Dillingham’s Candid Take on ASU’s Struggles and the Upcoming Kansas State Clash

Arizona State’s season sits on a razor‑thin line. A humbling 53‑23 defeat at Texas Tech dropped the Sun Devils to 3‑3 overall and 1‑2 in the Big 12, and it left Coach Kenny Dillingham staring at a mirror that’s asking a lot of him.

“We’ve got to get more confidence in our team,” Dillingham said on Monday, his tone a mix of frustration and earnest optimism. It’s not a catch‑all mantra; he drilled down to the gritty stuff—run‑blocking, tackling, the very fundamentals that have defined ASU’s identity the past two years.

“The ability to stop the run and run the ball,” he explained, “is something we’ve done well before, but right now we’re just not executing it at a high enough level.” He admitted that the preseason camp felt physical, yet still fell short of the intensity needed to win those battles in the trenches.

When the reporter asked about the quarterback picture for the upcoming home showdown with Kansas State, Dillingham shrugged off specifics. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in both guys,” he said, deliberately vague. He added that if an injury were involved, the team would be transparent—otherwise, he’s keeping the conversation short and focused on the game plan.

Speaking about the Wildcats’ signal‑caller, Avery Johnson, Dillingham’s eyes lit up a little. “I’ve been recruiting against him for three years,” he noted. “He’s playing his best football yet—clean footwork, poise in the pocket, and he can make the ball go downfield. That’s the kind of quarterback you have to respect.”

He also reflected on the last time the two programs met back in 2024. “Same coaching staff on our side, but Kansas State’s scheme has evolved a bit,” Dillingham said. “Coach Klein wasn’t there then, so we’re dealing with a different defensive look this year.”

The emotional roller‑coaster of the Texas Tech loss weighed heavily on him. He described a fourth‑down stop that felt electrifying, only to be followed by a pick‑six that seemed to drain the room of energy. “We haven’t handled those swings well this season,” he confessed. “I have to get better at keeping the guys grounded, stopping the negative spiral before it takes over.”

All that said, Dillingham remains cautiously hopeful. The Sun Devils will reconvene on the practice field this week, fine‑tuning the run game and reinforcing the mental toughness he says is missing. Saturday’s clash with Kansas State at 12:45 PM MST in Tempe could be the turning point he’s looking for.