LUBBOCK, TX — Arizona State University (ASU) arrived in Lubbock, Texas, undefeated in non-conference play, looking to kick off their Big 12 journey with another win. However, a series of miscues, especially penalties, combined with an effective game plan by Texas Tech (3-1, 1-0 Big 12), allowed the Red Raiders to play spoiler, handing the Sun Devils (3-1, 0-1) a 30-22 defeat. Texas Tech controlled the tempo with 83 offensive plays, keeping ASU’s defense on its heels. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils struggled to find consistency, as penalties and missed opportunities defined the afternoon.

“We battled to the end,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said after the game. “There was a little bit of frustration out there, like every time we tried to get back, they scored again. We just couldn’t close out the gap all game, which I think was the frustrating part. Our guys stayed in it and they fought, and then we just couldn’t close it.”

Despite the setback, Dillingham has noticed a newfound resilience in his team, a characteristic absent last season, his first as head coach. Last week, the Sun Devils mounted a comeback to defeat Texas State on the road, and though they showed flashes of that determination today, their shortcomings were too much to overcome.

“We can fight back this year,” Dillingham said. “Last year, we couldn’t. When we got off the rails, that thing was going into the ocean. There was no way to stop it. This year, our guys can navigate it back. Sometimes you get 14 points down, and they [the opponent] do a good job of not letting you come back. They countered every time we were on the brink of closing that gap and tying the football game.”

Texas Tech’s methodical approach on offense was key. The Red Raiders converted 8 of 17 third-down attempts, methodically moving the chains, even though their 30 points and 334 total yards were modest compared to previous wins. Star running back Tahj Brooks consistently picked up yardage, often gaining four to five yards on first down, which allowed Texas Tech to control the clock and keep ASU’s defense on the field.

“We have to win on third down,” Dillingham acknowledged. “That’s how they play the game. They played very efficiently, and we knew it going in. Our game plan was to get them to third down, and we had to win those downs, not give up the big play. If we win three of those third downs, it’s a different football game, but they won them.”

On the other side, the Sun Devils failed to convert on all three of their fourth-down attempts, and only managed to keep a drive alive once, thanks to a Texas Tech pass interference penalty.

“Statistically, you should convert on fourth and ones,” Dillingham explained. “We haven’t been as aggressive this year because we’ve been playing pretty good defense, but in that game, the way they started on offense was so hot, we felt like we had to stay on the field and put together a drive. Our guys ended up playing 83 defensive snaps, which is too many. That’s a testament to us not getting off the field on third downs and not converting them ourselves.”

Adding to ASU’s difficulties, penalties played a significant role in Texas Tech’s ability to extend drives. A defensive pass interference call on sophomore cornerback Keith Abney II led to a Red Raiders field goal just before halftime. Later, junior safety Myles Rowser sacked the quarterback on a key third down, but his taunting penalty negated some of the momentum. Although Texas Tech eventually punted on that drive, ASU’s eight penalties for 69 yards, compared to the Red Raiders’ nine penalties for 94 yards, were detrimental.

“Those were unacceptable for us, and that’s on me,” Dillingham admitted. “We can blame the players all day, but at the end of the day, it’s our job and responsibility. That’s the beautiful thing about college coaching—everything is my fault. We lost 65 yards of field position in two possessions because of penalties and turnovers. Unfortunately, this is the first game since I’ve been here where I can say we were undisciplined, and we have to get that fixed.”

Despite the loss, redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt set a career-high with 282 passing yards. Dillingham has noticed Leavitt’s growth week-to-week, from improved decision-making to increased comfort in the offense. However, the young quarterback still has areas to improve, and the upcoming bye week offers a chance for him and the coaching staff to evaluate his first four games.

“Really rowdy game on the road for a freshman starter,” Dillingham said. “He missed a couple of throws I know he can make, and then he made a couple of throws that we have to make for him. It’s the nature of the game. Last week, he scrambled to run; this week, he scrambled to throw. It’s all part of the maturing process, learning to see different looks. When you’re young, sometimes you’ve never seen what’s coming in a game, except for a couple of days at practice.”

The Sun Devils enter their first bye week of the season, having already matched last year’s win total. They will return to action on October 5th when they host Kansas (1-3, 0-1). During this break, Dillingham aims to keep his team focused on improvement and moving past this loss.

“We have three seasons this year,” senior running back Cam Skattebo explained. “We have four games and a bye week, then four more games and a bye week, and four games after. Every four games needs to be a new season. We went 3-1 this season, so after this bye week, we need to come back out with that fire.”

Dillingham echoed that sentiment, determined to improve his team during the break. “We’re 3-1 heading into the bye,” he said. “The goal is to be 4-0, but the reality is we’re 3-1, and there’s nothing to do about it now. We can’t go back and play better. They whooped our butt in all three phases: special teams, offense, and defense. They deserved to win, and I have to coach better. We have to play better and be a better football team coming out of the bye.”