Sun Devils enter Lubbock with hopes of upset victory over No. 10 Texas Tech

(Photo: Scott Russomano/WCSN)

In 2024, head coach Kenny Dillingham led Arizona State football into its first road test of the new Big 12 era. The Sun Devils traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to play the Texas Tech Red Raiders. ASU lost 26-22, but used the loss as fuel for the rest of the season, finishing with a Big 12 Championship win and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

The following year, the Sun Devils returned the favor, welcoming then-No. 7-ranked Texas Tech to Mountain America Stadium. ASU, led by an unforgettable performance from wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, won 26-22, as the day ended with the Sun Devil faithful storming onto Frank Kush Field.

But like ASU’s 2024 run, Texas Tech used the loss to ignite a six-game winning streak, culminating in a Big 12 Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

In 2026, both teams enter their meeting under vastly different circumstances, but seek the igniting spark to another Big 12 Championship run.

No. 10 Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) enters seeking to build off the disappointing end to last year’s season – a 23-0 loss to Oregon in the Orange Bowl. On the other side of Galaxy Stadium, the Sun Devils (3-2, 1-1) look to continue to right the ship, following a disappointing 55-19 loss at home to Baylor in their last conference contest.

Despite the everlasting offseason chaos of college football, Texas Tech’s foundation from last season remains largely the same.

Third-year quarterback Will Hammond officially has the starting reins after filling in for Behren Morton in last year’s meeting in Tempe. Hammond was limited to only 167 passing yards in a game where ASU’s defense stood stout.

“Last year in his first game, went out and had one of the best performances on Utah that I’ve seen from a quarterback,” Dillingham said. “He was a guy that said this our future here, and the future is now.”

Entering this season, Hammond’s starting position was far from assured. Texas Tech initially brought in quarterback Brendan Sorsby from Cincinnati in the transfer portal, but he was ruled ineligible for numerous gambling violations under NCAA rules.

Texas Tech fought for Sorsby’s eligibility, but he ultimately opted to go professional with attempts to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft. Texas Tech’s backup plan saw fifth-year quarterback Tommy Castellanos join the Red Raiders, after previously playing at UCF, Boston College and Florida State.

Castellanos was eligible due to a temporary restraining order granted in Kentucky and played in three games for the Red Raiders. The Kentucky Court of Appeals eventually ruled in favor of the NCAA, and Castellanos was ruled ineligible before Texas Tech took on Colorado. On Friday, however, Castellanos was deemed eligible by a Kentucky judge and will suit up on Saturday as Texas Tech’s No. 2.

Hammond led Texas Tech under center against Colorado, finishing with 134 yards and a touchdown pass, as the Red Raiders won 29-7.

“He’s 5-0. The goal of the quarterback is to win, find ways to win and make the play when your number is called,” Dillingham said. “The best quarterbacks, they find ways to win and they make the play when the play needs to be made.”

His performance was far from great, but Hammond was backed up by his defense, one that has shown to be an elite force through the early goings of this season.

Colorado’s quarterbacks threw four interceptions, with fourth-year linebacker John Curry intercepting a pass in Colorado’s own end zone for a touchdown.

Curry’s touchdown was Texas Tech’s third interception returned for a touchdown this season, the second-most in the nation, trailing only Alabama. A year ago, Texas Tech had only one pick-six on the season.

Texas Tech’s defense has also picked off nine passes so far, the third-best mark in the country. The interceptions have come from all over the field, with Curry, fourth-year linebacker Austin Romaine and fourth-year cornerback Brice Pollock leading the way with two interceptions each.

Through five games, Texas Tech’s defense has also stood up strong against the run. The Red Raiders have allowed 91.4 rushing yards per game and are the only team in the country to not allow a rushing touchdown.

This could bode poorly for the Sun Devils, who have struggled to run the ball at times this season.

In ASU’s games against Morgan State and Hawaii, its rushing attack ran for 480 combined yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, in the Sun Devils’ three matchups against Power Four opponents, they’ve run for 347 yards with a single rushing touchdown.

Even though ASU showed flashes of potential against Hawaii with first-year running back Cardae Mack leading the way, it’ll need to replicate that performance and then some against Texas Tech.

“You saw the juice and the passion,” Dillingham said. “That I really enjoyed, but we as a football team have to figure that piece out. Like I’ve said all along, I have so much belief in this football team that we are better than what we’re playing.”

Dillingham has repeatedly called on his team to bring more energy since losing 55-16 to Baylor, as he looks to figure out how to get the best out of this team.

That recent burst of energy will be more than necessary against Texas Tech, with this set to be the host’s 11th consecutive sell-out for their homecoming game.

“They’ve sold out a game that was on a Friday night, which is impressive,” Dillingham said. “That tells you that place is going to be rocking on Saturday.

“It’s a great challenge for our guys, it’s a great challenge for our staff and it’s going to be an unbelievable environment to go play in.”

But as Dillingham’s mindset has been for his entire career, he enters with the confidence that he can coach his team to a key victory in conference play.

“I expect to win every game,” Dillingham said. “I expected to win games when we ran the swinging gate. I expect to win every freaking game. I expect to win.

“There has not been one game since I’ve been the head coach that I have not taken the field expecting to win the football game and with a plan that I had the utmost belief in was the best thing to win the football game.”