Ray Anderson stepping down as Arizona State's athletic director

Arizona State is in a busy time with the end of football and the start of college basketball in their final year in the Pac-12. However, the Sun Devils will now be adding more to their plate as they’ll have to begin a search for a new athletic director.

On Monday, Arizona State shared the announcement that AD Ray Anderson would be stepping down effective immediately.

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— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) November 13, 2023

“It has been a privilege to serve as ASU’s athletic director for nearly a decade,” Anderson said in a quote from the release. “We have entered an unprecedented era where the number and magnitude of changes in the college sports landscape are astounding. As I approach my seventh decade of life, these are not matters that my leadership would be able to corral during my tenure. Continuity of leadership will be needed and I am choosing to step aside to let the university find that leader.”

“I want to sincerely thank the many ASU student-athletes as well as our dedicated coaches and staff for the pleasure of leading them as their athletic director,” Anderson added. “They have all been wonderful partners and teammates.”

Anderson has led the Sun Devil’s athletic department since 2014. This decision won’t end his time in Tempe, though. He will remain at the school as a professor of practice and senior advisor as part of the the sports law and business program inside the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

Jim Rund will now take over as Arizona State’s athletic director in the interim. This isn’t Rund’s first rodeo in that role as he did so back in 2013 during the process before the school hired Anderson.

There’s a lot of exciting changes going on and coming for the Sun Devils over the next year. Even so, Anderson will no longer be a part of it with his decision to step down from the role.

Big 12 unveils football scheduling matrix for 2024-27

A new era of football in the Big 12 is set to kick off in 2024. As Texas and Oklahoma move out of the conference, four new schools will be welcomed in. Four others are debuting this year, making for a completely different look moving forward with 16 teams.

To start October, the Big 12 released its future scheduling matrix. They also announced opponents, home and away, for the 2024 through the 2027 season. The Big 12 is opting to remain with nine conference games. Instead of a round-robin, there will be a bit more complicated of a system.

The Big 12 will have just four protected rivalries moving forward. Arizona–Arizona State, BYU–Utah, Baylor–TCU, and Kansas–Kansas State will take place on an annual basis. All four are in-state contests they deeply care about and have been running for quite some time.

From there, the conference won’t use an exact system to determine the schedule. Teams will alternate having five games at home or on the road.

You can check out the entire football scheduling matrix here.