Four things to know about TCU football’s next opponent, Arizona State
The real season starts this week for TCU football, as the Horned Frogs begin Big 12 play against the Arizona State Sun Devils at 8 p.m. Friday in Tempe, Arizona.
The defending Big 12 champions are coming off a massive 27-24 road win over Baylor, and this matchup could determine who’s the leading challenger to Texas Tech in the conference.
The Horned Frogs (3-0) will be back in Arizona for the first time since their classic 51-45 win over Michigan in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Friday night’s battle features two of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the league, plus one of the top defenses in the conference.
Here are four things to know about Arizona State (3-1, 1-0):
Who’s the real WR1?
The wide receiver battle between TCU senior Eric McAlister and Arizona State junior Jordyn Tyson should be cinema.
Both players were preseason All-Big 12 honorees, and they have lived up their lofty accolades. A 1,000-yard receiver last year, Tyson leads Arizona State with 357 yards and five touchdowns, while McAlister has 320 yards and three touchdowns in three games.
Tyson has two games this season with over 100 yards, with 141 against Northern Arizona and 105 against Texas State. He also had six receptions and 68 yards in a narrow road loss to Mississippi State.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, the Allen native is a physical receiver who excels with making plays after the catch, and he also brings down many of the 50-50 balls he’s thrown.
Tyson will be the toughest receiver TCU faces this season, and holding him under 100 yards will be essential to starting league play with a win.
How good is QB Sam Leavitt really?
Most preseason lists had Arizona State sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt projected as the best signal-caller in the conference. A big reason was Leavitt helping lead the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship and a playoff appearance, but while he played a major role, departed running back Cam Skattebo carried Arizona State.
Leavitt, a former Michigan State transfer, threw for 2,885 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions while adding 443 yards and five touchdowns on the ground last season — a solid stat line but not one of an elite quarterback.
It begged the question: Was Leavitt really the best quarterback in the league, or did he just happen to be the quarterback of the best team?
So far it’s looked like the latter. The Sun Devils are 3-1, but Leavitt has been above average at best. He’s thrown for 748 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions while rushing for 219 yards and four scores. He’s been held under 200 yards twice this season, including throwing for an abysmal 82 yards in the loss to Mississippi State.
Leavitt is dangerous when he escapes the pocket, especially in the red zone, but he’s not as effective as SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings.
TCU can’t allow Leavitt to have a breakout game.
Life after Cam Skattebo
The biggest question mark facing Arizona State was how it would replace Skattebo, a first-team All-American and All-Big 12 selection last season.
The answer has been former five-star recruit Raleek Brown, who started his career at USC but transferred after two seasons.
Brown only had nine carries last season as he dealt with nagging injuries. Now healthy, the junior has been one of the most productive running backs in the Big 12, rushing for 372 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He’s not the biggest player, listed at 5-9, 195 pounds, but Brown has legitimate 4.4 speed and has rushed for at least 80 yards in three straight games.
Army transfer Kanye Udoh has added some of the power and toughness Skattebo provided, with Udoh having 156 yards and a touchdown at 4.0 yards per carry this season.
With Brown, Leavitt and Udoh, Arizona State will try its best to wear down the TCU defense.
Experienced defense
No defense returned more production in the conference than Arizona State. The Sun Devils brought back 10 of 11 starters from last year, including standouts in senior safety Xavion Alford, senior linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and junior defensive lineman C.J. Fite.
Arizona State has played well so far, not allowing more than 24 points in a game despite facing Baylor and Mississippi State. The performance against the Bears was particularly impressive, as Arizona State forced three turnovers and held Baylor to 107 rushing yards. Arizona State was also the first power conference team to hold Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson under 400 yards, limiting him to 250.
This will be the best defense TCU has faced so far this season.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 12:32 PM.
