Honestly, if you told a Houston fan five years ago that they’d be trading punches with Arizona State in late October for a shot at a conference title, they probably would’ve asked what kind of alternate reality you were living in. But here we are. The Houston vs Arizona State dynamic has shifted from a rare "wait, have they ever played?" trivia question to a full-blown Big 12 grudge match.
It isn't just about the proximity or the shared desert-to-bayou heat. It’s about the chaos. When these two met at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe this past October, nobody expected a 24-0 shutout for three quarters. Especially not from a Houston team that spent the last decade trying to find its identity.
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The Night Tempe Went Quiet
Most people got the October 25, 2025, game wrong. The betting lines liked the Sun Devils. Arizona State was ranked #24 in the country, riding a massive wave of momentum under Kenny Dillingham. They had a ten-game home winning streak. People were already talking about them as dark horse playoff contenders.
Then Conner Weigman happened.
Weigman, the former Texas A&M signal-caller who found a second life in Houston, basically turned into a one-man wrecking crew. He didn't just throw the ball; he ran for 111 yards. Watching a quarterback lower his shoulder like a fullback in the third quarter to cap off a 75-yard drive is something you don't see every day in the modern "protect the QB" era.
He accounted for three touchdowns. Houston led 24-0. The silence in the stadium was heavy.
Arizona State looked sloppy. There’s no other way to put it. 12 penalties? A targeting ejection? Two missed field goals? It was the kind of performance that makes a coach want to "flush it down the toilet," as Willie Fritz famously says.
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What Actually Happened with Sam Leavitt?
A lot of the post-game chatter centered on ASU’s quarterback, Sam Leavitt. He went down hard in the first quarter after a 14-yard scramble. For a few minutes, the vibe in Tempe was genuinely scary. He eventually came back, but the rhythm was gone.
By the time Leavitt returned from the medical tent, ASU was already down 10-0. He still managed to throw for 270 yards, but the Houston defense—led by Eddie Walls III and Latrell McCutchin Sr.—never let him get comfortable. Walls was a nightmare, recording two sacks and living in the backfield.
Jeff Sims eventually came in and tried to spark a miracle. He hit Chamon Metayer for a 27-yard touchdown late in the fourth to make it 24-16. For a second, it felt like one of those classic "Pac-12 after dark" comebacks, even if they're in the Big 12 now. But on 4th-and-4 with the game on the line, Kentrell Webb swatted away the final hope. Game over.
The Hard Truth About the Houston vs Arizona State History
Before this recent explosion of Big 12 relevance, the history between these two was... sparse.
We’re talking about a series that went dormant for over 30 years. Before 2025, the last time they played was 1990. Back then, David Klingler was throwing for 700 yards a game and the Southwest Conference was still a thing.
The overall series is actually dead even now at 5-5.
- The Early Days: Arizona State dominated the 70s.
- The 80s Shift: Houston grabbed the momentum in the late 80s with those high-flying offenses.
- The Modern Era: It’s a physical, grinding rivalry that favors the team that wins the trenches.
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough is the "Willie Fritz Effect." Fritz has won everywhere—Tulane, Georgia Southern, Sam Houston State. He brought a certain "absolute dog" mentality (to quote tight end Tanner Koziol) to Houston. Taking down a ranked opponent on the road for the first time since 2017 wasn't a fluke. It was a statement.
Hardwood Heat: The Basketball Side
If you think the football games are tense, the basketball side of Houston vs Arizona State is a completely different animal.
In February 2025, the Cougars went into Tempe as the #5 team in the nation. Kelvin Sampson’s teams play a style of basketball that is basically the sporting equivalent of a root canal—it's painful, it's suffocating, and you just want it to be over.
They beat ASU 80-65. LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp combined for eight three-pointers.
But ASU didn't just roll over. Alston Mason went off for 26 points, proving that the Sun Devils have the individual talent to scare anyone. The problem is consistency. While Houston under Sampson is a machine that prioritizes offensive rebounding and "man-to-man" defense that feels like having six players on the court, ASU is still trying to build that same level of structural discipline.
Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
We have to look at the landscape. The Big 12 is the most chaotic conference in college sports right now. There is no clear "Alabama" or "Georgia" that everyone is chasing. It’s a league of parity.
This means every time Houston and Arizona State meet, there are massive implications for bowl seeds and tournament brackets. It’s not just a game; it’s a gatekeeper matchup.
What people miss about the "rivalry": It’s a recruiting battleground. Both schools are fighting for the same four-star kids in Texas and the Southwest. When Houston wins in Tempe, it makes the pitch to Arizona-based recruits a lot easier. When ASU steals a win in the Fertitta Center or TDECU Stadium, it’s a dagger to the Cougars' local "HTown" branding.
The Misconception of "Old vs. New"
There’s this idea that Houston is the "new kid" in the Big 12 and ASU is the established power. That’s sort of backwards. Houston has a deep, rich history of being a powerhouse in the SWC. Arizona State is the one currently trying to find its footing after the Pac-12 collapsed.
In reality, both programs are in a frantic race to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the "Power 4."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following this matchup closely, there are a few things you need to keep an eye on before the next time they meet.
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- Watch the Turnover Margin: In their last three meetings across both sports, the team that won the turnover battle won the game 100% of the time. Neither team is "explosive" enough to overcome gifting the other side extra possessions.
- Home Field Isn't What It Used To Be: ASU’s home winning streak was snapped by Houston. Don't assume the desert heat is enough to wilt the Cougars.
- The "Weigman Factor": If Conner Weigman stays healthy, Houston has a ceiling that rivals anyone in the conference. His ability to run the ball (111 yards vs ASU) changed the entire defensive scheme for Dillingham.
- Recruiting Overlap: Keep an eye on the transfer portal. Players are moving between these two regions more than ever, and "revenge games" are becoming a real factor in the locker room.
The rivalry is no longer a historical footnote. It’s a primary pillar of the Big 12’s identity. Whether it’s on the field or the court, expect drama, a lot of yellow flags, and coaches who are probably going to be very hoarse by the time the final whistle blows.
To stay ahead of the curve, track the injury reports for Sam Leavitt and the development of Houston's secondary. The Cougars proved they could win without being "flashy," but the Sun Devils are too talented to stay down for long. The next time these two meet, the stakes will likely be even higher than a Top 25 ranking.