Arizona State tumbled out of the AP Top 25 after losing at Mississippi State last week. The Sun Devils must turn their attention to a Texas State team that gave them trouble a year ago when they meet Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.
The Sun Devils (1-1) scored the final 10 points to hold off the Bobcats (2-0) for a 31-28 victory in San Marcos last season, the first meeting of the two schools. Arizona State was outgained but benefited from a plus-two turnover margin.
The 2024 Big 12 champion Sun Devils were running back Cam Skattebo’s team. Coach Kenny Dillingham said they are in the process of forging a new identity.
“Every team is a little bit different,” Dillingham said. “There’s a balance. We have to find it. I think we’re trending to figure us out.”
The Sun Devils had 251 yards rushing in the 24-20 loss to Mississippi State, with 100-yard games by Raleek Brown and Kanye Udoh. Quarterback Sam Leavitt was out of synch, however, going 10 for 22 for 82 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Mississippi State beat single coverage to score on a 58-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds remaining, while the Sun Devils struggled with offensive consistency. They are 4 for 24 on third-down conversions this season.
“We’re not playing just a middle-of-the-road team. This is a playoff team with a first-round quarterback and first-round receiver,” said Texas State coach G.J. Kinne, identifying NFL prospects Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
“A big-time environment against a playoff team. We’re excited for the opportunity, for sure.”
Leavitt threw for 246 yards and a touchdown last year against the Bobcats, who have turned to redshirt freshman quarterback Brad Jackson this season.
Texas State beat UTSA 43-36 in the I-35 rivalry last week — the schools are 53 freeway miles apart — when Jackson threw for 286 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores.
Wide receiver Beau Sparks has been Jackson’s favorite target, with 12 receptions for 237 yards and an FBS-leading five touchdowns.
“The hardest thing about college football is to win, and capitalize on that win, and to stack weeks,” Texas State defensive end Kalil Alexander said. “Bring that energy into next week.”
Texas State is in its final season in the Sun Belt Conference before joining the Pac-12, from which Arizona State bolted in a mass exodus a year ago.
