Big 12 Legend Makes Surprising ASU Statement as Sundevils Overcome Major Hurdle

Kenny Dillingham’s boys once again flexed the power of an indomitable human spirit after their Week 5 turnover-city comeback victory against potential fraud TCU, winning 27-24 at home. Many folks, for good reason, poured ice on Arizona State’s pre-season hype after their Week 2 surprising loss to Jeff Lebby’s Mississippi State Bulldogs, which kicked them out of the Top 25. Now, they’ve got their redemption victory against No. 24 ranked TCU, and national media along with big-time analysts are demanding the AP Poll put them back where they belong — inside the Top 25, more specifically on the bottom side.

On September 26, Baylor legend and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III hopped onto X following Arizona State’s comeback victory and demanded strong consideration from AP Poll voters: “Arizona State should be ranked in the Top 25 next week.” Well, if you go by merit, they should be in Week 5 of the AP Poll, especially after this crazy comeback.

Arizona State should be ranked in the Top 25 next week.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 27, 2025

The Sun Devils fought tooth-and-nail and pulled off a 17-point comeback victory in their first matchup against TCU in 50 years. By all means, it was a good old-school gritty game filled with turnovers. The turning point came in the 2nd quarter when Sam Leavitt dropped a 57-yard bomb to Jordyn Tyson. Just a few minutes later, he scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown, flexing his mobility before halftime. Then, in the third quarter, that’s when the game started turning ugly. After grabbing a goal-line pick on defense, the Sun Devils cashed in by knocking through a 26-yard field goal from Jesus Gomes, tying the score at 17-17.

Even though Jesus Gomes missed 2 field goals earlier, he redeemed himself when it mattered most in the fourth quarter. Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson once again proved why they are one of the best QB-WR duos in America by clutching up for a touchdown. Then came Gomes, stepping up big time with a 23-yard field goal to secure Arizona State’s second Big 12 win of the season.

Sam Leavitt finished the game with 278 passing yards, completing 26 of 38 throws with 2 touchdowns. Jordyn Tyson caught 8 passes for 126 yards and 2 scores, while their running back Raleek Brown was stomping all over the field with 147 rushing yards. The night couldn’t have ended better for Year 3 head coach Kenny Dillingham.

With the AP Poll releasing at 2:00 ET on Sunday, there’s a good chance ASU (30th in the Poll with 30 votes) could sneak back into the bottom of the rankings. However, it’s still too early to say, as Saturday football is yet to play. Teams like Auburn, Mississippi State, and South Florida, who sit on the edge of the AP Poll to 25, are also fighting to sneak in.

After the game, Kenny Dillingham started his post-game press-conference giving props to the ASU ground staff for their pre-game efforts. Leading up to the game, heavy storms had rolled through, putting the playing surface at risk of being waterlogged and unsafe. Instead of simply letting conditions deteriorate, the crew worked around the clock to repair damage, drain excess water, and restore the field to game-ready condition.

Props to the Sun Devils defense

The Arizona State Sun Devils defense was a real game-changer. They pulled off a fantastic turnaround, overcoming a 17-0 deficit. The defense especially shone late in the game, when it mattered most, pulling out stops and getting the ball back for the offense. The Sun Devils defense was pretty solid against the run, allowing just 3.1 yards per carry so far this season. That’s some good work in the trenches.

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