It is that time Sun Devils fans have been looking forward to for months as ASU is set to kick off a new era in the Big 12 with the program’s first-ever game in the conference against Texas Tech.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Arizona State (3-0) is coming off three straight wins over Wyoming, Mississippi State and Texas State. The Sun Devils manhandled Wyoming 48-7, relatively cruised in a 30-23 victory vs. Mississippi State and found a way to scrape a 31-28 win against Texas State.
Traveling back to the “Lone Star State,” ASU will have to push all of the adversity they had against Texas State behind them and look ahead to a Texas Tech team that will be vying to win its 600th game in program history. They are currently at 599 victories all-time and riding on a four-game winning streak at home in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders are 2-1 to begin 2024 as they beat FCS program Abilene Christian 52-51 in overtime, were blown out by Washington State 37-16 and annihilated North Texas 66-21.
Facing his former team for the first time, Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers transferred from ASU after last season concluded. The Gruver, Texas native has mustered 11 catches for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns so far back in his home state. When he was a Sun Devil the past three years, Conyers amassed 74 receptions for 846 yards and seven touchdowns.
Looking to settle the score with the all-time series being 2-2, this will be the first matchup between the two schools since 2017 when the Red Raiders were just able to claim a 52-45 win in a high-scoring affair. Both have never been in the same conference before, and today will be the first game where they are two Big 12 programs.
How to tune into Arizona State at Texas Tech
Game Time: 12:30 p.m. PT
Venue: Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas
TV: FS1 (Eric Collins and Spencer Tillman)
Radio: ESPN 620 AM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn), SiriusXM 84
Key Stats
- A win for ASU would mark the first time it would be 4-0 to start a season since 2016. It would also be the first 4-0 start against four consecutive FBS programs since 2007 when they beat San Jose State, Colorado, San Diego State and Oregon State, surpassing ASU’s win totals from the past two seasons (3-9 each in 2023-24) and would be the first win in Big 12 conference play as a program.
- This game will be the first time ASU has played back-to-back road games in its first four games of the season since 2018 when they played at San Diego State and at Washington. The Sun Devils were 1-3 away from home last season and are 1-0 this year after the Sept. 12 win over Texas State.
- The Sun Devils are No. 13 in the FBS in averaging 25.0 first half points scored per game. They are holding their opponents to 8.0 first half points per game, which is ranked No. 35 in the FBS.
- There are 22 Sun Devils who were born in Texas: wide receivers Jordyn Tyson, Troy Omeire, Kaleb Black, Derek Eusebio and Korbin Hendrix, defensive backs Xavion Alford, Chris Johnson II, Montana Warren, Joseph McGinnis II, Ja’Mori Williams, Tony-Louis Nkuba, Rodney Bimage Jr. and Keith Abney II, defensive linemen Clayton Smith, J.P. Deeter, C.J. Fite and Prince Dorbah, running backs Kyson Brown and Alton McCaskill, linebacker Jordan Crook, offensive lineman Josh Atkins and tight end Cameron Harpole.
Prediction
Arizona State 37-34 Texas Tech
With ASU undefeated at 3-0 and entering a new conference, this could be the first game where if they win, they could be nationally ranked. Texas Tech is no slouch and while they needed overtime to beat an FCS school Abilene Christian to start the season, they still scored 52 points in that game. The Red Raiders posted a 66-spot on North Texas last time out and they are home in front of an always-rocking crowd of fans in Lubbock. How will Arizona State be able to handle the pressure of the hostile environment? They faced a tough Texas State team and were able to grind it out to pull off a comeback win. This one is a tough one to predict like every other Sun Devils game so far but ASU is rolling at the moment and I believe they have just enough to get over the line.
ASU at Texas Tech game day guide: Where to watch and listen, betting odds
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
