford this week and getting more time with position coach Randall Joyner. Advertisement The 2027 four-star defensive tackle from Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County loved the standard of 'not being average' as Mississippi State is the other team to watch in his recruitment but it feels like the Rebels are way out in front. The 2027 high three-star receiver from Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek has been committed to Houston since October but a recent offer from Georgia could be a massive threat to the Cougars. Starling loves the program and especially the gritty and tough culture in Athens and after a quick tour this past time, another visit is being planned as Starling is 'definitely thinking about' Georgia in his recruitment. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH HOUSTON FANS AT Penn State is 'an insane offer' for the Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms offensive tackle to receive in the last few days and it's immediately a 'top school' in his recruitment. Thom believes coach James Franklin really knows what he's doing and while he's not thinking about a snap commitment to the Nittany Lions, they are now definitely the top team with Stanford and Boston College right there. The four-star offensive tackle from New Albany, Miss., decommitted from Mississippi State earlier this month and has since visited Ole Miss and LSU in recent weeks. Advertisement 'Everything' stood out about his weekend visit to LSU and he 'loved every bit of it' as the Tigers have emerged as the new front-runner even though Oxford is less than an hour from his hometown. Wagner 'really likes Notre Dame right now' and isn't sure about other top schools which has to be a great sign for the Irish in his recruitment. The 2027 four-star offensive tackle from St. Joseph (Ill.) Saint Joseph Ogden who's been to Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and a bunch of others has so many great relationships in South Bend and the message from the coaching staff was that he's 'their guy.' The early talk on the star 2027 four-star tight end is that Georgia has an edge in his recruitment but the whispers after his Ohio State visit this weekend is that the Buckeyes have taken the lead for the Libertyville, Ill., standout. Advertisement The feeling now is that Ohio State and Georgia could battle it out until the end but after his trip to Columbus, the Buckeyes are slightly favored. The four-star receiver from Tampa (Fla.) Plant has been committed to Florida State since April and he takes his official visit to Tallahassee next weekend – and then a final decision is going to be made. Williams absolutely loved his weekend trip to Florida, hit it off with coach Billy Napier and especially has a great relationship with position coach Billy Gonzales, who could be a big factor in Williams' final choice. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FSU FANS AT The prevailing thinking is that the four-star edge rusher from Wadley, Ala., will end up at Auburn but some sources close to him believe this could end up as a battle between Texas A&M and Miami in the end with the Aggies having the edge. Advertisement Alabama has a 'slim' chance so that looks like a long shot with Auburn being right there but don't be surprised if he leaves the state. The word in Wyatt's recruitment is that Tennessee definitely leads especially after his visit to Knoxville this weekend as he and his family love the Vols. But the four-star athlete from Bell Buckle (Tenn.) Webb isn't fully comfortable with his future position as Tennessee wants him as an outside linebacker/edge rusher but Wyatt would prefer to play a more hybrid safety role like Derwin James. Georgia and Vanderbilt are the biggest threats to Tennessee especially if the position stuff becomes more of an issue.
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
Arizona State's Sam Leavitt is exactly where he thought he'd be — everyone else is just catching up
TEMPE, Ariz. — Sam Leavitt recently appeared on 'The Matt Barrie Show,' the third national interview the Arizona State quarterback had done that day. He wore a maroon polo, the top button unfastened. His sandy blonde hair was stylishly messy. Throughout a 20-minute interview, ESPN's Barrie, a popular voice in the college football media-verse and fellow Arizona State product, asked Leavitt about last season's improbable College Football Playoff run and how coach Kenny Dillingham has changed the program. He also innocently described Leavitt as a rising star and a sleeper Heisman Trophy candidate. Advertisement It's a good bet Leavitt noticed. Athletes using slights, real or imagined, storing them for motivation, is nothing new. Leavitt, however, takes this to another level. High school teammate Mark Hamper says the chip on his friend's shoulder is as big as the Eiffel Tower, but it's useful, 'and it's going to take him to some pretty big places.' This fall, with Arizona State projected to contend in the Big 12, the grudge and determination could help make Leavitt a household name. It's how Leavitt has always seen himself, following older brother Dallin Leavitt to the NFL, possibly as a first-round draft pick. The redshirt-sophomore just had to wait for everyone else to catch up. To see what he sees. 'People say I have a shot to win (the Heisman), but I'm not the No. 1 candidate,' Leavitt, 20, had said an hour or so before the Barrie interview, explaining motivation for his second Arizona State season. 'So you really think these other players are going to play better than me this year?' As a reminder, the quarterback keeps a large whiteboard in his bedroom. It's the first thing he sees every morning and the last he sees before bed. The theme — 'How great do you want to be?' — hasn't changed, but Leavitt recently added another element. On the left side, in purple marker, are 10 names, his national quarterback competition. Arch Manning … Cade Klubnik … DJ Lagway … This probably doesn't surprise those who follow Arizona State closely. Leavitt made it clear last year after transferring from Michigan State that the chip on his shoulder wasn't just motivation, but an actual character in his journey. In November, Leavitt said he had looked forward to playing against Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson, who had been ranked higher than Leavitt during the 2023 recruiting cycle; Johnson ninth, Leavitt 18th, per 247 Sports. (Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-14 Arizona State win.) More memorably, Leavitt told reporters before Arizona State's CFP matchup against Texas and Quinn Ewers that he looked forward to proving he was the better quarterback, an approach he took every game. Given the contest's magnitude — and the fact that Ewers had won 20 games and led the Longhorns to two CFP appearances over two seasons — his comments made headlines. Dallin Leavitt said his brother called and told him he was shocked that everyone else was shocked. 'Like, how do you not think that I'm better than Quinn Ewers?' Dallin recalled Leavitt saying that afternoon. (Leavitt threw for 222 yards but was picked off on the final play of a 39-31 double-overtime loss.) Advertisement Jon Eagle, Leavitt's coach at West Linn High in Oregon, did not hear the exact Ewers exchange, but he got the gist. His reaction: '100 percent Sam.' In 40 years of coaching, Eagle had seldom come across a player with more confidence. And as often is the case, disrespect turns into fuel. Asked about the chip's origins, Leavitt started with a teammate in eighth grade who told him he wasn't the best player on the team. Later, he noticed people's reactions when he said he planned to follow his older brother's path to the NFL. (A 5-foot-10 safety who lacked great speed, Dallin Leavitt wasn't drafted out of Utah State but managed to play six NFL seasons, four with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, two with the Green Bay Packers.) Every year, it was something new. You're not going to play Div. I. You're not going to be a blue-chip prospect. You'll never win a state championship. At West Linn, Leavitt was the No. 2 prospect in Oregon, but his recruitment was slow to pop. Eagle said coaches from the former Pac-12 came to watch Leavitt, but whenever he pressed for reaction, they always provided a lukewarm response. Yeah, we're not sure. He's on our list. We'll see. Eagle didn't understand. Not only did he see the arm talent in Leavitt, he saw a quarterback who processed information quickly. One who could make a mistake on one play and forget it the next. One who led the Lions to a state championship his senior season. 'There's two types of 'A' students,' Eagle said. 'There's the guy who's in the front row with his hand in the air. That's Sam. Then there's a guy in the back row that's scratching his chin, thinking about it. They're both 'A' students, but the guy up front is going to be your quarterback.' Part of this is how Leavitt was raised. His father, Jared, played outside linebacker at BYU, where he was honored as the program's best conditioned and most courageous athlete. Dallin said early football conversations around the house didn't focus on touchdowns but on physicality, as in, 'Are you going to dominate the person across from you?' Dallin's NFL journey showed Leavitt what was possible, but Dallin also credits their mother. The Leavitts grew up watching Tania Leavitt compete in triathlons. If she hiked a mountain with friends, she wanted to be first to the top. Asked about this, Tania said Leavitt comes from a large family, and as the youngest of four, he always had support. It also helped that Leavitt was good at most everything he tried. In addition to football, Leavitt also played on West Linn's nationally ranked basketball team. Then-coach Robert Key said Leavitt could shoot the rock, 'but defensively, he was a dude,' and had he so desired, he probably could have played basketball in college. Advertisement 'Yeah, I'd say pretty much everything he does,' Olivia Price said of her brother's activities. 'He was always really good at school. He, like growing up, would be singing around the house and he had a good voice — not a great voice, but a good voice. He can dance. He's just good at everything he does, and as an older sibling, it's really annoying.' But football was always the priority. Trainer Ryan Paul, who has worked with Leavitt and his brother for years, recalls Leavitt telling him as a high school sophomore that he one day would play in the NFL. (Paul's reaction: 'Well, that's cool, kid. We'll see how it goes.') Key recalls a similar exchange before basketball season. He asked Leavitt about his end result, and Leavitt responded: 'I want to play on Sundays.' 'It's funny,' Tania Leavitt said, 'because I know it comes across as super cocky, but it's kind of this, not a persona, but if you don't feel like you're the best, why go do it?' The difference between confidence and cockiness can be tricky — the former a springboard, the latter a banana peel. Dillingham says the difference is work ethic, and this is an area in which Leavitt excels, always trying to outwork himself from the previous year. Before Arizona State home games, Leavitt meditates in the facility's ice-tub room, where it's easy to get lost in the sound of rushing water. Leavitt used to try and force his thoughts into a certain mindset, but as time passed, he learned to embrace his mood. If he was mad, he let himself be mad. If he was sad, he let himself be sad. 'You're only going to play as comfortable as you feel,' he said. Away from campus, Leavitt works with a sports chiropractor, learning how to stay calm under stress. At home, he meditates in a Solodome chair, which helps promote well-being through sound therapy. Leavitt also journals, not every day, but when he needs to improve at something or make an important decision. Writing it down brings accountability. 'Sam does everything he can do to create an advantage, so if there's anything that somebody's told him that can help him win, he's going to look into it and try to do it,' Dillingham said. 'I think that's what defines Sam. He's going to open every door to try and be the best.' Advertisement In Week 6 last season, in the first half against No. 16 Utah, Leavitt faked a handoff and ran left. After a short gain, Utah linebacker Lander Barton slammed into the quarterback's side, fracturing a rib. Leavitt said it might have been the worst pain he'd ever felt, but it also might have been a blessing. He missed Arizona State's next game, a 24-14 loss at Cincinnati, but returned after the Sun Devils' off week to face Oklahoma State. And he did so with a different mindset. To protect his body, Leavitt changed his game. He thought about protections more. If he escaped pressure, he looked to throw instead of run. He did whatever was necessary to get the ball into the hands of playmakers like Cam Skattebo and Jordyn Tyson. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-21 win. Over Arizona State's final five regular-season games, all wins, Leavitt said he felt like he started to dominate mentally. ('I was killing Cover 0 checks,' he said.) He completed 66.7 percent of his attempts for 1,278 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception. Arizona State, a team picked to finish last in the Big 12, went to Arlington, Texas, to face Iowa State for the conference title and a spot in the CFP. The Sun Devils won, 45-19. Leavitt threw three touchdown passes and ran for another. After the game, Leavitt ran into Dallin. Although 10 years apart, the brothers are best friends. At AT&T Stadium, they celebrated, red-faced, yelling, chest-bumping, hand-slapping, butting heads. Dallin Leavitt saw a video of this as he left the stadium later that afternoon. He thought the moment, pure and raw, offered a glimpse into their relationship, their family and their motivation. 'It was such a cool moment because it felt like — man, excuse my language, but I don't really know how else to say it — but it felt like, 'F— everybody who doubted. I knew we were this. And I'm glad you got to show it,'' Dallin Leavitt said. 'That was the reality of it. That chip is just kind of how we function.'
