The Sun Devils looked transformed Saturday night against Texas State, as they scored 34 points fueled by Raleek Brown’s 144 yards and a touchdown. 

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt continued to show strong chemistry with top target, redshirt junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. The dynamic duo recorded one of the most electric touchdowns when a jump throw from Leavitt found a hurdling Tyson for six. 

Week 4 sees a new Big 12 opponent for ASU. The Baylor Bears enter the matchup 2-1 despite a loss to newly ranked Auburn and a win against formerly ranked SMU.

Baylor returned 13 starters from its 2024 season – the Bears finished 2024 with an 8-5 record – including key players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and five starters on defense. 

Senior quarterback Sawyer Robertson is the centerpiece of Baylor’s success. Robinson currently leads the conference with 84 pass completions and 1,070 yards. 

Robinson’s hot start put the senior at the center of Heisman conversations. 

Sun Devils’ head coach Kenny Dillingham had the highest of praise for the field general in his Monday presser.

“He’s a really good player; he has had a lot of success the last two years,” Dillingham said. “It’s gonna be a good challenge for us.”

The Bears found success this season putting the ball on the ground. In their past two games against SMU and Samford, the running back room gained 161 yards and 223 yards. 

While the Baylor offense impressed over the first three games, its defense struggled. The Bears currently stand second-worst in touchdowns allowed, 12, and have conceded 565 yards rushing. 

Baylor’s defensive struggles present an opportunity for R. Brown, who is currently the second-leading rusher in the conference behind the Bears’ redshirt sophomore running back Bryson Washington despite having 31 fewer attempts.

Although the early returns reflect a different story, the Baylor defense is known for its “simulated pressures” on opposing quarterbacks. These pressures confuse opposing offenses and create chaos.

Regarding ASU’s approach to the Bears’ unique system, Dillingham said an energy shift is necessary to succeed offensively. 

“We can’t go out there and run the exact same plan this week,” Dillingham said. “We gotta be ready for a whole different type of team, a whole different skill set.”

Last week against the Bobcats, Leavitt and the Sun Devils’ offense distributed targets more effectively compared to previous weeks, when they had overrelied on Tyson. Senior tight end Chamon Metayer eclipsed his career high in receptions with six catches, including a touchdown. 

Saturday’s Texas State game marked the first instance of a non-Tyson passing touchdown. Spreading the ball around proved effective, as ASU totaled 433 yards of offense. 

The Sun Devils’ defense flew all over the field after a stagnant showing against Mississippi State. A key player who helped this explosiveness was Senior linebacker Jordan Crook.

Crook won Big 12 defensive player of the week after totaling 12 tackles and a sack. In Crook’s second year in the Valley, he’s found himself tied for first in total sacks with two.

Dillingham couldn’t stop praising his experienced leader.

“That dude works. In the game, he got one of our game balls,” Dillingham said. “It was just the work that he puts in.”