Sims Spectacular: ASU quarterback produces a historic performance in road win

Sept. 12, 2020, Jeff Sims, a freshman quarterback at Georgia Tech, had a dream start to his collegiate career, throwing for 277 yards and a touchdown in a 16-13 win against Florida State in Tallahassee. On the opposite sideline was then-Seminoles offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham. 

Four years later, Dillingham and Sims met again, this time as head coach and transfer portal acquisition. Sims joined Dillingham at Arizona State, aiming to become the new starting quarterback in Tempe. 

Sims, however, lost the 2024 starting QB battle to sophomore Sam Leavitt as a backup and made just one start last year in a road defeat against Cincinnati. He was also on the losing end in his second-ever start in a Sun Devil uniform in a road loss to Utah.

Sims knew, going into his sixth year of college football, that he still wasn’t going to be the starter at ASU. Leavitt was named the Big 12’s preseason offensive player of the year and made his mark on the 2026 NFL draft boards. 

Sims, however, knew he wanted to be a Sun Devil regardless of starting status.  

“I love these guys,” Sims said postgame about his teammates at ASU. “We go to work every day.”

Friday, Dillingham announced Leavitt will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after having surgery on his right ankle. Sims was already listed as the starter for the week against Iowa State, and in just his third-ever start for ASU, he had an unforgettable day. In Ames this afternoon, Sims won his first game as a starting quarterback since defeating Duke in overtime on Oct. 8, 2022. 

“We just never lose faith. We played complete football today. We played team football today,” Sims said. “It just showed out there on the field.” 

Sims registered 405 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in the Sun Devils’ 24-19 over the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa, Saturday afternoon. 

With just under eight minutes to play in the third quarter, Sims broke free on a designed QB run. He went untouched 88 yards and scored the longest touchdown of the season for ASU Sims’ smile pierced through his helmet as the Sun Devils’ sideline erupted in jubilation for their signal caller. 

“It was just an empty QB run. Once I got to the second level, I only had to make one guy miss.” Sims said. “I pretty much knew that I wasn’t going to get hawked.” 

That run was just one of the 29 carries Sims had for an ASU record 228 yards, the most ever by a Sun Devil quarterback in a single game in program history, surpassing Mark Malone’s 139 yards in 1978, and was only the third time this century that an Arizona State player eclipsed 220 yards rushing.

On the ground, Sims used all of his six-foot-4, 220-pound frame to set a physical tone. It also helps that Sims is phenomenally quick and agile for his size, giving him the mobility to shoot through gaps. 

“I was prepared to do whatever it was to win this game for this team,” Sims said. “Everybody around me helped the O-line did a good job, they played physical. We just made sure that we played together; that was our big focus this week.

“We’ve been practicing this all week, I feel like the confidence grew with this being my second year in the system, and I feel like that was just a big piece of what we needed to do.” 

It wasn’t just Sims’ play on the ground that was impressive; he completed 13-of-24 passes for 177 yards, and he was lighting it up in the first half with 128 yards over the air before the break. 

Once Sims got in a rhythm, Iowa State had no recourse. He led a four-play 88-yard drive in under two minutes, finding three different receivers on consecutive passes for 80 yards before Sims ran in the end zone himself. 

Sims had a productive passing day without the aid of junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who missed a second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. Sims’ passing touchdown was to senior tight end Chamon Metayer on an 18 seam route. 

“I was born to be a playmaker,” Metayer said. “This team trusts me, and the defense leans on me a lot. They always come to me before a drive, ‘Come on, 7 take us down there.’”  

The duo of Sims and Metayer connected in the fourth quarter of ASU’s 24-16 loss to No.22 Houston in Week 9. Metayer had six total receptions on the day for 68 yards, junior wide receiver Jalen Moss had three catches, and senior Malik McClain added a couple to create a wide batch of options. 

“It’s like a proud brother moment,” Metayer said postgame. “He comes every day to work, preparing like he’s the starter, so we go out with him like he’s the starter, the same work and enthusiasm that we have with whoever is out there, he’s gonna get the same thing. We don’t die down the work because of who’s in, we rise to the occasion.” 

Sims won’t be reminiscing positively on every snap; however, he turned the ball over three times against Iowa State, including two fumbles. Sims’ turnovers came with a price; his fumble in the first half led to a Cyclones touchdown just two plays later, but a botched PAT kept ASU out in front 17-16 heading into halftime. 

“His interception was on me,” Dillingham said on the late first-half turnover.

Regardless, Sims had a much-improved day compared to his previous start against Utah in Week 7. Against the Utes, Sims completed just 47% of his passes for 124 yards and ran for another 66. He didn’t turn the ball over, but he played very cautiously and posted a passer rating of just 74.8, compared to 121.5 against the Cyclones.

“I’m glad that he trusted me,” Sims said of offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. “After the Utah game, I was kind of hurt by that, and then he told me, ‘Man, I trust you if you get your shot again, it’s on you. I trust you.’”

Both of Sims’ road trip appearances came in adverse weather conditions, as ASU played in its fourth-coldest environment at kickoff since 2004; however, with Leavitt listed out since the beginning of the week, it gave Sims a full week of preparation for the matchup. 

Although Leavitt wasn’t able to suit up for the Sun Devils, he was able to help Sims with game preparation and make an impact on the outcome.

“I’m the same guy every day. I prepare like I’m the starter every week. Sam being out, he helped me out this week, him being the competitive guy he is, he pushed me to be my best this week.” 

Sims will remain as the starter for the remainder of the 2025 season, as ASU heads into its second and final bye week of the season. Sims has the opportunity in his final season of college football to leave his mark as a Sun Devil. 

Sims’ first three years as a starter at Georgia Tech showed signs of an athletic quarterback with the potential to play at the next level, throwing 4,464 passing yards for the Yellow Jackets and 41 total touchdowns.

In the two full seasons since, he registered just two touchdowns and six interceptions, but with the offense in his hands for the last three Weeks of the season, and a minimum of one bowl game on the schedule, Sims has the chance to leave his mark in Tempe, and Saturday was a fantastic start. 

Wednesday, Sims’ mom asked for a prayer for both Jeff and his younger brother. During this week’s Bible study, the closing prayer focused on opportunity. 

“We just pray every week for an opportunity and to come out victorious,” Sims said. “And our prayers were answered.”