Arizona State football entering Big 12 play with earned expectations

TEMPE — In less than a month, Arizona State football has gone from being picked to finish last in the conference to entering Week 4 as one of seven unbeaten teams in the Big 12.

It was a whirlwind for many on the outside, but head coach Kenny Dillingham said Monday this is the same team he has seen everyday since spring.

“We’re the same team that we were before we played a game,” Dillingham said. “We’ve played a few games, but that’s really about it. We’re the same team that just needs to get better and better and better.

“The best opponents that we face this year are in our future, they’re not in our past. We have to get better every single week if we want to continue to have fun Saturdays.”

kenny dillingham said today it’s easier to get buy-in when the stuff you preach in practice translates to winning games, but that comes with the added pressure of expectations pic.twitter.com/hM54dHIplI

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) September 16, 2024

With the “fun Saturdays” ASU has already logged, some bowl projectors have ASU reaching the Sun Bowl or Independence Bowl, while talk of a bowl for last year’s squad never started.

Dillingham could tell there was a stark contrast between the two squads by the way this group attacked the off-season.

“To be honest, just the work they would put in in the weight room and the lack of people on (negative) lists,” Dillingham said. “The minimum expectation was so much higher all offseason.”

He praised the maturity of his team, saying they never complained in an adverse environment in San Marcos, Texas, even when the team had to come back out for a final final play.

“Our guys didn’t flinch in that game which was awesome to see. There was never a wavering, never a flinch just on the sideline with their body language, with anything. That’s a really good sign of the direction of the program is when you win games like that, when your guys don’t flinch,” Dillingham said.

Arizona State (3-0) now enters conference play in the Big 12 for the first time, with the only other undefeated teams being No. 12 Utah, No. 13 Kansas State, No. 14 Oklahoma State, No. 20 Iowa State (2-0), UCF and BYU. ASU received three votes in the latest AP poll.

ASU plays its first Big 12 game on Saturday at Texas Tech.

Kenny Dillingham explains the importance of firsts. And the Red Raiders' tortilla toss. pic.twitter.com/maeB2MhAWE

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 16, 2024

Impact defenders Prince Dorbah, Jordan Crook expected to make season debuts

Some of the expected top performers on ASU’s defensive front in defensive end Prince Dorbah and linebacker Jordan Crook are likely to make their season debuts on Saturday.

Dorbah was tied for the team lead in sacks last season and Crook is an Arkansas transfer whose intelligence has been lauded by Dillingham.

Dillingham praised reserve defenders Blazen Lono-Wong and Caleb McCullough, who were each involved in tackles for loss on Saturday, for stepping up as improved depth compared to last year.

The other players up front have set a high bar for what’s expected. Defensive linemen C.J. Fite and Justin Wodtly have each come up with big man touchdowns while linebackers Zyrus Fiaseu and Keyshaun Elliott had interceptions on ASU’s first two defensive drives of the season.

Dillingham said he also expects offensive lineman Sean Na’a, one of the youngest members of the Tillman Leadership Council as a true sophomore, to make his season debut as well.

Running backs Raleek Brown and DeCarlos Brooks are considered questionable for Saturday.

Dillingham said it’s a disservice to play Brown if he’s not at 100% given his top-end speed and is waiting to see how Brooks handles the week ahead. Brown had three touches for three yards in his limited ASU debut against Texas State while Brooks didn’t see action.

ASU and Texas Tech match up in Lubbock on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Listen to the action on the Arizona Sports app, 620 AM or 98.7 FM-HD 2 with pregame coverage starting at 10 a.m. or watch on FS1.