After a 1-7 record in their inaugural season in the Big 12 — Jones’ worst conference mark in his tenure in Tempe — the Sun Devils added 14 new faces, including six transfers and eight freshmen. 

Yet Jones didn’t steer away from the loss of senior 125-pounder Richard Figuroa to No. 5 Oklahoma State in the transfer portal, and the graduation of mainstay heavyweight Colhton Schultz, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the program.

“Does anyone see us in the Top 25 this year?” Jones said during a town hall before ASU’s Maroon and Gold scrimmage on Nov. 1. “I think that a lot of people are underestimating us.”

However, Saturday’s scrimmages painted a clearer picture of the Sun Devils’ 2025-2026 season outlook, as fans met new and returning faces that Jones said could potentially make up the program’s starting lineup come the Michigan State Open on Nov. 8. 

“Everything was an improvement from last year,” Jones said on the success of the Maroon and Gold scrimmage.

With an impressive crowd on hand, Jones said Saturday provided an excellent opportunity to go through the game-day routine of weighing in, warming up and representing ASU on the mat.

“It gets your heart rate up, gets you a little nervous and tells you your body’s getting ready to wrestle,” Jones said. 

 Although intrasquad scrimmages drive competition, Jones added that his wrestlers want an opponent from outside the locker room. 

“Our guys are tired of facing each other,” Jones said. “They are ready to get their hands on someone other than each other.”

However, two newcomers left their mark with family all around.

Freshman 133-pounder Kyle Larkin and graduate heavyweight David Szuba caught the eyes of the crowd for both their family in the stands, but also on the mat. 

Larkin, who is the brother of junior 149-pounder Kaleb Larkin and the son of former Sun Devil and four-time All-American Eric Larkin, dueled senior Carter Dibert and quickly won by technical fall 19-4. With a third brother on the way to ASU, Jones said the Larkin family must be the first family of Arizona wrestling. 

Jones said he’s ready for both Kaleb and Kyle to separate themselves from their father to form a new legacy, while also remembering where they came from. 

“You have sons that want to forge their own path, but understand the family’s history and tradition,” Jones said. “They not only feel it, but they love it and embrace it.”  

Besides the Larkins, the Szuba brothers, David and freshman 285-pounder Ben Szuba, capped off the afternoon’s events with a family duel.

Despite facing two opponents in the first two periods, David remained on the mat to face his brother in the third and final period. However, a tired David succumbed to Ben. 

“I was glad to see Ben not feel sorry for his brother,” Jones said. 

From David’s perspective, he lost a match to a very talented opponent.

“It was scary because he’s really good,” David said.

Although he lost, David said he’ll never forget Saturday’s moment with Ben.

“Getting to finish my college career wrestling my brother as one of my first matches is awesome,” Szuba said. 

Szuba said he enjoyed facing his brother, but is ready for actual competition. 

“We go tear everyone up,” Szuba said toward the Sun Devils’ future opponents. “We go smash their faces and break some kids' spirits and make them not want to wrestle.”