National Media Repeating MISTAKE Of Underestimating Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

National Media Repeating Mistake of Underestimating Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

For the second straight year, the national media appears to be making a critical error in judgment: underestimating Kenny Dillingham and the Arizona State Sun Devils. Despite a rocky 3-9 season in his debut as head coach, Dillingham’s foundational work and long-term vision are being overlooked by analysts too focused on immediate results. The narrative seems all too familiar—writing off a program in transition without truly understanding the context.

When Dillingham took the reins in Tempe in 2023, he inherited a fractured roster, NCAA sanctions, and the lingering impact of a coaching change mid-pandemic. Yet he embraced the challenge with energy, transparency, and, most importantly, a plan rooted in modern football and local recruiting. A Valley native, Dillingham understands the fabric of Arizona football, and he’s working tirelessly to restore pride and identity to a program desperate for stability.

The 2023 season was never going to be about wins and losses—it was about culture-setting, evaluation, and player development. Dillingham started multiple quarterbacks, leaned on youth, and saw flashes of promise even amid growing pains. The media’s current dismissal of Arizona State heading into 2024 overlooks that many of those young players now have valuable experience and a deeper understanding of the system.

In the transfer portal era, rebuilds can accelerate quickly—and Dillingham has been savvy in leveraging that. He’s added several high-upside transfers and quietly built depth on both sides of the ball. His offensive acumen, proven during his stints at Oregon and Florida State, gives Arizona State a creative edge, especially in a wide-open Big 12. Few seem to remember that at Oregon, he developed Bo Nix into a Heisman contender and engineered one of the most efficient offenses in the country.

More critically, Dillingham is galvanizing local talent. His “Activate the Valley” mantra isn’t just PR—it’s a grassroots movement. Arizona is producing more Division I talent than ever, and Dillingham is making ASU a destination for those kids. That long-term strategy won’t show up in preseason rankings or win projections, but it’s exactly how sustained success is built.

Yes, the Sun Devils face a tough Big 12 schedule and still have roster gaps to fill. But dismissing them outright is short-sighted. Dillingham’s energy is infectious, his staff is cohesive, and his players are bought in. The team that struggled last year will not be the same one lining up in 2024.

This isn’t to say Arizona State is guaranteed a breakout season—but they are far from the doormat the national media paints them to be. Kenny Dillingham is building something substantial in the desert, and the media would be wise to pay closer attention. Otherwise, they risk making the same mistake they did last year—writing off a coach and a program that are just getting started.

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