Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- Kenny Dillingham named Cutter Boley the Sun Devils’ starting quarterback on Saturday, ahead of the Sept. 5 opener against Morgan State.
- Boley, a Kentucky transfer, beat out Mikey Keene, Cam Dyer and Jake Fette for the job after months of camp competition.
- Both note Boley’s 2025 Kentucky numbers: 2,160 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and his SEC All-Freshman Team honor.
- Dillingham praised Boley’s ball security and command of the offense as key reasons he won the job.
Where they differ
- AZFamily pinpoints the Aug. 15 Camp Tontozona scrimmage as the turning point when Boley pulled ahead of Keene in reps; Cronkite News doesn’t specify that moment.
- Cronkite News includes more detail on ASU’s 2026 schedule against ranked teams (Texas Tech, BYU) and how that shapes the coaching staff’s confidence in Boley; AZFamily omits this.
- Cronkite News quotes offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo on Boley’s offseason work ethic and offensive command; AZFamily does not include Arroyo’s perspective.
- AZFamily gives a more detailed account of Boley’s limited 2024 action at Kentucky, including his start against Louisville; Cronkite News focuses mainly on his 2025 season.
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham announced Saturday that Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley has won the Sun Devils’ starting quarterback job, ending a monthslong competition ahead of ASU’s season opener against Morgan State on Sept. 5. Boley, a 6-foot-5, 213-pound third-year player, beat out fellow transfer Mikey Keene along with Cam Dyer and true freshman Jake Fette for the role.
How did Boley win the job?
ASU needed a new starter after Sam Leavitt left for LSU, so the coaching staff brought in Boley from Kentucky and Keene from Fresno State to compete alongside returning players Dyer and Fette. Early in fall camp, Boley and Keene were essentially even, splitting first-team reps in alternating series. That changed after the team’s scrimmage at Camp Tontozona on Aug. 15, when Boley began taking the majority of the first-team snaps. Dillingham said Boley had a strong camp and did a good job protecting the football, telling reporters, “We think Cutter is the best opportunity for us to go and win football games. We feel like he deserves it and he won it.”
What does Boley bring from his time at Kentucky?
Boley arrived at Kentucky as a four-star signee and played in four games in 2024, including a start against Louisville in which he threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Last season he started 10 games for the Wildcats, going 4-6 as a starter with wins over SEC opponents Auburn and Florida. He threw for 2,160 yards and 15 touchdowns, added two rushing scores, and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. But he also threw 12 interceptions and fumbled five times, losing two of those fumbles. Cutting down turnovers became a specific focus for him during ASU’s spring and fall practices, and Dillingham said Boley has shown growth in ball security and command of the offense.
What did coaches say about the rest of the quarterback room?
Despite naming Boley the starter, Dillingham was careful to praise the other three quarterbacks, saying the staff feels good about Keene, Dyer and Fette and believes all of them improved through camp. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo credited Boley specifically for his growing command of the offense and his willingness to put in extra work, saying Boley has been deliberate about seeking out “dark hours of work” to prepare. Dillingham also pointed to physical traits — size, strength and athletic ability — that he said aren’t always visible in practice but should show up in games, including in Boley’s ability to avoid sacks.
Why does this matter for ASU’s season?
Arizona State faces three preseason-ranked opponents this year, including Big 12 opponents Texas Tech and BYU, with two of those matchups on the road. Dillingham said Boley’s experience starting games in the SEC should help him handle the pressure of those higher-profile matchups, noting the team will be playing in front of large, hostile crowds multiple times this season. The season opener against Morgan State on Sept. 5 will be Boley’s first chance to take the field as ASU’s starter.
How do the two accounts compare?
Cronkite News and AZFamily both cover the announcement itself and Boley’s statistical background at Kentucky, but they emphasize slightly different details. AZFamily provides more specifics on the timeline of the camp competition, including the scrimmage date that tipped things in Boley’s favor, and includes a fuller breakdown of his 2024 season action. Cronkite News includes more direct quotes from Dillingham and offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo about Boley’s leadership, physical tools and offensive command, and it details ASU’s schedule against ranked opponents this season.
Sources
Featured photo: Beyond My Ken via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)