Kenny Dillingham has built Arizona State into one of the Big 12's most competitive programs. But the Sun Devils have slipped since his 2024 breakout, and they're now 2-2 after Saturday's blowout loss to Baylor. Baylor's physical play overwhelmed ASU early, piling up 299 yards in the first half against a defense that had been among the best in the country.
Arizona State couldn't generate pressure on Bears quarterback DJ Lagway, which let Baylor move the ball downfield all game and led to a 55-19 loss in the Sun Devils' own stadium. Dillingham took the blame afterward, saying he's letting the team down and isn't getting the most out of this roster. "No, no, we're not hitting a standard that I want, because we're not playing as good as we can play, and the standard is playing to the maximum ability that the football team that you have can play, and to play above that.
Pull out more than the team has, and I am not pulling out more than this team has," Dillingham said in his postgame press conference. "I'm letting our football team down. I am not maximizing the team that we have.
We're falling short of the ability that we have, so we're not hitting it, and I got to figure out why and how to get there. I don't know the answer to that right now. I got to figure it out." More news: South Carolina Considering Major QB Shakeup Amid LaNorris Sellers’ Struggles Dillingham took over his alma mater in late 2022, when Arizona State was coming off back-to-back 3-9 seasons under Herm Edwards.
His first year ended with just three wins again, but he turned things around fast. In 2024, the Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12, then went 11-3, won the conference title, and reached the College Football Playoff, taking Texas to double overtime in the Peach Bowl. Dillingham was named Big 12 Coach of the Year.
ASU took a step back last season, going 8-5 and 6-3 in Big 12 play. The disappointing year was mostly chalked up to injuries, including to quarterback Sam Leavitt, but the Sun Devils have gotten off to a rough start again this season. They're 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play, and Saturday's loss was Arizona State's worst defeat since joining the Big 12.
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