How a week of intensity led ASU’s defense to halting the nation's best offense

The Sun Devils looked like anything but a lockdown defense last Saturday against now-No.23 Utah. In a performance that was their worst defensive display since 2023, as they gave up seven rushing touchdowns in the 42-10 beatdown. 

Senior linebacker Keyshaun Elliott was so embarrassed after allowing 276 rushing yards, he couldn’t even look on social media, but Arizona State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) had to flush it out and move on. 

Yet, ASU got perhaps the worst fortune on who was next on its schedule in No.7 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1), going into Saturday, the Red Raiders led the nation in total offense while averaging the second-most points per game (47.5) in the country. 

With just one week to rejuvenate a defense that was humiliated in Salt Lake City, head coach Kenny Dillingham turned to perhaps the simplest solution. 

“We don’t win this game if we beat Utah,” Dillingham said post-game. “We were so embarrassed that our guys had a different level of intensity and focus, and we found it.” 

After the Sun Devils’ defeat to the Utes, their defensive physicality was called into question. To turn it up a notch, Dillingham elected to practice at full speed, with Tuesday’s session incorporating live tackling. 

Dillingham said Tuesday he’s been “too soft” on his players, and despite having an experienced group on defense with 10 of 11 starters returning from 2024, the uptick in tempo made all the difference. 

“Sometimes it’s hard to wake up,” Elliott said of experienced players having energy for practice. “Coach did a good job holding us accountable. We’re going live on a Tuesday practice Week 7 of the year. That’s not pretty common.” 

Teams don’t tackle mid-week in-season for a reason, and ASU had already logged a hefty injury list with 14 players listed as out just 90 minutes before kickoff, including senior safety Xavion Alford. Not only was the high-octane work week a risk, but it became the focal point of the players’ preparation.

“The whole thing about this week was to show that we’re physical,” Sophomore safety Adrian Wilson said. “To show that we’re fast, to show that we like to play football.”

“When you have a loss like that, you can go down a rabbit hole,” Dillingham elaborated. “Whether that’s in football or in life. Our guys didn’t go down a rabbit hole; we went to live period three, and not one person flinched. That’s what gave me a lot of confidence.

When it’s time to play football, ASU’s defense was masterful, the Red Raiders went scoreless in the first and third quarters, and until the final four minutes of the game had just seven points. 

Offensively, Texas Tech struggled in all facets, posting just 276 yards of total offense, and it all started on the ground. Against Kansas in Week 6, the Red Raiders put up 372 yards on the ground while ASU held them to 109. 

The front six, including the linebacker group in particular, played their part in that. Elliott and senior Jordan Crook finished first and third in total tackles with a combined 17. Three more players in the position group added five tackles to that total, but it was sophomore Martell Hughes who made an unbelievable play

“He was my roommate at the hotel, and we actually talked about if he got another pick, what celebration we’re going to do,” Elliott laughed, referring to Hughes. “He’s gonna be a hell of a player when he’s my age.” 

After sophomore safety rocked tight end Terrance Williams, punching the ball loose, it shot right up in the air, giving Hughes a window to dive and intercept the ball on the Texas Tech 21-yard line. ASU went on to score its first touchdown of the game off that turnover. 

Hughes has now made two interceptions in crucial wins, picking one off against then-No. then-No.24 Utah. 

“Just another big play,” Hughes said, surrounded by fans rushing the field. “Shoutout to (Warren) for making it hit.” 

The Red Raiders dealt with frustrating injury woes as well. Redshirt freshman quarterback Will Hammond started in place of senior Behren Morton, the backup completed 22-of-37 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He also used his legs without hesitation, rushing 15 times for 47 yards, but after conceding 120 yards rushing to Utah quarterback Devon Dampier last week. 

So in practice, the defensive coordinator Brian Ward made sure they were ready for a runner.

“We knew from the first game that he played this year that they’re going to do some designed runs,” Elliott said. “We didn’t really know who was going to be the starter until last night, so we just trusted the coaches were giving us the right looks over the week.”  

Warren forcing the ball out was one of dozens of critical plays the defensive backs made on Saturday. The starting back five in the secondary combined for 28 tackles, with all of them having at least three, including 17 of the team’s 33 solo tackles.

The Red Raiders did find their way through late in the game, scoring 15 fourth-quarter points; however, both of their scoring drives can be attributed to special teams in many ways. The Sun Devils pushed them back just eight yards on a punt after sophomore Kanyon Floyd’s punt was tipped and then returned for 21 yards. Then the following drive, Floyd’s punt went just 29 yards and was returned for 36, allowing Texas Tech to start on the ASU 12-yard line. 

After the game, Dillingham called special teams “unacceptable and inexcusable.” 

Wilson, Elliott, and running back Raleek Brown all spoke on the importance of physicality during the week and how it prepared them for Saturday. Dillingham, however, despite being praised by all three for the change, admitted he looked for help. 

“I wish I could even take credit,” he said. “I called two coaches I knew, and I said, ‘Hey, this is the situation we got, guys signed up, we’ve got guys in green jerseys, we’re not as physical as we were. We’re a veteran team. I’ve never been in this situation before. Help.’

“I took their advice and we did it.” 

Coming off its largest margin of defeat since 2023, when the program went 3-9, ASU could’ve folded and succumbed to the pressure of facing an undefeated top-10 team with the country’s most potent offense.

Despite all of the facts that pointed away from the Sun Devils being able to contain Texas Tech, they performed throughout the week as though practicing with intensity and playing with passion is a part of their identity. 

And that’s probably because those adjectives are the backbone of their very identity. 

“We say, ‘Have fun working harder than anyone in the country.’ We can’t have fun and not work harder than anyone in the country. Doesn’t work like that. We can’t have fun and not work harder than anybody else.

“I lost that, and we had it back this week, and we’ll never ever, as long as I’m coaching, not practice to the physical level like we did this week again.”