TEMPE, Ariz.– On the heels of a College Football Playoff appearance and Big 12 Championship win, Arizona State football came into the 2025 season with a target on its back. Mississippi State hit that target on the bullseye last Saturday, rushing the field after a 24-20 upset win against Sparky.
All eyes now turn to the Sun Devils’ response against Texas State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. AZT.
“The outside noise and the clout of the season is going to disappear, whatever that means,” ASU football head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “But the goal of the season and the vision of the season really has no change.”
In last year’s game, both teams traded touchdowns early before the Bobcats took a 21-7 lead with five minutes remaining in the second quarter. But the visiting Maroon and Gold utilized the “middle eight,” tying the game before halftime.
Dillingham’s defense excelled in the second half, forcing two turnovers. The first was a forced fumble from then-graduate defensive back Shamari Simmons that led to then sophomore Ian Hershey’s go-ahead field goal. Junior defensive back Xavion Alford notched an interception on the ensuing drive.
After throwing for only 69 yards against the Bulldogs in Week 2 last season, ASU sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt went 19-for-30 on his passes for 246 yards, a touchdown and an interception against Texas State. He looks for a similar type of bounce back following a performance last week in which he completed less than half of his passes and threw two interceptions.
“I didn’t play really well and take a lot of things on me,” Leavitt said about his performance in Starkville. “But it’s things that I can clean up. Just knowing the game plan better and fixing my footwork, being more calm. It’s a lot of the same things that was (present) early in the season last year.”
While key pieces remain on the Sun Devils, the Bobcats revamped their offense, as they aim for their third consecutive season above .500 under GJ Kinne. Then senior quarterback Jordan McCloud, the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, declared for the NFL draft after throwing for over 3,000 yards and notching 37 total touchdowns last season.
In turn, redshirt freshman Brad Jackson, last year’s backup, stepped into the starting role. Jackson has started 2025 strong, showcasing his dual-threat ability by throwing for 500 yards and five touchdowns, while picking up 82 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The San Antonio, Texas native is also on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, which is given to the best Division 1 offensive college football player with ties to the Lone Star State. Recent winners include Ashton Jeanty, Ollie Gordon III and Max Duggan.
“He’s incredibly mobile,” ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward said about Jackson. “He believes in himself, has a lot of moxie, he’s really tough. (He can) break tackles, keep plays alive with his feet. His best ball is probably throwing the ball downfield and letting his receivers run underneath it.”
Senior Lincoln Pare took over the starting running back role from current Arizona Wildcat Ismail Mahdi. Pare has been consistent on the ground, averaging 119 rushing yards per game and finding the end zone twice. Junior running back Jaylen Jenkins complements Pare with explosive ability, averaging 10.5 yards per rush.
Kinne’s side also has two wide receivers, juniors Beau Sparks and Chris Dawn, who have over 150 receiving yards to start 2025. Sparks, specifically, lives up to his last name, scoring the team’s five receiving touchdowns. They are both on the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List as well.
Sparky will look to stop Kinne’s homegrown, explosive offense after allowing three touchdowns from deep shots against Mississippi State.
BRENEN THOMPSON FROM DEEP #HailState || 📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/fiZ9TLW2qe
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 7, 2025
“There were 60 plays in that game (where) we played lights out defense,” Ward said. “But we constantly remind our guys that it’s not about being occasionally great. We gotta be consistently good.”
The Sun Devils will welcome Texas State with a Maroon Monsoon at Mountain America Stadium. Last season’s annual Maroon Monsoon game saw ASU beat Kansas 35-31 on a late touchdown from Leavitt to junior Jordyn Tyson.
Dillingham credits that win as one that gave the team the belief to go to the College Football Playoff. He hopes to reestablish in 2025.
“That’s the nature of the beast,” Dillingham said. “You’ve gotta weather the storm, not listen to the outside noise and go get better at what you get better at.”
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