Arizona State defense rises to challenge of Texas Tech’s No. 1 total offense

TEMPE — Arizona State’s defense responded in a big way against No. 7 Texas Tech on Saturday after it gave up 42 points and couldn’t stop the run last week at Utah.

There was no opportunity for a traditional “get right” game, as the Red Raiders posed a huge challenge as the No. 1 offense in the nation by total yards (558.2).

But based on how the unit started the game, it didn’t need one, and the physicality getting ramped up in practice paid dividends.

“Forever,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said when asked if the tweak will continue going forward. “It’s what we are. We say ‘have fun working harder than anybody in the country.’ You can’t have fun and not work harder than anybody in the country. Doesn’t work like that. … I lost that, and we had it back this week.

“We’ll never as long as I’m coaching not practice to the physical level like we did this week again. That just won’t happen.”

That physicality showed up early in the second half when Montana Warren laid a big hit on a receiver, popping the ball up for Martell Hughes to intercept. Several plays later, ASU scored its first touchdown of the day to take a 16-7 lead.

ASU forced three-and-outs on three of the Red Raiders’ first four drives, and the only drive that wasn’t was a four-and-out. It also held firm for a turnover on downs when Texas Tech put together its longest drive of the half.

The only touchdown of the half came after ASU turned it over on downs in its own territory and backup Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond found Coy Eakin in a tight window.

ASU held the offense averaging 279 yards per half to just 142 in the first half on Saturday. TTU finished the game with just 276 total yards.

ASU linebacker Keyshaun Elliott attributed the bounce-back performance to the extra physicality in practice.

“It’s kind of just a wake-up call for not only him, but us too,” Elliott said postgame. “We felt his energy, his passion through it. It kept us rolling. Like, our Tuesday practice was defensively probably our best Tuesday practice we had all year.

“Just because that intensity, it’s (through) the roof. … Whenever we’re going to come out and play a defensive game, we’re not worried about fitting up the run perfectly, we’re going to play physical, run through your mouth, play hard for four quarters.”

Texas Tech had not trailed in a game this season before ASU’s field goal to open the scoring. The Sun Devils led 9-7 at the half.

The Red Raiders scored two quick touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to briefly take a 22-19 lead.

But a 10-play, 75 yard touchdown drive by the offense gave the Sun Devils a 26-22 lead with :25 seconds left and the defense held when it mattered most.

Jaren Hamilton comes alive for Arizona State offense

Alabama transfer Jaren Hamilton has flashed infrequently this season, but his impact was certainly felt in the first half against Texas Tech.

Known as “Turbo,” Hamilton came up with catches of 49 and 45 yards to set up field goals by Jesus Gomez, and he also drew a pass interference deep downfield.

His first catch came as Sam Leavitt, who had 164 yards on 10 of 18 passing in the half, was hit hard by a defender. Leavitt saw it coming and still made the throw.

Jaren Hamilton with a BIG TIME CATCH 🔱@ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/r1AzWYpKX9

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2025

Gomez’s 3-for-3 first half brought him to 15 of 19 on field goals this year.

While the red zone issues have continued for ASU, Gomez has been a good security blanket for when drives stall out. ASU was 11-for-20 as a team last season.

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