The school year is drawing to a close, which means it’s time for my annual in-depth conversation with Arizona State Athletic Director Ray Anderson. This is the sixth year Anderson and I have taken an in-depth examination of Sun Devil, Pac-12, and collegiate athletics, and this may be the most interesting yet.   As he enters his ninth year at the helm of ASU’s athletic department, we discuss the new era of Sun Devil football, how the school is supporting the Activate the Valley movement, the highs and lows from other key sports, infrastructure projects, and a candid look at reasons behind the collective lack of national success for the three highest-profile sports. We also take a deep dive into ASU’s evolving approach to NIL, and get the latest on the NCAA’s investigation into the football program. We also discuss the uncertain future of the Pac-12 Conference and the media rights negotiations, the seeming inevitability of superconferences and ASU’s place within that landscape, tailgating and the fans game day experience and much more.