Kenny Dillingham on ASU’s missed opportunities at Baylor: ‘This should not be this close of a game’

Kenny Dillingham was exasperated by Arizona State’s 27-24 win at Baylor in its Big 12 opener on Saturday, knowing it left some opportunities on the table.

“Holy cow. A game that you’re up 3-0 in the turnover battle shouldn’t come down to a game-winning kick,” Dillingham told reporters postgame. “Offense sputtered, defense picked it up. Defense sputtered, offense picked it up. Special teams wasn’t good, won it there at the end.

“That’s football. Find ways to win in this league. … And we’ll never win like that again, that exact same way. Gotta find another way.”

Its victory after winning the turnover battle moved ASU to 12-0 since the beginning of 2024 when it takes care of the ball better than its opponent. Adrian “Boogie” Wilson was in on both Baylor fumbles, forcing one and recovering another, and Keith Abney II made a heck of a diving interception.

But the Sun Devils settled for field goals each time, for nine points off three turnovers. That includes two times ASU started with the ball inside Baylor’s 40-yard line.

“It’s not ideal. We could all agree there,” Dillingham said. “Six points off the turnovers on their side of the field. That’s why I said what was going through my head was, ‘How is this a game-winning kick when we’re up 3-0 in the turnover margin, have more yards, have more time of possession … and we’re kicking a game-winning field goal?’

“Golly, this should not be this close of a game. Like it shouldn’t be, we won too many of the critical situations. … It’s a W, that’s all that matters.”

On the first opportunity post-turnover, ASU worked down the field for a first-and-goal from the 10. A false start, two-yard rush by Kanye Udoh and two incompletions followed to set up the first field goal.

On the second, Udoh netted two yards on two carries when the Sun Devils had first-and-goal from the seven, and Sam Leavitt couldn’t connect with Jordyn Tyson on a third down just outside the end zone for the second time in the game.

When ASU had a third goal-to-go series after its third turnover forced, Raleek Brown was held to one yard on the ground before Leavitt was sacked and was unable to find Malik McClain on a third-and-long look.

The bright side? ASU now has a kicker that can consistently get points out of drives that stall out. Jesus Gomez is 9-for-10 on field goals this season after the Sun Devils were 11 of 20 as a team in 2024.

“Can we not have games this close? Let’s just play a little bit better earlier,” Dillingham said of what was going through his head while the game-winning kick was in the air. “And great kick.

“But that’s what was going through my head, like do we really need this every single week? We need a game where it’s a little bit of a breath.”

Dillingham may be getting exhausted of winning close, but his 7-3 record in games decided by seven points or less shows his knack for the tight moments.

Related

Jesus Gomez saves ASU, hits 43-yard, game-winning field goal as time expires at BaylorASU football continues leaning into run-heavy identity vs. Baylor, relying less on passing gameMontana Warren among 9 Sun Devils ruled out vs. Baylor, further straining ASU's secondary depthDillingham wants ASU’s starting QB named by 9-10 days ahead of opener at the latestCan Kenny Dillingham overcome challenges to keep momentum going at Arizona State?LSU cancels home-and-home series with ASU