Honestly, if you told a college football fan ten years ago that a Tuesday night in October would see Arizona State and Texas Tech battling for Big 12 supremacy, they’d probably ask you if the conferences had melted. But here we are. The Texas Tech vs ASU football matchup has quietly turned into one of the most unpredictable, high-stakes series in the modern era of the sport. It isn't just about regional pride anymore. It’s about two programs that refuse to be boring.
You've got the Red Raiders, a team that practically invented the "score 50 and hope for the best" philosophy. Then you have the Sun Devils, who under Kenny Dillingham have found a way to become the ultimate "don't count us out" squad.
The 2025 meeting was a perfect example of this chaos. Texas Tech rolled into Tempe as the No. 7 team in the country. They were undefeated. They were looking like a legit playoff lock. And then? Arizona State happened.
The Night the Sun Devils Stunned No. 7 Texas Tech
Most people expected a blowout. Texas Tech had been averaging over 550 yards of offense through their first six games. They were a juggernaut. But football is weird. Texas Tech had to play without their star quarterback Behren Morton, who was sidelined with a knee injury. Freshman Will Hammond stepped in, and for three quarters, it looked like the Tech offense had finally run out of gas.
Arizona State didn't care about the rankings. They played a gritty, frustrating style of defense that kept the Red Raiders in a cage. Sam Leavitt, the ASU signal-caller, was coming off an injury himself. He didn't look perfect, but he looked like a winner.
The fourth quarter was pure madness. Hammond finally found his rhythm, leading two touchdown drives to put Tech up 22-19. It felt like the No. 7 team would survive. But ASU had 34 seconds and a dream. Raleek Brown punched in a 1-yard touchdown with less than a minute left, handing Texas Tech their first loss of the season in a 26-22 thriller.
Why This Game Changed the Big 12 Narrative
Before this, Arizona State was sort of seen as the new kid on the block. Moving from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 is a massive adjustment. But beating a top-10 Texas Tech team? That changed everything. It proved that the "Sun Devil Magic" was real.
For Texas Tech, it was a wake-up call. You can have the best offense in the country, but if you can't get a stop when it matters, the ranking doesn't mean a thing.
A History of High-Scoring Shootouts
If you look back at the Texas Tech vs ASU football history, it’s basically a track meet with helmets. Remember 2016? That was the night Patrick Mahomes—yes, that Patrick Mahomes—threw for 540 yards and five touchdowns.
Most quarterbacks would win that game. Mahomes lost.
ASU put up 68 points that night. Kalen Ballage tied an NCAA record by scoring eight touchdowns in a single game. Eight. It was like watching a video game on easy mode. The final score was 68-55. It remains one of the wildest box scores in the history of college football.
Then, in 2017, they did it again. Another shootout in Lubbock. This time, Nic Shimonek (taking over for Mahomes) threw for 543 yards. Texas Tech managed to pull that one out 52-45.
The Series by the Numbers
It's actually a very balanced rivalry, though they haven't played dozens of times.
- All-time record: 3-3 tie.
- Home dominance: Neither team has won on the other's home turf recently, until ASU's 2025 upset.
- Points per game: These teams average over 35 points whenever they meet.
Texas Tech fans still talk about the 2013 Holiday Bowl. That was the Kliff Kingsbury era. Freshman Davis Webb threw for over 400 yards and four touchdowns to beat a 16th-ranked ASU team. It was the win that made everyone think Tech was officially "back."
The Tahj Brooks vs Cam Skattebo Factor
In the 2024 matchup, the focus shifted from the quarterbacks to the backfield. This was ASU's official Big 12 debut. They went to Lubbock and got a face full of Tahj Brooks.
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Brooks is a different kind of runner. He’s a bowling ball. He rushed for 117 yards against an ASU defense that was supposed to be elite against the run. Texas Tech won that one 30-22, spoiling the Sun Devils' big conference entrance.
On the other side, you had Cam Skattebo. He is the heart of the ASU offense. Even when he isn't racking up huge rushing yards, he’s catching passes out of the backfield and punishing linebackers. In that 2024 game, he had over 100 yards receiving. He's basically a Swiss Army knife in a football uniform.
Coaching Styles: McGuire vs Dillingham
Joey McGuire has brought a "Brand" to Lubbock. It’s all about being the "toughest, hardest working team in the country." He’s a high-energy recruiter who has rejuvenated the fan base.
Kenny Dillingham is the offensive guru. He’s young, he’s local, and he knows how to manipulate defenses. When these two meet, it’s a chess match between McGuire’s smash-mouth philosophy and Dillingham’s creative play-calling.
What to Watch for in Future Matchups
The Big 12 is wide open now. With the traditional powerhouses moving on, schools like Texas Tech and ASU are the new heavyweights. Every time they play, it feels like it has playoff implications.
If you're betting on this game or just watching as a fan, keep an eye on the turnover margin. In their recent meetings, the team that protects the ball wins. Simple, right? But with the pace these teams play at, mistakes happen fast.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Study the injury reports: As we saw in 2025, a missing QB like Behren Morton changes the entire dynamic of the Texas Tech offense.
- Watch the recruiting trails: Both McGuire and Dillingham are fighting for the same athletes in Texas and Arizona. Whoever wins the recruiting wars in the offseason usually has the depth to win these grueling conference games.
- Check the Vegas lines early: This matchup is notorious for high over/under totals. If the total is under 60, it might be the easiest "over" bet of the year.
The Texas Tech vs ASU football series is no longer just a non-conference curiosity. It is a cornerstone of the new-look Big 12. Whether it's a 68-point explosion or a 26-22 defensive stand, you can guarantee it won't be boring.