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The Arizona State football team is coming off a tough game against Utah. It gets even tougher this week as No. 7 Texas Tech makes a stop at Mountain America Stadium for a 1 p.m. showdown that will have Big 12 title implications.
Texas Tech is one of three teams tied with 3-0 conference records, while ASU is one of four with one loss.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham pushed his team harder this week, saying the Sun Devils lost their edge and sense of physicality in their last outing.
"Physicality is our identity," Dillingham said. "I think our guys are like, 'Man, how did we let that slip for a couple of weeks?' I think we're getting back to that. You can't say it's your identity; it has to be your identity. It has to be an action. It has to be physical. You saw some chippiness today (in practice) and some physicality; that is our identity, and I had let it slip."
Time/site: 1 p.m., Oct. 18, Mountain America Stadium.
TV: FOX (Connor Onion, Mark Helfrich). Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).
Last time they met: Texas Tech defeated ASU 30-22 in the 2024 Big 12 opener for both schools. ASU got behind 14-0. Sam Leavitt went 22-for-38 for 282 yards, while Texas Tech's Behren Morton went 24-for-44 for 201 yards.
The series: Texas Tech leads 3-2. Each team is 2-0 at home, while Texas Tech won a neutral-site game.
For the second straight week, ASU will be playing in the biggest Big 12 game of the weekend. With a loss already, the Sun Devils can't afford another in the conference if they want to get back to the title game.
Both teams are dealing with injuries to their respective starting quarterbacks. ASU's Sam Leavitt missed the Utah game with an ankle injury, but practiced this week. It appears he will be able to make the start. His only conference loss as a starting quarterback came against Texas Tech last year.
Senior Behren Morton of Texas Tech left the Red Raiders' game against Kansas with a lower leg injury and was replaced by Will Hammond, a freshman who has seen playing time in five games since Texas Tech has had big leads in every game.
Joey McGuire, Texas Tech(fourth year, 29-16): McGuire, 54, arrived in Lubbock in 2022 after previously having served in various capacities at Baylor, most notably as associate head coach. His son, Garrett, is on his staff as running backs coach.
Kenny Dillingham, ASU (third year, 18-14): Dillingham, 35, took the job at ASU after a season as the OC at Oregon, with previous stints at Florida State, Memphis and Auburn. The Chaparral grad grew in the profession under Mike Norvell, Gus Malzahn and Dan Lanning.
It can put pressure on Leavitt: The Red Raiders are going to have a huge advantage in the trenches, even more so now with the injury to Coleman, ASU's best lineman. Texas Tech will likely force the ASU quarterback to get the ball out quickly. It also remains to be seen how much the injury compromises his mobility because making unscripted plays is one of the things Leavitt does best.
The game turns into an offensive slugfest: Few teams have the offensive firepower that Texas Tech does. ASU is not equipped to get in an offensive shootout, particularly with the injuries it has on the offensive side of the ball. The Red Raiders have won every game by 24 points or more, which does not bode well for the Sun Devils.
It can stop the run and make ASU one-dimensional: Texas Tech is the best running defense ASU has faced thus far. The Sun Devils have struggled on third down, particularly in passing situations, because the offensive line has not provided Leavitt enough time to find a receiver downfield.
The offense controls the ball: The Red Raiders are averaging 47.5 points and 558.2 yards total offense. The best way to keep that offense off the field is to control the ball. That strategy worked against Baylor. ASU is shorthanded in the running back department, though, with Kyson Brown out. It's also easier said than done because Tech Tech is allowing just 62.5 yards per game on the ground, first nationally. ASU has an average time of possession of 34:17, which leads the Big 12 and is fifth among all FBS schools.
The defense reappears: The ASU defense was ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing defense and got shredded by Utah. The entire unit was deficient. No doubt, the group was embarrassed and will be looking for a little redemption this week against the most formidable foe it has seen.
The offensive line holds up: Texas Tech has 21 sacks, fifth-best in the country, and is coming off a nine-sack game against Kansas, while ASU allowed five in its last outing.
Texas Tech: DL Skyler Gill-Howard, WR T.J. West, CB Tarrion Grant are out. WR Roy Alexander, S Chapman Lewis are doubtful. QB Behren Morton, OLB Romello Height, OL Holton Hendrix, OL Hunter Cambrano are questionable.
ASU: RB Kyson Brown, DB Xavion Alford, LB Zyrus Fiaseu, OL Ben Coleman, DL Zac Swanson, QB Cameron Dyer, DB Plas Johnson, OL Doughless Teloma, OL Brent Helton, TE Jayden Fortier, DL Albert Smith, DL MyKeil Gardner are out. P Kanyon Floyd, OL Ian Shewell are doubtful.
1 — Number of explosive rushing plays allowed by Texas Tech this season, making the Red Raiders one of only six FBS teams to do so this year.
9 — Number of sacks Texas Tech had in last week's win over Kansas. That was a single-game record, breaking the previous mark of eight set in a 1993 win at SMU.
21 — Number of transfers signed out of the portal by Texas Tech, which boasted On3’s top transfer portal class.
21 — Number of sacks for Arizona State. ASU had 24 last year, but that came in 13 games.
573 — Rushing yards for ASU junior Raleek Brown. He is 28th among all FBS ball carriers in yards per carry (6.3) and 20th in rushing yards. He is third in the Big 12 behind BYU's L.J. Martin and Texas Tech's Cameron Dickey.
"There’s never a break with any of these offenses that we’re playing. Utah was obviously very unique and brought their own set of problems that we didn’t handle very well, but Texas Tech is loaded everywhere. They got guys who could play on Sunday everywhere on offense. We’ve got our hands full, but we’ve got the group that can play with anybody.” — ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward
"Sam's always on a competitive, positive end. He's on Cloud 9. That's how he operates. He operates as if, fourth-and-one every day. That's what makes him great. He's done the same thing this week." — ASU coach Kenny Dillingham on the competitive nature of his quarterback
The Red Raiders rank first in the country in total offense, second in scoring offense, and second in total defense. And the Sun Devils are coming in with several key players out with injuries. ASU was embarrassed by a Utah team that Texas Tech manhandled. It seems like there is just too much to overcome in this one.
Prediction: Texas Tech 38, Arizona State 24.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU scouting report, How Sun Devils match up with Texas Tech
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Texas Tech is one of three teams tied with 3-0 conference records, while ASU is one of four with one loss.
Head coach Kenny Dillingham pushed his team harder this week, saying the Sun Devils lost their edge and sense of physicality in their last outing.
"Physicality is our identity," Dillingham said. "I think our guys are like, 'Man, how did we let that slip for a couple of weeks?' I think we're getting back to that. You can't say it's your identity; it has to be your identity. It has to be an action. It has to be physical. You saw some chippiness today (in practice) and some physicality; that is our identity, and I had let it slip."
No. 7/8 Texas Tech (6-0, 3-0) at Arizona State (4-2, 2-1)
Time/site: 1 p.m., Oct. 18, Mountain America Stadium.
TV: FOX (Connor Onion, Mark Helfrich). Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).
Last time they met: Texas Tech defeated ASU 30-22 in the 2024 Big 12 opener for both schools. ASU got behind 14-0. Sam Leavitt went 22-for-38 for 282 yards, while Texas Tech's Behren Morton went 24-for-44 for 201 yards.
The series: Texas Tech leads 3-2. Each team is 2-0 at home, while Texas Tech won a neutral-site game.
Texas Tech vs ASU storylines
For the second straight week, ASU will be playing in the biggest Big 12 game of the weekend. With a loss already, the Sun Devils can't afford another in the conference if they want to get back to the title game.
Both teams are dealing with injuries to their respective starting quarterbacks. ASU's Sam Leavitt missed the Utah game with an ankle injury, but practiced this week. It appears he will be able to make the start. His only conference loss as a starting quarterback came against Texas Tech last year.
Senior Behren Morton of Texas Tech left the Red Raiders' game against Kansas with a lower leg injury and was replaced by Will Hammond, a freshman who has seen playing time in five games since Texas Tech has had big leads in every game.
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Coaching matchup
Joey McGuire, Texas Tech(fourth year, 29-16): McGuire, 54, arrived in Lubbock in 2022 after previously having served in various capacities at Baylor, most notably as associate head coach. His son, Garrett, is on his staff as running backs coach.
Kenny Dillingham, ASU (third year, 18-14): Dillingham, 35, took the job at ASU after a season as the OC at Oregon, with previous stints at Florida State, Memphis and Auburn. The Chaparral grad grew in the profession under Mike Norvell, Gus Malzahn and Dan Lanning.
Texas Tech will win if . . .
It can put pressure on Leavitt: The Red Raiders are going to have a huge advantage in the trenches, even more so now with the injury to Coleman, ASU's best lineman. Texas Tech will likely force the ASU quarterback to get the ball out quickly. It also remains to be seen how much the injury compromises his mobility because making unscripted plays is one of the things Leavitt does best.
The game turns into an offensive slugfest: Few teams have the offensive firepower that Texas Tech does. ASU is not equipped to get in an offensive shootout, particularly with the injuries it has on the offensive side of the ball. The Red Raiders have won every game by 24 points or more, which does not bode well for the Sun Devils.
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It can stop the run and make ASU one-dimensional: Texas Tech is the best running defense ASU has faced thus far. The Sun Devils have struggled on third down, particularly in passing situations, because the offensive line has not provided Leavitt enough time to find a receiver downfield.
ASU will win if . . .
The offense controls the ball: The Red Raiders are averaging 47.5 points and 558.2 yards total offense. The best way to keep that offense off the field is to control the ball. That strategy worked against Baylor. ASU is shorthanded in the running back department, though, with Kyson Brown out. It's also easier said than done because Tech Tech is allowing just 62.5 yards per game on the ground, first nationally. ASU has an average time of possession of 34:17, which leads the Big 12 and is fifth among all FBS schools.
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The defense reappears: The ASU defense was ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing defense and got shredded by Utah. The entire unit was deficient. No doubt, the group was embarrassed and will be looking for a little redemption this week against the most formidable foe it has seen.
The offensive line holds up: Texas Tech has 21 sacks, fifth-best in the country, and is coming off a nine-sack game against Kansas, while ASU allowed five in its last outing.
Injury report
Texas Tech: DL Skyler Gill-Howard, WR T.J. West, CB Tarrion Grant are out. WR Roy Alexander, S Chapman Lewis are doubtful. QB Behren Morton, OLB Romello Height, OL Holton Hendrix, OL Hunter Cambrano are questionable.
ASU: RB Kyson Brown, DB Xavion Alford, LB Zyrus Fiaseu, OL Ben Coleman, DL Zac Swanson, QB Cameron Dyer, DB Plas Johnson, OL Doughless Teloma, OL Brent Helton, TE Jayden Fortier, DL Albert Smith, DL MyKeil Gardner are out. P Kanyon Floyd, OL Ian Shewell are doubtful.
By the numbers
1 — Number of explosive rushing plays allowed by Texas Tech this season, making the Red Raiders one of only six FBS teams to do so this year.
9 — Number of sacks Texas Tech had in last week's win over Kansas. That was a single-game record, breaking the previous mark of eight set in a 1993 win at SMU.
21 — Number of transfers signed out of the portal by Texas Tech, which boasted On3’s top transfer portal class.
21 — Number of sacks for Arizona State. ASU had 24 last year, but that came in 13 games.
573 — Rushing yards for ASU junior Raleek Brown. He is 28th among all FBS ball carriers in yards per carry (6.3) and 20th in rushing yards. He is third in the Big 12 behind BYU's L.J. Martin and Texas Tech's Cameron Dickey.
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They said it
"There’s never a break with any of these offenses that we’re playing. Utah was obviously very unique and brought their own set of problems that we didn’t handle very well, but Texas Tech is loaded everywhere. They got guys who could play on Sunday everywhere on offense. We’ve got our hands full, but we’ve got the group that can play with anybody.” — ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward
"Sam's always on a competitive, positive end. He's on Cloud 9. That's how he operates. He operates as if, fourth-and-one every day. That's what makes him great. He's done the same thing this week." — ASU coach Kenny Dillingham on the competitive nature of his quarterback
Who will win and why
The Red Raiders rank first in the country in total offense, second in scoring offense, and second in total defense. And the Sun Devils are coming in with several key players out with injuries. ASU was embarrassed by a Utah team that Texas Tech manhandled. It seems like there is just too much to overcome in this one.
Prediction: Texas Tech 38, Arizona State 24.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU scouting report, How Sun Devils match up with Texas Tech
Continue reading...
