ASU have to keep a short memory with No.7 Texas Tech on Saturday’s agenda

(Photo: Spencer Barnes/ WCSN)

Following last Saturday night’s 42-10 defeat as at now No.23 Utah, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham spoke to the media ahead of his team’s clash against the No. 7 Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Dillingham addressed multiple players’ injury status, including redshirt senior linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu and redshirt senior defensive back Xavion Alford.

“Zyrus is going to be out for the year. He had season-ending surgery, unfortunately,” Dillingham said. “(Alford) is going to be out for significant more time. Hopefully, we’ll find a way to get him back at the end of the season.”

Dillingham mentioned that ASU is going to apply for a waiver from the NCAA to receive a medical redshirt for Zyrus Fiaseu, who is in his last year of eligibility, but has only played in four games this season.

The injury list doesn’t stop with the defense, as graduate offensive lineman Ben Coleman exited the Utah game with an injury, but will miss the rest of the season, per Dillingham.

Also, redshirt senior Jeff Sims filled in for injured redshirt sophomore Sam Leavitt under center against the Utes, but Dillingham did not mention if that would be the case against Texas Tech.

“We’re going to find out more Tuesday or Wednesday. I know people think there’s gamesmanship here, there’s no gamesmanship here,” Dillingham said. “The reality is he’s day-to-day. We’re going to find out when we move him around on Tuesday and Wednesday’s practice if he’s good enough to go Saturday.”

Leavitt sat out bye week practices according to Dillingham, but practiced in the week building up to the Utah game. While he was originally slated to start, Leavitt didn’t progress enough to be able to get the go ahead.

Dillingham noted that there could be multiple more players added to the injury report, but needs to find out more information later this week.

He also described his belief in his team, despite what happened in Salt Lake City.

“I believe in who we are. We’re a 4-2 football team. We’re 2-1 in conference. I’m pretty happy with where we’re at this time of the year,” Dillingham said. “I know external people have their own opinion of where we should be. I have my opinions as well and I’m happy with where we’re at. We’re in a position to achieve everything we wanted coming into the year.”

Last season, the Sun Devils opened conference play 2-2, before they went on to win the Big 12. Dillingham mentioned that as a reason to still have belief in this year’s goals.

“You’re going to fly sky high and win a game, like a conference championship by 30 and you’re on top of the world,” Dillingham said. “Then you’re going to lose a game by 30 and you’re going to be like ‘what the heck.’ You’re still building it. You’re not there yet.”

He also clarified comments from postgame against Utah, where he said ASU was “out-coached” and “ out-physical-ed” by Utah.

“Every loss that we have I am responsible for every single person in this organization,” Dillingham said. “It doesn’t matter if we miss a tackle, or if there’s a bad scheme, or they get us schematically. It’s out-coached.”

The Sun Devils now look to bounce back from last week’s blow-out loss and turn their focus to Texas Tech. This home bout vs. the Red Raiders is likely one of the most important on the schedule, due to their stature as Big 12 title favorites.

“Every game is the most important game every time you play it,” Dillingham said. “Sometimes they’re gonna get you, sometimes you’re going to get them. If you look too much at the big picture, and not the singular focus of this is the game at hand.”

One of Texas Tech’s greatest strengths is their ability to run the football, whether it be via their quarterback or running back room. However, ASU’s defense struggled to stop the run against Utah, and will be in for quite the test this weekend.

“We’ve been one of the best run defenses in the country for a year and a half. That’s our culture,” Dillingham said. “If we’re going to let one game dictate our culture, I don’t know what we’re doing. We have to stay true to what we’ve proven we can do over the last 17 games, not the 18th one.”

Before the Utah game, ASU averaged just over 76 rushing yards allowed per game this season. Then against the Utes, they surrendered 276 yards on the ground.

Texas Tech offers a similar threat to deal with, through sophomore running back Cameron Dickey. Dickey is 13th in the nation in rushing yards, with 593 total yards, and an average of 6.4 yards per carry.

“Physical runner, will run you over, will run through you. Great contact balance,” Dillingham said. “When you have the ability to run through you and great contact balance, if you try to take him on not square or you don’t try to tackle him, he’s going to bounce off you. So you have to be able to tackle him, but he’s going to run through you sometimes, and he’s going to make you miss others.

A season ago, the Sun Devils lost to Texas Tech in Lubbock, 30-22. The Red Raiders went on to finish the season 8-5, but have come back rejuvenated in 2025.

“All of their d-linemen that started last year are now their twos or rotating ones,” Dillingham said. “That tells you how much they leveled up. They took a team that won eight games and that’s their depth across the board.”

The Red Raiders fiery start has come with extended personnel changes on both sides of the ball. Freshman quarterback Will Hammond has been filling in for senior Behren Morton, and has done so exceptionally well.

Defensively, Texas Tech hasn’t allowed more than 20 points all season en route to their 6-0 start.

“New defensive coordinator (Shiel Wood) who does a really good job. Came over from Houston last year and they did a really good job on defense,” Dillingham said. “Sometimes you play teams and you know what you’re going to get. They’re definitely not that type of team. Let his guys play free.”

The Red Raiders also haven’t won a game by less than 24 points, or three possessions, all season. Dillingham also mentioned that he believes they’re a top-5 team in the country, despite being ranked No.7 in the AP Poll.

Texas Tech will be one of ASU’s biggest tests this season, and Dillingham acknowledged how he needs the fanbase in order to have a chance to keep his team’s nine-game home winning streak alive.

“We need to be loud. We need to be fiery. This is an absolute game-changing environment we can create,” Dillingham said. “The last time we had a home game, the opposing team said we created an advantage. We need to create that same advantage this week.”