Arizona State Stuns No. 7 Texas Tech 26-22 in Thrilling Big 12 Upset

Arizona State delivered a knockout punch to No. 7 Texas Tech on Saturday night, rallying from a late deficit to upset the previously undefeated Red Raiders 26-22 at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe. The Sun Devils overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter collapse to delight a sold-out crowd who thought they were experiencing a big collapse. 

The emotions reached a boiling point only after the final Texas Tech pass hit the ground in the end zone. At that point, Arizona State fans exhaled and then proceeded to storm the field. If that sounds exciting, you need to brace yourself for the recap of the final two minutes of the ASU win. 

The Arizona State-Texas Tech Exciting Final Minutes 

Let’s start with the game winner: ASU RB Raleek Brown punched in the winning touchdown from one yard out with just 34 seconds remaining on the clock. 

The dramatic finish capped off a wild final quarter that saw Texas Tech erase a 19-7 deficit in just 1:45 of game time, only to watch their perfect season slip away in heartbreaking fashion. 

Red Raiders backup quarterback Will Hammond, filling in for injured starter Behren Morton, orchestrated two impressive scoring drives that gave Texas Tech a 22-19 lead with two minutes left, but the freshman left too much time for Arizona State’s seasoned offense.

Sam Leavitt, returning from a foot injury that sidelined him in last week’s blowout loss to Utah, masterfully guided the Sun Devils down the field on the game-winning drive, completing 5 of 7 passes for 61 yards in the final 75-yard march. The victory moved Arizona State to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, keeping their conference championship hopes alive, while Texas Tech dropped to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in league action.

FIELD STORM IN TEMPE @ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/aVIoV6P1yN

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2025

 

Key Takeaways from the Big Arizona State Win 

Leavitt’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Sun Devils, as the quarterback threw for 319 yards and connected with Jordyn Tyson for a 2-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Arizona State appeared to be headed toward a devastating loss after giving up two late touchdowns, but Leavitt rallied them, showcasing the same clutch gene that carried the program during last season’s memorable run.

• Arizona State’s defense deserves enormous credit for bouncing back from last week’s humiliation against Utah, when they surrendered 276 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 42 carries. Against Texas Tech, the Sun Devils allowed just 109 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries, making crucial stops when their season was on the line.
• The Red Raiders’ high-octane offense sputtered without their starting signal-caller, managing just 276 total yards after averaging an FBS-best 558.8 yards through their first six games. Morton’s absence due to a knee injury forced Texas Tech to rely on Hammond, who struggled for three quarters before finding his rhythm in the final frame.
• The Sun Devils dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for 37:12 compared to Texas Tech’s 22:28, wearing down the Red Raiders’ defense throughout the contest. This ball control approach proved crucial in the fourth quarter when Arizona State needed to sustain their game-winning drive.
• Texas Tech joined an unfortunate club this weekend, becoming the fourth top-10 team to suffer a defeat alongside No. 2 Miami, No. 5 Mississippi, and No. 10 LSU. The Red Raiders’ loss shook up the national rankings and opened the door for other programs to climb the polls.

 

ASU now faces Houston – Texas Tech plays Oklahoma State 

This thrilling Big 12 battle showcased everything college football fans love about the sport:  dramatic momentum swings, clutch performances, and a finish that will be replayed for years to come. Arizona State’s ability to respond after its devastating fourth-quarter collapse demonstrated mental toughness. 

The Sun Devils will look to build on this momentum when they host Houston next week at Mountain America Stadium, while Texas Tech returns home to face Oklahoma State.