Season’s biggest test? TCU football doesn’t see many weaknesses in Arizona State
No. 24 TCU is expecting its biggest challenge of the season when the Horned Frogs travel to Tempe to face defending Big 12 champion Arizona State at 8 p.m. Friday.
Despite an early setback on the road to Mississippi State, the Sun Devils (3-1, 1-0) will enter the Big 12 opener for TCU (3-0) with a shot of confidence after slowing down Baylor in a crucial 27-24 win last week.
Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes doesn’t see many holes on Arizona State’s roster, even after the loss of All-American running back Cam Skattebo, a fourth-round NFL draft pick by the New York Giants.
“They’ve got really good players, one of the top quarterbacks in the country and arguably the top receiver in the country,” Dykes said Tuesday. “They have a veteran offensive line, good running backs, one of the best defensive fronts we’ll play this year. Linebackers that can run and a lot of athleticism on the back end. They even have a kicker that’s 9 out of 10 on the year. When you look at them they don’t have a lot of weaknesses.”
Everything starts with Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, the preseason All-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Leavitt helped lead the Sun Devils to the conference title and a surprising College Football Playoff berth last season after Arizona State was one of the worst teams in the country in 2023.
Leavitt hasn’t quite lived up to preseason expectations, as he’s only thrown for 748 yards, fewer than 200 yards per game, in four games this season. Despite the average passing numbers, Leavitt has been as advertised as a dual threat, rushing for 219 yards and four touchdowns.
TCU knows how dangerous he is on the move, but the Horned Frogs believe the experience of facing SMU’s Kevin Jennings could prove vital in their preparation.
“I think it could be a big help,” defensive tackle Markis Deal said. “Seeing what we struggled with, [Jennings] got out of the pocket a couple times. Now we know how to rush, how to keep him contained and collapse the pocket. Going into the next game against Sam Leavitt, he’s a good mobile quarterback that can extend plays and make plays on the run. Getting that experience will definitely help for next game.”
Jordyn Tyson better than Tetairoa McMillan?
As dangerous as Leavitt is, TCU’s biggest problem may be his favorite target, Jordyn Tyson, who is one of the best wide receivers in America, with 357 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Tyson has 31 receptions on the season, 18 more than the next Sun Devil, and he is also the only receiver on the roster with over 150 yards on the season. Despite being the focal point of defensive coverages, Tyson keeps producing.
So how good is the former Allen standout? Dykes believes he could be better than former Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.
“I think Tyson is an overall better player than [McMillan],” Dykes said. “I just think he can do more, I thought the Arizona guy was really good, but [Tyson] has size, he has speed, he plays physical. He can go get the ball, but probably his biggest strength is what he can do after the catch.”
McMillan had 115 yards on nine receptions against TCU last year in the Horned Frogs’ 49-28 win, but most of those came in the second half when TCU led by multiple touchdowns.
If TCU can hold Tyson under 100 yards, it could cripple an Arizona State passing attack that hasn’t had a second receiving option emerge.
Arizona State defense solid up front
Defensively, the Sun Devils will be without star safety Xavion Alford, but preseason All-Big 12 defensive lineman C.J. Fite is expected to play and will lead a unit that ranks in the top five in the Big 12 in sacks and run defense.
“I think their defensive line holds the point of attack really well,” TCU offensive lineman Ben Taylor-Whitfield said. “I don’t think any of the D-lines we’ve played so far have held the point of attack like their defensive line does. If we play with good leverage and pad level, we should be fine.”
If there’s a weakness, it may be in the secondary, as Arizona State allows the 15th-most passing yards in the conference (238.8).
Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns against the Sun Devils, but they rebounded and held Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson to 250, the fewest passing yards he’s had in a game against a Power Four team.
“They’re a really good team,” TCU quarterback Josh Hoover said. “A lot of things stand out on film. They play hard, they’re disciplined and they tackle well. They’re good in the secondary. It’s going to be a challenge, and we’re excited about it.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM.
