ASU football’s magic carpet ride ascended with exhilarating speed

Surreal is a word often misused. It defines an elevated state of existence, a dreamy place where walls come tumbling down and barriers cease to exist.

It’s the sight of the Arizona Cardinals logo in the end zone of Super Bowl XLIII.

It’s how we felt when the Diamondbacks nuked the Dodgers and punked the Phillies on their way to the World Series.

It’s the story of the 2024 Sun Devils, potentially our greatest Cinderella story ever.

For perspective:

Just eight months ago, the ASU athletic program hit rock bottom. Its football team lost the Territorial Cup by 36 points; the basketball team lost their first and last Pac-12 Tournament game by 33 points; and all the marquee programs seemed to be landing in 11th place.

Juxtaposition made things worse. Down south, Arizona’s football team flirted with the big time; its basketball program entered the NCAA Tournament with a real chance to earn a Final Four berth in Glendale; and the university felt so frisky it purchased digital billboards outside the Big 12 basketball championship in Kansas City, welcoming itself to a new conference. Bear Down!

The tables have turned with exhilarating speed and with stunning implications. No great rivalry has ever flipped so fiercely, so ruthlessly. It’s the cruelest of plot twists that Arizona fans could ever imagine.

ASU now seems like the school perfectly suited for the Big 12. Cam Skattebo is the hero we never knew we needed. And with analysts fawning and fresh recruits pouring in, Kenny Dillingham has become one of the most compelling head coaches in college football.

Dillingham was also the last significant hire made by Ray Anderson, a parting gift from the athletic director who witnessed mobile billboards cruising through Tempe calling for his job.

“The decision to hire Kenny in 2022, and then to strategize a clear path for the program into the 2024 season, has been validated,” Anderson said in a written response. “Clearly, things are working out. Kenny has proven himself to be both an excellent head coach and an equally excellent manager of relationships. I am personally very excited about the future of ASU football under Kenny’s leadership.”

Nobody will argue with the latter. The Sun Devils play a comparable opponent on Saturday for a berth in the first expanded College Football Playoff, a massive platform for an ascendant program.

Win, and the magic carpet ride gains even more altitude. Win, and the house money is enough to fill five suitcases.

It has been over a quarter century since the program has risen like this, and over a quarter century since Sun Devils fans have fallen in love like this. It’s everything proud alumni ever wanted.

ASU tried with a pedigreed retread (Dennis Erickson) and a hotshot newcomer (Dirk Koetter). It crashed and burned with Todd Graham and Herm Edwards, both of whom showed early promise.

Maybe everything has led to this moment. Maybe Dillingham is the guy who can sustain and claim a powerful new future. And the guy who can build a bridge to the past, freeing all the old ghosts, healing all the old wounds.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station

Follow @danbickley