Year 4 will tell us a lot about what Kenny Dillingham can build at ASU

No unbiased person would make the case that Arizona State is a better head-coaching job than Michigan in the current college football landscape.

ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham, however, argued with his actions that it’s the better job for him. He turned down interest from Michigan that he said his family would’ve been all in on if he was.

Dillingham could’ve seen a near doubling in his salary, and his job likely would’ve gotten a lot easier with how vastly superior the football resources are in Ann Arbor compared to Tempe.

But the proud Sun Devil alum has shown at every moment that he wants to build ASU into a program that can rival those like Michigan, even if he has to publicly lobby for resources himself. He has no issue with doing the dirty work, often saying you can’t expect to get what you want without asking for it.

And it’s felt like any time he’s asked for something, he’s gotten it.

After turning down Michigan, he called for the big-ticket donors in the Valley to reveal themselves. Since then, two eight-figure contributions have been made: one to endow the head coaching position and another to expedite the indoor practice facility that he first brought up before the 2025 season.

That facility is nearing a groundbreaking in the north parking lot at Mountain America Stadium.

“If I just stayed quiet and everything is roses and candy canes all the time, there’s no such thing,” Dillingham said in June. “It’s an arms race to continue to compete and get better. So, if we ever say we’ve made it … I’m actually hurting our football program.”

That’s part of why he entertains other suitors like Michigan; the leverage directly contributed to the resources that have been added, like additional staff salary money.

He said that while ASU is catching up in that arms race, it still trails a good amount because other programs didn’t stop to wait for the Sun Devils to catch up.

Both of the expensive contributions inherently benefit ASU in the long term, suggesting Dillingham will stick around to see it through.

What makes Year 4 so big for Kenny Dillingham and ASU?

Dillingham and the Sun Devils shocked the college football world in 2024 when they won the Big 12 after being picked to finish last, going on to nearly upset Texas in the Peach Bowl. It was ASU’s first 11-win season since 1996 (and second since 1975).

It then gave ASU a chance at its first pair of back-to-back 10-win seasons since 2013-14 (and second since 1972-73), but a rocky start to the 2025 campaign that was exacerbated by injuries heaped on top of it kept the wins down to eight.

Dillingham has pointed out the eight wins feeling disappointing to most fans as evidence of a turnaround from when ASU won three games in back-to-back years earlier this decade (2022-23).

If the Sun Devils can win at least eight games again this season, it would be a show of stability that the program rarely sees, earning a similar milestone (first with three eight-win seasons in a row since 2012-14 and second since 1971-73).

It would be especially encouraging for ASU supporters to know it wasn’t a one-core wonder for Dillingham, as the 2024 and 2025 rosters featured almost identical top contributors, Cam Skattebo being the big exception.

Dillingham used the boosted resources to replenish that core, surrounding new starting quarterback Cutter Boley with two top-four wide receiver transfers, Reed Harris and Omarion Miller.

If those pieces lock together early, it will not only show the path to another successful season, but will also serve as proof that Dillingham’s team-building is for real.

“We have no clue how good or bad we are,” Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta. “We better put every ounce of what we have into today and tomorrow and figure out where we are. You learn the most about your team after Week 1.

“Two years ago, we had a great Week 1 and we were on a great run. Last year, we didn’t have a great Week 1.”

He also said one of his biggest takeaways from the preseason is just how badly his group “wants it” and how much they’re willing to put in to get it. That isn’t by accident; the players are starting to reflect Dillingham’s identity because it’s how he recruits.

The Sun Devils will make their first impression Saturday against Morgan State at 7 p.m. MST.

Hear it on ESPN 620 AM, 98.7 FM-HD 2 and the Arizona Sports app.

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