While all wins are worth celebrating, this didn’t change the overall assessment. Quarterback Caleb Williams said it's “insane” that the Bears are 4-2 given how much growth has yet to happen, and Ben Johnson maintained his approach of cherishing the victory but being "a truth-teller.

Leavitt put the Sun Devils in position to win the game with a masterful 10-play drive that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Raleek Brown, giving Arizona State a 26-22 lead that the defense preserved in the final 33 seconds of the contest.

Arizona State remains at home to host much-improved Houston (6-1, 3-1) at 5 p.m. at Mountain America Stadium. Houston is one of the surprise teams in the Big 12 this season and is coming off a 31-28 win over Arizona, the difference being a walk-off field goal by Ethan Sanchez. The Cougars were just 4-8 last season.

With time dwindling, Texas Tech got a spark from a 56-yard kickoff return by J’Koby Williams to the ASU 44-yard line. The Red Raiders drove to the ASU 8, where on a fourth-and-6, a Cameron Dickey run was stuffed for a loss, giving ASU possession.