Arizona State likely to join Texas Tech in representing Big 12 in Top 25 rankings

Texas Tech is the highest-ranked team in the Big 12 in the AP Poll entering Week 5, but it sure seems fair to expect the Arizona State Sun Devils to be ranked once more.
TCU v Arizona State
TCU v Arizona State | Chris Coduto/GettyImages

There aren’t a ton of Big 12 teams getting a ton of respect right now, but it seems like a safe bet to expect the Arizona State Sun Devils will join the Texas Tech Red Raiders in representing the Big 12 as one of the handful of teams in the conference to be in the college football top 25 rankings.

And as for the reason that Arizona State has earned a spot in the top 25 following Week 5? 

Well, the Sun Devils just took down the TCU Horned Frogs. Right now, Arizona State is 4-1 on the season, with wins over Northern Arizona, Texas State, Baylor, and now TCU. The one loss was a close matchup on the road against a currently 4-0 Mississippi State team that operates an offensive scheme that is similar to what Texas Tech utilizes.

And that matchup between the Red Raiders and the Sun Devils in a few weeks is certainly looking more and more interesting the closer we get to it. Arizona State just keeps finding ways to stay alive and win and that game is going to be in Tempe.

College football rankings, week 5: Arizona State’s win over TCU should let the Sun Devils represent the Big 12 in the Top 25

Here’s what the AP poll looks like right now when looking at just Big 12 teams in Week 5:

  • Texas Tech Red Raiders (No. 12 overall)
  • Iowa State Cyclones (No. 14 overall)
  • TCU Horned Frogs (No. 24 overall)
  • BYU Cougars (No. 25 overall)

The Utes and Sun Devils are currently on the outside looking in as they’re both receiving votes (but clearly not enough to get ranked right now). It seems likely that this will change for Arizona State and that they’ll earn a spot in the top 25 (even if it is at No. 25). TCU, of course, will almost certainly end up falling out of the rankings with this loss.