An emotional Kenny Dillingham couldn't answer Saturday when a sideline reporter asked what it meant for Arizona State to upset sixth-ranked Texas Tech, the 16th win over a Top 10 team in program history.

Here's what he could have said:

Thank God for Texas.

Since pushing Texas to double overtime in the national quarterfinals last season, the defending Big 12 champs are 4-0 against teams from the Lone Star State. Three of the wins this season were in Tempe (Texas State, TCU and Tech) and the fourth on the road (Baylor).

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The Sun Devils' only other win this season? Northern Arizona. Otherwise, Mississippi State upset them when they ranked 12th, and Utah romped by 32.

ASU proved to be a rude awakening for schools from these parts. The losses by Texas State, TCU and Tech were their first of the season.

"We're fixin' to find out how we face a loss," Joey McGuire said after the Sun Devils' 26-22 comeback.

"That's the adversity you've got to find out."

The Red Raiders faced considerable adversity against ASU with Behren Morton sitting out due to an injury to his right leg. His backup, Will Hammond, struggled early but led a pair of touchdown drives to give Tech a 22-19 lead with two minutes left.

Then Sam Leavitt, a Patrick Mahomes starter kit whom McGuire called "a difference-maker," rallied the Sun Devils for a last-gasp touchdown and the win.

The Raiders' offensive difficulties -- they managed 276 yards after averaging an FBS-best 558.8 going in -- were to be expected without Morton. But ASU also tuned up one of the nation's best defenses for 394 yards.

Fortunately for McGuire, Tech's bounce-back potential looks good with Oklahoma State visiting Lubbock on Saturday. But a Kansas State team that surprised TCU looms in two weeks in Manhattan, followed by undefeated BYU.

Meanwhile, next up on the Sun Devils' Lone Star hit list: Houston on Saturday, the last of the Texas teams on their schedule. From there on out, they're on their own.

In other Best in Texas news, Texas A&M and Texas narrowly avoided disastrous upsets; SMU got revenge on Clemson for last year's ACC title game; and North Texas bounced back from a humiliating loss to South Florida with a blowout of UTSA, earning a bowl berth in the process.

1. Texas A&M (7-0)

Aggies did what Texas couldn't against Gators, though it's nice not to have to play in the Swamp.

Last: 45-42 win over Arkansas.

Next: at LSU on Saturday.

2. Texas Tech (6-1)

Red Raiders need Morton for more than "emergency."

Last: 26-22 loss to Arizona State.

Next: Oklahoma State on Saturday.

3. SMU (5-2)

Date with Miami on Nov. 1 looking big.

Last: 35-24 win over Clemson.

Next: at Wake Forest on Saturday.

4. Texas (5-2)

Billy Napier is gone, but he'll always have Texas.

Last: 16-13 win over Kentucky in OT.

Next: at Mississippi State on Saturday.

5. TCU (5-2)

Frogs bring lightning, hold off on thunder.

Last: 42-36 win over Baylor.

Next: at West Virginia on Saturday.

6. Houston (6-1)

Willie Fritz's typical turnaround right on schedule.

Last: 31-28 win over Arizona.

Next: at Arizona State on Saturday.

7. Baylor (4-3)

Bears' late rally put a scare in the Frogs.

Last: 42-36 loss to TCU.

Next: at Cincinnati on Saturday.

8. North Texas (6-1)

Mean Green going bowling for second year in a row.

Last: 55-17 over UTSA.

Next: at Charlotte on Friday.

9. Texas State (3-4)

Three-game losing streak by a combined 11 points.

Last: 40-37 loss to Marshall in 2OT.

Next: James Madison on Oct. 28.

10. UTSA (3-4)

Roadrunners don't get to play Rice every week.

Last: 55-17 loss to UNT.

Next: Tulane on Oct. 30.

11. Rice (3-4)

Owls still seeing double after 61-13 loss to UTSA.

Last: idle.

Next: UConn on Saturday.

12. UTEP (2-5)

Thank goodness for the Bearkats.

Last: 35-17 win over Sam Houston.

Next: at Kennesaw State on Oct. 28.

13. Sam Houston (0-7)

From 10-3 to . . . this?

Last: 35-17 loss to UTEP.

Next: at Louisiana Tech on Halloween. Boo.

Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN

Related StoriesRead MoreWhat we learned in Week 8 of college football: Tech falls, SMU seeks return to CharlottePlus, why it was a tough week to be an AP voter...College football poll (Oct. 19): Texas Tech slides, A&M in top 3 for first time since 1995This week's rankings look different after a weekend full of surprising upsets in college football.

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Best in Texas (10/20): Texas A&M, UT avoid upsets; Tech not so lucky