Arizona State pulled off a spectacular comeback and beat No. 24 TCU 27-24 in a Big 12 showdown on September 26, 2025.
The Sun Devils were trailing by 17 points at the half, but used the dual-threat playmaking of Sam Leavitt and his critical passing and rushing touchdowns to trim the margin. Having explosive plays, defensive stops, and a game-winning field goal, Arizona State displayed resilience and determination in front of its home crowd at Mountain America Stadium.
First Half Highlights
TCU led in the initial phases, and it was 17–0 in the second quarter. Key plays included
- The 13-yard TD run of Trent Battle.
- A 7-yard rushing TD by Jeremy Payne.
- A field goal, after a key defensive stand on a fourth-and-2 by Arizona State.
- Sam Leavitt is uniting with Jordyn Tyson on a 57-yard TD.
- Leavitt scored on an 8-yard rushing goal, and the halftime score was 17-14.
Second Half Highlights
The Sun Devils carried this momentum into the second half.
- Leavitt connected with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson that had 1:50 left.
- Prince Dorbah succeeded in delivering a decisive strip sack on TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, putting Arizona State at the 15-yard line of the Horned Frogs.
- Jesus Gomez finished the comeback with a 23-yard field goal and 1:14 remaining on the clock.
Standout Performers
- Sam Leavitt made 26 out of 38 passes with 278 yards and two goals.
- Jordyn Tyson made 8 catches of 126 yards and two scores.
- Raleek Brown rushed for 147 yards, a balanced.
- Prince Dorbah made a key contribution to the defense by making a vital sack.
- Jesus Gomez made the game-winning field goal, demonstrating a cool head under pressure.
Tactical Analysis
It was the second half adjustment from Arizona State. The offensive line gave Leavitt ample time to work, and he took advantage of that time as he exploited the TCU defense. Defense became more difficult, and TCU was only allowed to run the ball 25 times, managing only 10 yards.
This victory shows the potential and power of Arizona State in the Big 12 conference. The triumph over such a huge deficit over a ranked opponent demonstrates the evolution and the desire to win of the Sun Devils. Arizona State will be successful next season since some of its players are already incumbents.