2026 Liberty Bowl Preview
Arizona State (7-5) vs Texas A&M (7-5)
The Devil's Due Mailbag — Liberty Bowl Preview 
By: Emilio Suarez
Published: December 24th, 2026
It felt like a century ago that the Arizona State Sun Devils had a clear path to the Big XII Championship Game, before they fell flat on their faces with back-to-back losses to end the season with a 7-5 record.
Since then, Kenny Dillingham left for USC and Charlie Weis Jr. was hired as his replacement. But with Weis Jr. in the midst of guiding the LSU Tigers offense and Heisman winner Sam Leavitt into the College Football Playoff, the Sun Devils turn to Marcus Arroyo to lead them into battle one final time. Arroyo will be leaving the Sun Devils program after the game to join Dillingham in Los Angeles.
Despite all the turmoil internally for the Sun Devils, they aren't getting a break on the field as they prepare for a rematch against the Texas A&M Aggies in the Liberty Bowl, who beat Arizona State 41-35 in Week Two this year.
Pitchfork Points
How is the team's mindset?
We're going to get the answer to this question very quickly once the Liberty Bowl kicks off. Are the remaining Sun Devils determined to prove that they are a contender, despite Dillingham's departure? Or are they content to roll over to finish the end of what was a grueling final stretch? Whatever happens will say a lot about the current roster that Charlie Weis Jr. is going to inherit.
How will the defense fare without Owen Long?
The junior MLB has opted to sit out the Liberty Bowl as he eyes the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility. Long was instinctive and sound in both the run and passing game and his presence will be sorely missed. All-American second-teamer Martell Hughes is going to slide in from his will linebacker spot to man the middle, but if anything, that creates a two-fold problem for ASU. Hughes was at his best rushing the passer. He has the athletic ability to man the inside, but lacks Long's instinct and experience. If Hughes can't keep the ASU defense coordinated, Marcel Reed may have a field day.
Without Rueben Owens II, the Sun Devils have to stop the pass. Can they?
Rueben Owens II is out with a tricep tear suffered midway through the regular season. He exploded for 109 yards and a touchdown in the team's first meeting. His absence could likely turn the Aggies one-dimensional. Usually, that would benefit the defense. But with ASU's suspect passing defense, it may play directly into the Aggies hands. If they want to slow down Reed and Co. they'll have to get after him early and often, force him into mistakes, and avoid the big plays that have plagued them all season.
Big XII Bowl Matchups
Frisco Bowl - Utah (7-5) vs Memphis (7-5)
Rate Bowl - Colorado (7-5) vs #16 Indiana (9-3)
New Mexico Bowl - Texas Tech (8-4) vs South Alabama (7-6)
Pop-Tart Bowl - #24 BYU (8-4) vs Syracuse (7-5)
Alamo Bowl - Washington (8-4) vs TCU (7-5)
Independence Bowl - Liberty (7-5) vs #13 Oklahoma State (10-3)
Texas Bowl - #17 Missouri (9-3) vs #25 Kansas State (9-3)
CFP 1st Round - #10 Pittsburgh (11-2) vs #7 West Virginia (11-2)
By the Numbers
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies
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79 Overall // 79 Offense // 81 Defense | Team Rating | 89 Overall // 89 Offense // 89 Defense
Marcus Arroyo (0-0) | Head Coach | Mike Elko (26-12)
Marcus Arroyo | Offensive Coordinator | Holmon Wiggins
Multiple Offense | Offensive Scheme | Power Spread
Brian Ward | Defensive Coordinator | Lyle Hemphill
4-2-5 | Defensive Scheme | 4-2-5
35.4 (11th) | Offensive Points Per Game | 32.5 (24th)
29.3 (108th) | Defensive Points Per Game | 26.1 (71st)
441.3 (13th) | Offensive Yards Per Game | 448.0 (10th)
370.4 (33rd) | Defensive Yards Per Game | 405.7 (80th)
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies
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78-67 | Combined Record | 90-56
FCS W 63-17 | Week One | Missouri State (5-7) W 42-13
@ Texas A&M (7-5) L 41-35 | Week Two | Arizona State (7-5) W 41-35
@ Kansas (4-8) W 35-29 | Week Three | Kentucky (4-8) L 23-17
BYE | Week Four | @ LSU (10-2) L 34-28
Baylor (5-7) L 38-17 | Week Five | Arkansas (3-9) W 45-24
Hawaii (1-11) W 59-27 | Week Six | @ Missouri (9-43) L 44-34
@ Texas Tech (8-4) L 48-14 | Week Seven | FCS W 45-10
Kansas State (9-3) W 34-9 | Week Eight | @ Alabama (5-7) W 37-6)
@ BYU (8-4) W 21-20 | Week Nine | BYE
Colorado (7-5) W 52-20 | Week Ten | @ South Carolina (10-2) L 37-13
@ UCF (7-5) W 33-28 | Week Eleven | Tennessee (9-3) W 51-24
Oklahoma State (10-3) L 52-45 | Week Twelve | @ Oklahoma (11-2) L 45-14
@ Arizona (5-7) L 23-17 | Week Thirteen | Texas (9-3) L 28-13
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies
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MLB Owen Long (88) Personal Reasons | Injuries | DT DJ Hicks (84) Broken Fibula (1 Week)
N/A | Injuries | HB Rueben Owens II (87) Torn Tricep (9 Weeks)
Arizona State Sun Devils Texas A&M Aggies
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FR Jake Fette 135/224 (60%), 1,675 Yds, 20 TD, 11 INT | QB | JR(RS) Marcel Reed 245/375 (65%), 3,021 Yds, 23 TD, 7 INT
JR Kyson Brown 120 Att, 790 Yds, 5 TD | HB | FR KJ Edwards 53 Att, 176 Yds, 3 TD
SR Omarion Miller 54 Rec, 773 Yds, 10 TD | WR | SR(RS) Isaiah Horton 57 Rec, 824 Yds, 5 TD
JR(RS) Reed Harris 38 Rec, 509 Yds, 7 TD | WR | JR Mario Craver 51 Rec, 657 Yds, 2 TD
SR(RS) SS Lyrik Rawls 106 Tkl, 12 TFL, INT | DEF | JR(RS) Tawfiq Byard 97 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack, INT
JR LB Martell Hughes 77 Tkl, 14 TFL, 2.5 Sacks, INT | DEF | SR DE TJ Searcy 27 Tkl, 8 TFL, 4 Sacks
SR(RS) DE Emar'rion Winston 26 Tkl, 16 TFL, 8.5 Sacks | DEF | SR(RS) DE Anto Saka 48 Tkl, 17 TFL, 11 Sacks
JR(RS) CB Ashton Stamps 58 Tkl, 10 TFL, 2 INT | DEF | SO FS Marcus Ratcliff 61 Tkl, TFL, 4 INT
