We are witnessing an all-time Cinderella story with ASU football headed to College Football Playoff

Dread and disappointment never had a chance. An ominous beginning at the Big 12 championship was nothing but a speed bump.

Cyclones? At this point, there is no force of nature strong enough to derail the Sun Devils. And after a thunderous thumping of Iowa State on Saturday, one question remains:

Are we feeling grateful? Or are we feeling greedy?

If it’s the latter, you firmly believe ASU deserves a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, slotted as a guaranteed quarterfinalist in the Fiesta Bowl. A home game just up the road, along with a team just three wins away from a national championship. After a 45-19 conquest on Saturday, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark called ASU the hottest team in the country. Who would argue?

oh what a day to be an Arizona State Sun Devil 🔱#Big12FB | @ASUFootball pic.twitter.com/GYPexmPNHK

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 7, 2024

At this point, with this team, anything is possible.

We are witnessing one of the all-time Cinderella stories. We are experiencing one of the great underdog performances in Valley history, a team fast approaching the lore of the 1975-76 Suns.

We are watching a new star rise over the sport of college football.

ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham is one of the game’s freshest faces. He’s 34 years old and has crafted a near flawless season. By my count, I spot only two mistakes all season: his frustrated rant about state of his kicking game and how he would soon stage open tryouts on campus; along with the infamous clock debacle against BYU, along with the subsequent on-field tantrum.

In between those moments, he has pieced together a masterful season. His messaging is always on point. His team is always listening. He is building a powerful culture in Tempe because he is passionate, smart and eager to share the credit.

On Saturday, Dillingham put an exclamation point on the season, making a call that changed the momentum of the game and paved a road to the College Football Playoff. With Iowa State firmly in control early, Dillingham decided to go for it on 4th-down-and-inches from his own 34-yard line. And he wasn’t messing around.

A 63-yard bomb led to a touchdown, and soon the floodgates opened. Leading 24-10 at halftime, ASU fans huddled and hoped, silently fearing either a letdown or a comeback.

Iowa State turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. The game turned into a block party. Cam Skattebo made Heisman Trophy poses in the end zone. Said one observer: “T-shirts are important. And ASU fans can walk around now for the rest of their lives with College Football Playoff T-shirts. Just like Arizona fans have been able to walk around with Final Four shirts for the past 25 years.”

The scoreboard and the aesthetics give every reason to hope that ASU may have pulled off another miracle on Saturday, securing a first-round playoff bye following a 3-9 season. Either way, they will return home with suitcases full of house money.

What a team. What a season. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the Valley.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports.

Follow @danbickley