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**Sun Devils Quarterback Sam Leavitt Out Against Utah; Sims to Start**

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – In a blow to the No. 21 Arizona State Sun Devils, starting quarterback Sam Leavitt has been ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Utah Utes. The announcement comes after Leavitt was initially listed as probable earlier in the week, before being downgraded to doubtful and finally ruled out on Friday.

Head Coach Kenny Dillingham revealed that Leavitt has been battling an undisclosed issue since the Baylor game. “Sam’s been battling something going back to Baylor. He fought through the TCU game,” Dillingham said in an interview. “He does everything he possibly can to come back and play in football games. He’s the ultimate competitor.” However, after Wednesday’s practice, it was determined that Leavitt was not at full strength. “This week, it just didn’t feel as good as we wanted it to leaving Wednesday’s practice,” Dillingham added, stating that the decision was in the best interest of Leavitt’s health and future.

With Leavitt sidelined, veteran quarterback Jeff Sims will take the reins for the Sun Devils in Salt Lake City. Sims boasts significant experience, having started 26 games throughout his collegiate career, including one previous start for Arizona State, two at Nebraska, and 23 at Georgia Tech. His lone start for ASU last season was a 24-14 loss at Cincinnati.

Leavitt’s absence is a significant loss for the Sun Devils. The sophomore quarterback has thrown for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns this season with a 63.1% completion rate. He rebounded strongly after a difficult game against Mississippi State, throwing five touchdowns and zero interceptions in the subsequent three games. Last year Leavitt led the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoffs, where he threw for 222 yards and ran for 60 yards against Texas.

The Sun Devils are coming off a bye week following their 27-24 victory over TCU on September 26th. They defeated Utah 27-19 in Tempe last season, ending a four-game winning streak for the Utes in the series.

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