You’d think a game between a Sun Belt school and a Big 12 powerhouse wouldn’t have much "oomph" behind it. Wrong. Honestly, the Texas State vs ASU matchup has quietly turned into one of the most stressful, high-stakes non-conference series in the Southwest. If you watched the 2024 meeting in San Marcos, you know exactly why. It wasn't just a win for Arizona State; it was a near-collapse that saved their season and arguably broke Texas State’s momentum for a month.
People keep calling these "guarantee games." They aren't.
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Texas State, under GJ Kinne, has spent the last two years proving they can play with anyone. Meanwhile, Kenny Dillingham has basically revitalized the Sun Devils by leaning into a "Valley-tough" identity that doesn't mind winning ugly. When these two programs collide, it's a mess of explosive plays and weirdly aggressive coaching calls.
The 2024 Heartbreaker in San Marcos
Let's look at what really happened on that humid Thursday night in September 2024. Most pundits expected ASU to stroll into Jim Wacker Field and handle business. Instead, they walked into a buzzsaw. Jordan McCloud, the Bobcats' star QB at the time, was carving up the Sun Devil secondary like it was a local high school JV team. At one point, Texas State was up 21-7. The stadium was literally shaking.
Then, the momentum shifted. It always does with ASU.
The Sun Devils didn't panic. Sam Leavitt, who was just a redshirt freshman then, showed a level of poise that most veterans lack. He found Jordyn Tyson for a massive 52-yard score that quieted the crowd and reminded everyone why Big 12 athletes are recruited at a different level. ASU eventually scraped out a 31-28 win, but they left Texas with bruises and a lot of questions.
Texas State outgained them. They had 400 total yards to ASU’s 347. The difference? Turnovers. The Bobcats coughed it up three times. You can’t do that against a Dillingham-coached team and expect to survive.
Why the 2025 Rematch Felt Different
When the scene shifted to Tempe in September 2025, the vibe was totally different. ASU was coming off a weirdly frustrating loss to Mississippi State and needed a "get right" game. They got it, but it wasn't the blowout the 18.5-point spread suggested it would be early on.
ASU won 34-15, but the score hides how much of a dogfight the first half was.
- Raleek Brown was the absolute X-factor, racking up 144 yards on just 12 carries.
- Brad Jackson, taking over the reins for the Bobcats, showed he’s a legitimate dual-threat nightmare.
- The Sun Devil defense, led by Jordan Crook, recorded 5 sacks—the most they’d had all season at that point.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about Texas State vs ASU is that there’s a massive talent gap. There is a gap, sure, but the Bobcats' "Portal King" strategy has closed it significantly. When you look at the rosters, Texas State is starting guys who transferred out of the SEC and Big 12. They aren't scared of the pitchfork logo.
Another thing? The coaching. GJ Kinne and Kenny Dillingham are basically two sides of the same coin. They’re young, they’re aggressive, and they both treat fourth down like it’s a suggestion rather than a rule. In their 2025 meeting, ASU went 2-for-3 on fourth downs, while Texas State tried a staggering 6 times, converting 4. That’s not "mid-major" football. That’s high-risk, high-reward insanity.
Key Players Who Defined the Series
If you're looking back at these games, you have to talk about Jordyn Tyson. The guy is a human highlight reel. In the 2024 game, he had 120 yards. In 2025, he followed it up with another 100-yard performance and a touchdown. He’s the type of receiver that forces a defense to keep two safeties deep, which basically opened the door for Raleek Brown to gashed the Bobcats on the ground.
On the other side, Beau Sparks has been a thorn in ASU’s side. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but his route running is clinical. He’s the reason Texas State stays in these games; he moves the chains when everything else breaks down.
Looking Ahead: Is This a Real Rivalry?
College football is changing. With the Big 12 expanding and the Sun Belt becoming the best "Group of Five" conference, these regional matchups matter more than ever. Fans in San Marcos still talk about the 2024 game as the "one that got away." Fans in Tempe view Texas State as a trap game they never want to see on the schedule again.
That’s how rivalries start. It’s not always about 100 years of history. Sometimes it’s just about two teams that play each other twice and realize they really, really don't like losing to one another.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re betting or just following future matchups between these two, keep these specific trends in mind:
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- Watch the "Middle Eight": ASU has been dominant in the last four minutes of the first half and the first four of the second. If Texas State doesn't score before the half, they usually lose the thread.
- The Sack Count: In both recent meetings, the team that won the battle at the line of scrimmage won the game. ASU’s defensive depth eventually wears down the Bobcats' offensive line.
- The Fourth Down Factor: Both coaches are gamblers. Don't expect many punts if the ball is past the 50-yard line.
The Texas State vs ASU series has proven that "small" games can produce some of the best football in the country. It's fast, it's loud, and it's usually decided by a single mistake in the fourth quarter.
If you want to really understand the gap between the Big 12 and the Sun Belt, don't look at the rankings. Just watch the tape of these two teams hitting each other. The gap is a lot smaller than the experts want to admit.