Arizona State defense rises to challenge of Texas Tech’s No. 1 total offense
Arizona State's defense responded in a big way against No. 7 Texas Tech on Saturday after it gave up 42 points last week at Utah.
Watch: Reaction: Arizona State pulls off massive upset of No. 7 Texas Tech in Sam Leavitt's return | 17 mins
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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Comments
9 Comments
Wrong again! If you made a bet, I hope it wasn't too big LOL.
Maybe wait til the game is over?
THE BIGGEST NEGATIVE: I was nauseated by the other guy on the broadcast with Mark Helfrich, who sounded like he was had either had a large sum of money transferred his bank account in the Camans, was the boyfriend of the Tech QB Hammonds, or really wanted to be. I have no doubt he was crying at the end of the Game.
THE POSITIVES: Alford's replacement at FS Wilson was outstanding today. His best game by far. In retrospect, Dilly knew how good he could be and changed defensive schemes this game, because he knew how vulnerable Hammond might be, and how effective in the new scheme Wilson could be. Another reminder of just how brilliant Dilly can be. The home crowd was excellent. The Arizona Sun wonderfully worked it's magic contributing to the Texas Tech Front 6 being victimized by long drives by ASU, and having to chase Sam Leavitt. The Tech pass rush was almost non-existent on the last drive.
I also loved how finally Dilly decided to revert to being aggressive on defense, not allowing opposing QBs to sit, scan the field without pressure. I loved how Dilly combined that aggression by playing a whole lot more press coverage on big downs early, while at the same time sending extra guys. All of that worked really well vs the Texas Tech Redshirt FR QB Hammond, who IMHO, turned out to be massively over-rated. ASU's D shut down Hammond and the Texas Tech Offense for most of the game, regularly scrambling Hammond's brain so bad, I guarantee you he was screaming much more frantically than his QB coach would have wanted. All game, when pressured Hammond struggled to throw accurately. That aggressive strategy got ASU's D off the field quickly and regularly. Offensively long ASU drives took a toll on the Tech D reducing the effectiveness of their Pass Rush.
Yet late, when the game seemed completely under control, it was as if someone handed Dilly a note or he got a message that "they" had transferred the money into his account he requested. Without reason or rational logic, with the same personnel, Dilly abandons being aggressive, and reverts to a completely passive defense. ASU instantly loses all momentum, and BOOM, Texas Tech is back in the game. That was beyond stupid. Offensively, without the pressure, Hammond didn't have all that noise in his head to play thru. It was just like practice, and so he played infinitely better. Dilly let them back in the game, and ASU almost lost
In retrospect, while the Texas Tech Front 6 is solid, their back end is totally pathetic. Leavitt and ASU completely exposed them. Big plays down the field repeatedly demonstrated, that their DBs couldn't cover anyone. The best they could do was hold or tackle receivers who were about to make plays. Luckily for Tech, way too many of those holds weren't flagged. It was really outrageous and so bad, the TV broadcast frequently didn't show the replay.
But bottom line, it was a great win. At the end of the day, scoreboard is all that counts.
Tyson gets major props for playing hurt and yet continuing to show no one can cover him unless they foul him. Offensively, I loved the adjustment of going to shorter splits to reduce the effectiveness of the Texas Tech pass rush. Going forward, IMHO, the main offense strategy should be built upon (1) going up tempo; (2) using multiple receivers; (3) spreading the field; and (4) filling the air with footballs. Then late, then run the ball to win, once the opposing D is gassed.