As Duke, Arizona State Are Matching Up In Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Wednesday In El Paso Texas Darian Mensah , Jeff Sims Are Starting At Quarterback Position Instead Of Darian Mensah , Sam Leavitt
Tony the Tiger is on Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal box!
As Duke, Arizona State are matching up in Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Wednesday in El Paso Texas Darian Mensah , Jeff Sims are starting at quarterback position instead of Darian Mensah, Sam Leavitt because Sam Leavitt had season ending surgery to repair lingering foot injury that he sustained in Arizona’s State ‘s 27-24 win over Baylor on Saturday September 20, 2025 in Waco Texas and also entered his name into transfer portal on December 9, 2025.
At the time of Sam Leavitt’s foot injury Arizona Head Coach Kenny Dillingham shared his thoughts by saying It's definitely something that's been lingering all year,this week. "It's definitely something that could definitely turn into that (long-term) for sure, just because it hasn't progressed like we hoped. He's been dealing with this for pretty much the whole year. He hasn't been at full speed, so we'll definitely reassess it during the bye and make a decision from there."
According to Adam Rittenburg ESPN Article https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46792467/arizona-state-qb-sam-leavitt-foot-season-ending-surgery
Following Sam Leavitt entering his name into transfer portal Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham shared his thoughts by saying "I'm going to leave that to Sam's team out of respect for him,""I love Sam. He grew so much here. ... Whatever his future holds I wish him nothing but the best. I absolutely want to see him succeed."
According to Paolo Uggetti ESPN article https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47261001/leavitt-tells-arizona-state-enter-portal
In 2025 regular season Darian Mensah who is a sophomore threw for 3,646 yards , 30 touchdowns, had 5 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 78.1.
In 2025 regular season Jeff Sims who is a senior threw for 886 yards 7 touchdowns , had 5 interceptions had a quarterback rating of 55.9 %
Jeff Sims is familiar with Duke because he played for Georgia Tech who like Duke is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference as a freshman, sophomore, junior from 2020-2022.
According to espn app
Jeff Sims started 10 games as a true freshman in 2020 and was one of the top freshman quarterbacks in the country. He passed for 1,881 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing for 492 yards and six touchdowns. Sims was named ACC Rookie of the Week three times, becoming only the first Yellow Jacket since Calvin Johnson to earn the honor three times. Sims was the first true freshman to start a season opener for Tech since 2003, and he threw for at least 200 yards four times. Sims made a quick impression with 277 yards passing and 64 rushing yards in his collegiate debut at Kenny Dillingham-coached Florida State. Sims was the only freshman and one of nine FBS players in 2020 to rush for 100 yards and throw three touchdown passes in a single game, an accomplishment he achieved against Duke.
Sims was ranked as a four-star prospect and one of the top dual-threat
Sims played in seven games with six starts in 2021, passing for 1,468 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Sims highlighted his season by coming off the bench against North Carolina to account for 240 yards and four touchdowns to lead Tech to a 45-22 win over the 20th-ranked Tar Heels. He threw for a career-high 359 yards against eventual ACC champion Pitt, the most by a Tech quarterback in 20 years. He added a 297-yard passing effort with three touchdowns at Duke a week later. Sims notched his second 300-yard passing game of the season with 300 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia, while also rushing for 65 yards in the game. He was named to the ACC All-Academic team for his academic achievements.n 2022, Sims started seven games before being sidelined with an injury. He threw for 1,115 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 288 yards and a touchdown. His top game came against Duke, when he threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards to lead Georgia Tech to a 23-20 win.
According to Jeff Sims biography https://thesundevils.com/sports/football/roster/season/2024/player/jeff-sims
Duke is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl with record of 8-5 because Duke was crowned the Atlantic Coast Conference Champion on Saturday December 7, 2025 in Charlotte with 27-20 win over 16th ranked Virginia.
It took overtime for Duke to top 16th ranked Virginia 27-20 to win ACC Championship Saturday night in Charlotte as tight end pass Jeremiah Hasley caught 1 yard pass for touchdown from quarterback Darian Mensah , Cosme Salas kicked, make extra point.
Before Duke won in overtime topping Virginia 27-20 in the 1st quarter Jeremiah Hasley caught 12 yard pass from Darian Mensah Todd Pelino kicked, made extra point giving Duke 7-0 . In the 2nd quarter Jmari Taylor who is running back for Virginia caught 11 yard pass from Chandler Morris , Will Bettridge kicked, made extra point evening score 7-7 before Nate Sheppard who is running back for Duke ran for 16 yard touchdown , Todd Pelino kicked, made extra point putting Duke ahead 14-7 . In the 3rd quarter both Duke, Virginia kicked field goal Will Bettridge kicking , making 24 yard field goal to cut Virginia’s deficit Duke’s lead to 14-10 before Duke added to their lead with Todd Pelino kicking, making 29 yard field goal . In the 4th quarter Todd Pelino would kick, make 23 yard field goal extending Duke’s lead to 10 points to 20-10 before Virginia’s Will Bettridge would kick, make 42 yard field goal getting Virginia within 20-13 before wide receiver Eli Wood would catch 18 yard pass from quarterback Chandler Morris , Will Bettridge would kick, make extra point evening the game at 20 points a piece forcing overtime.
According to ESPN App
With Duke topping 16th ranked Virginia 27-20 in overtime to win ACC Championship Saturday Duke’s record improves to 8-5 on the season!
Following Duke topping 16th ranked Virginia 27-20 in overtime to win ACC Championship Saturday night in Charlotte as Jeremiah Hasley caught 1 yard touchdown from Darian Mensah , Cosme Salas kicked, made extra point Head Coach Manny Diaz shared his thoughts on his team by saying “Their belief in each other and the things we’ve gone through this year,”
and the mental toughness of these guys, they were rewarded tonight. We said we were going to win it the Duke way. We were going to win it on the last play of the game. Luke Mergott won the game on the last play of the game.
Following Duke topping 16th ranked Virginia 27-20 in overtime to win ACC Championship Saturday night in Charlotte as Jeremiah Hasley caught 1 yard touchdown from Darian Mensah , Cosme Salas kicked, made extra redshirt junior Defensive End Wesley Williams shared his thoughts by saying For me,”I’ve only been here for four years, but how far we’ve come in those four years, is magical, honestly. It’s nothing but God’s grace and hard work. We just stand on that every day.
According to Stephen Wiseman News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article313317709.html
Arizona State is a member of Big 12 Conference comes into Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl with record of 8-4 because they lost their final regular season game to Arizona Friday November 28, 2025 23-7 because Arizona State then ranked 20th only scored one touchdown . That touchdown came in 2nd quarter when starting quarterback ran for 27 yards, Jesus Gomez kicked, made extra point giving Arizona State 7-0 lead . The rest of the way it all Arizona as Arizona defensively forced 5 turnovers while offensively Michael Salgado - Medina kicked, made 47 yard field goal getting Arizona on scoreboard at 7-3 . In the 3rd quarter Cameron Barmore caught 9 yard pass from quarterback Noah Fifita , Michael Salgado Medina kicked, made extra point giving Arizona the lead 10-7 before Michaell Salgado Medina kicked, made 49 yard field goal extending Arizona ‘s lead over Arizona State 13-7 . In the 4th quarter Michael Salgado Medina kicked, made 29 yard field goal extending Arizona ‘s lead over Arizona State 16-7 before Arizona running back Kendrick Reescano would put finishing touch on the game scoring a 1 yard running touchdown making final score 23-7 Arizona.
Following 23-7 loss to Arizona Kenny Dilingham described the moment as horrible emphasizing the year long repercussions in the city but pivoting to the teams overall body of work highlighting their transformation from a dead program to achieving eight win season focusing on future development while securing an enhanced contract following Michigan rumors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m3l2rRy65M
Kickoff is set for 2:00pm Eastern Time 12:00pm Mountain Time from Sun Bowl Stadium that is home to UTEP Miners Football
The game is going to be televised on CBS with Brad Nessler , Gary Danielson, Jenny Dell commentating!
Brad Nessler is a college football and college basketball play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports. In May 2016, Nessler was named the lead play-by-play announcer for the CBS Sports’ college football coverage. He is teamed with Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell calling the BIG TEN on CBS.
Nessler previously worked for CBS Sports from 1990-92 on college football, NFL, as well as men’s and women’s basketball, including the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship game. As well as the Network’s host for speed skating coverage at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France.
Nessler began his professional broadcasting career as a play-by-play radio announcer for WGST-AM in Atlanta, Ga. from 1980-85. Throughout his time with WGST, Nessler served as a play-by-play announcer for Georgia Tech basketball and later the Atlanta Falcons. Following his assignments with WGST, Nessler served as a radio play-by play announcer for various National Football League teams, including the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins.
Before returning to CBS Sports, Nessler had an illustrious 24-year career at ESPN. From 1992-97, he called college basketball games and Big Ten football. Beginning in 1997, Nessler served as an analyst for ABC for various sports and events including college basketball, the Bowl Championship Series title game and most prominently with college football. From 2002-04, he served as an announcer for ESPN and ABC’s coverage of the National Basketball Association. After ESPN began its coverage of Monday Night Football in 2006, Nessler served as a contributor calling various games between 2006-11. He most recently called the ESPN College Football Primetime game on Saturday nights and the College Football Playoff semifinals.
In addition to his various ESPN assignments, Nessler also served as play-by-play announcer for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football package on NFL Network from 2011-13.Gary Danielson, a 13-year National Football League veteran and former Purdue University quarterback, joined CBS Sports as lead analyst for the CBS Television Network’s coverage of college football in 2006. He is paired with Brad Nessler and Jenny Dell, calling the BIG TEN on CBS.
Danielson joined CBS Sports after having served as analyst for ABC Sports for the nine years (1997-2005). Since 1990, he served as an analyst for ESPN’s college football broadcasts. Before joining ABC Sports, Danielson provided analysis for the Detroit Lions preseason football games.
After playing for three teams in the World Football League from 1974-75 (New York Stars, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Wind), Danielson signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 1976. He became the third all-time leading passer in Lions history. In 1985, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns where he spent four seasons before retiring in 1988. During his 13-year NFL career, Danielson passed for 13,764 yards.
Danielson was a part-time anchor/reporter at WDIV-TV (Detroit) during the off-season while a member of the Lions. And in Cleveland, he also co-hosted a sports talk show.
A 1973 graduate of Purdue University, Danielson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Management, and earned a Master's degree in Physical Education from Purdue in 1976.
Gary Danielson is calling it a career is retiring following 2025 season he announced back on March 26, 2025
Gary Danielson shared his thoughts on calling it a career retiring by saying "I have discussed the timing of this moment with CBS Sports leadership over the past few years and we felt it was important I remained with the team during our transition to the Big Ten. As we enter our second full season of Big Ten football and my 20th at CBS Sports, the timing just feels right,"
Jenny Dell serves as CBS Sports’ lead college football reporter, working alongside Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson, to call the Network’s top game each week, including the BIG TEN on CBS. She also anchors coverage on CBS Sports HQ. Dell, who joined CBS Sports in 2014, previously served as the lead college football reporter on CBS Sports Network and has worked games as a sideline reporter for THE NFL ON CBS and SEC ON CBS.
From 2016-21, Dell hosted Campus Eats on Big Ten Network, which provides a first-hand look at the unique and iconic restaurants found across Big Ten Country. Prior to joining CBS Sports, Dell served as a reporter for New England Sports Network’s coverage of the Boston Red Sox, delivering in-game reports, as well as news, updates and interviews for the NESN’s pre- and post-game coverage. She also served as a reporter for NESN Sports Today, and hosted The Ultimate Red Sox Show and Red Sox Report. Dell served as NESN’s lead reporter for the team’s World Series Champion season in 2013.
Dell began her career as a production assistant at ESPN, working on the coverage of the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Monday Night Football, college basketball and Women’s National Basketball Association. Later, she joined ESPN.com as an air-reporter, covering Super Bowl XLIV and XLV, and appearing regularly on NFL Countdown Daily.
Dell is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and Sport Event Marketing.
According to https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/talent/?view=jenny-dell-2
According to article by Associated Press on ESPN https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44419692/gary-danielson-cbs-college-analyst-retire-2025-season