The Arizona State Sun Devils were without five important players, while TCU arrived at Mountain America Stadium with a full roster. Yet, the Sun Devils, who moved up 4-1 and 2-0 in the Big 12, managed to pull their victory bell (honorary done by #18 Martell Hughes for his winning INT) after a 27-24 win over the Horned Frogs. That familiar tradition has now been celebrated nine straight times at home, a streak that shows the toughness of this program. Nights like this rhymed with moments where coach Kenny and player Sam Leavitt got their chance to shine like that.
The aftermath of a thrilling 27-24 night was caught by Sun Devils Source QB1 Sam Leavitt rushing over to Kenny Dillingham, giving him a sweaty but warm hug from behind. It was a moment dripping with relief and joy. Dillingham looked at the camera, pointing to his quarterback, and said, “Just show his smile right here, that’s all you need! and let him go the locker room and shower.” For Leavitt, this was bigger than just a win. It was validation after weeks of being disrespected in national quarterback rankings.
To say the start of Leavitt’s season has been uneven would be an understatement. His performance in the loss to Mississippi State drew heavy criticism, and it seemed like those low moments defined him nationally more than his successes. Even when he strung together two strong weeks of football—including a game-winning drive against Baylor—perception barely budged. The sophomore had not been given the benefit of the doubt, and the gap between what he showed on the field and where he was ranked seemed to grow by the week.
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David Cobb of CBS Sports recently slotted Sam Leavitt as the 42nd-best, tucked behind Navy’s Blake Horvath, Utah State’s Bryson Barnes, Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff, and Virginia’s Chandler Morris. As respectable names they are, but for a Power Five starter producing the way Leavitt has, the placement felt more like an oversight. It sparked a larger conversation: how does a player with Leavitt’s skill set and production continue to be overlooked?
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Numbers tell part of the story. Against Baylor, he posted his best QBR of the season and engineered drives when the team needed them most. He added 62 rushing yards in that game, showing off the dual-threat ability that has always been a part of his identity. Saturday against TCU, he topped even that performance: 27-for-39 passing, 291 yards, two touchdowns through the air, plus 62 rushing yards and another score with his legs. Nearly 1,000 total yards through four games is not just efficiency; it is steady production even while operating behind a roster that has faced its share of challenges.
Why Sam Leavitt remains underrated is less about flaws and more about perception. G5 QBs being stacked above him says more about outdated impressions than current results. As a sophomore still adjusting, his progression is not only visible but measurable in real time. The arrow is pointing up, and the stretch run of last season showed just how dangerous he can become once rhythm sets in. Now, the test grows tougher with Utah looming in Week 7.
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The comeback
For a moment, it looked like Arizona State’s night might spiral out of control. TCU took advantage of a failed fourth-down gamble by the Sun Devils and stretched the lead to 17-0 with a field goal. That could have been the breaking point, but it lit a spark. Sam Leavitt uncorked a 57-yard strike to Jordyn Tyson, finally putting points on the board. One stop later, another efficient drive marched down the field, capped off by Leavitt bulldozing in for a short-range touchdown run to cut it to 17-14.
Momentum felt real, but football has its cruel side. Just before halftime, Leavitt coughed up a fumble, and the Horned Frogs ran out the clock. Q3 saw a tie at 17, only for TCU to retake control at 24-17. But this team wasn’t done.
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