TEMPE, Ariz. \u2014 Days before quarterback Sam Leavitt led Arizona State on the winning drive against No. 7 Texas Tech, head coach Kenny Dillingham knew he had to set a different tone. And that he had to be honest with himself.<\/p>\n
Coaches so often take responsibility for losses that it becomes clich\u00e9. It starts with me. And it does. But go there too much and fans tune it out. Dillingham went down this path after last week\u2019s blowout loss at Utah, and he meant it.<\/p>\n
He said that, over the last couple of weeks, he had allowed himself to get too soft in how he coached the Sun Devils. It was clear last week against the Utes. An Arizona State program built around physicality, one that had won last season\u2019s Big 12 and advanced to the College Football Playoff, had gotten pushed around.<\/p>\n
After Saturday\u2019s 26-22 rebound win<\/a> over previously unbeaten Texas Tech, Dillingham was asked how much he had beaten himself up since the Utah setback. The 35-year-old coach said he did a lot of self-reflection. Then he called two friends in the business and explained his dilemma.<\/p>\n Hey, this is the situation we\u2019re in. We got guys dinged up. We got guys in green (no-contact) jerseys. We\u2019re not as physical as we were. We\u2019re a veteran team. I\u2019ve never been in this situation. Help!<\/p>\n Dillingham changed Arizona State\u2019s practice structure. Teams usually don\u2019t tackle much this time of year; the risk of injury is far too great. But that\u2019s what Arizona State did, ramping up physicality. Linebacker Keyshaun Elliott called it a wake-up call, adding the team\u2019s intensity was \u201cthrough the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wish I could even take credit for how we changed practice,\u201d Dillingham said. \u201cI just listened to other people who have been through this.\u201d<\/p>\n The teams that survive in this sport are the teams that can rapidly self-correct. Major injuries happen. Players lose confidence. The ball bounces in funny ways. Waiting it out can turn one loss into two. For those fighting for the CFP, that can be a death sentence. Arizona State may not be good enough to duplicate last season\u2019s success, but the Sun Devils this week passed a significant test.<\/p>\n The revival came at the perfect time. Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) had started to resemble the strong favorite, a national title contender. Entering Saturday, the Red Raiders not only led the country in point differential, at a whopping 35.3 points, they had never trailed this season. They still may finish on top, but Saturday\u2019s outcome proved that, for now, the conference remains wide open. And that despite the ugly 42-10 loss in Utah, Arizona State (5-2, 3-1) is not ready to fold.<\/p>\n Start with defense. Coming off their worst performance, the Sun Devils turned in perhaps their best. They held the high-powered Red Raiders to 276 yards, 282 below their nation-leading average. Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond, filling in for injured starter Behren Morton, never established a rhythm. Cameron Dickey, who had rushed for 263 yards in last week\u2019s win over Kansas, mustered 40 on nine carries.<\/p>\n Arizona State\u2019s biggest blemish came on special teams. Leading 19-7 in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils had two punting mistakes (one was blocked, the other returned 36 yards) that provided Texas Tech late life. The Red Raiders took advantage, scoring two touchdowns in two minutes to take a soul-sucking 22-19 lead with two minutes left.<\/p>\n Just. Like. That. <\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa @CFBONFOX<\/a> | https:\/\/t.co\/gdu2gy3GmK<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Lny0mEbNc6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n This is where Leavitt comes in.<\/p>\n To some extent, the nation has forgotten about Leavitt. A preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, he started the season slowly. He was terrible in a Week 2 loss at Mississippi State. Most of the nation moved on. This is how it goes.<\/p>\n Leavitt had missed the Utah game because of a foot injury. On the bus ride to Rice-Eccles Stadium, he had taken in the Salt Lake City scene \u2014 leaves falling, football weather. \u201cI just started bawling,\u201d said Leavitt, crushed because he couldn\u2019t play. Against Texas Tech, he wasn\u2019t perfect \u2014 28 of 47 for 319 yards and a touchdown \u2014 but he reminded everyone he can be elite with the game on the line.<\/p>\n With just over a minute left, Arizona State faced a do-or-die moment \u2014 fourth-and-2 at the ASU 45. Leavitt took the snap and darted right, headed for the first-down marker on the sideline. At the last second, he threw to standout receiver Jordyn Tyson, who broke loose for 33 yards.<\/p>\n In the postgame news conference, a reporter suggested the pass was a designed play. Dillingham shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all Sam,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Three plays later, running back Raleek Brown powered in from the 1, the go-ahead touchdown. Texas Tech had 25 seconds but a last-second pass fell incomplete. Fans rushed the field. An Arizona State season that appeared to be in jeopardy reversed course.<\/p>\n DEVILS DO IT \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/0LD1tzX2mr<\/a><\/p>\n