Breaking news: Arizona state Sun devil’s head coach has QB landed a player from Florida state due to his….

 

With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s Peach Bowl, the Arizona State Sun Devils trailed the Texas Longhorns by 16 points

ASU’s unexpected, astonishing, where-did-this-come-from run to the College Football Playoff was about to end decisively at the hands of one of the sport’s blue bloods.

ASU would shake hands, return home and celebrate its accomplishment.

 

But if there’s anything we’ve learned about the Sun Devils the last six months, it’s this: Tell them they have no chance, and they’ll laugh in your face.

 

And so, when it was finally over more than an hour later; when Texas finally had escaped with a 39-31 double-overtime win and ASU running back Cam Skattebo, exhausted, was crouched on the field with his helmet off; when quarterback Sam Leavitt appeared at the postgame news conference with tears in his eyes — there was no shame in defeat.

Only pride and admiration.

 

“We never stopped. We believed in ourselves, and we believed in what we had going,” said Skattebo, who was named the offensive MVP of the Peach Bowl after racking up 284 total yards. “That’s what kept us close.”

With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s Peach Bowl, the Arizona State Sun Devils trailed the Texas Longhorns by 16 points.

 

Reality, it seemed, had set in.

 

ASU’s unexpected, astonishing, where-did-this-come-from run to the College Football Playoff was about to end decisively at the hands of one of the sport’s blue bloods.

 

ASU would shake hands, return home and celebrate its accomplishment.

But if there’s anything we’ve learned about the Sun Devils the last six months, it’s this: Tell them they have no chance, and they’ll laugh in your face.

 

And so, when it was finally over more than an hour later; when Texas finally had escaped with a 39-31 double-overtime win and ASU running back Cam Skattebo, exhausted, was crouched on the field with his helmet off; when quarterback Sam Leavitt appeared at the postgame news conference with tears in his eyes — there was no shame in defeat.

 

Only pride and admiration.

“We never stopped. We believed in ourselves, and we believed in what we had going,” said Skattebo, who was named the offensive MVP of the Peach Bowl after racking up 284 total yards. “That’s what kept us close.”

 

 

 

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

It was a bittersweet ending, but in no way did it diminish what Coach Kenny Dillingham and ASU did this season. As someone who covered the Valley sports scene for nearly 40 years, I can confidently say that this was arguably the most surprising, come-out-of-nowhere season I’ve ever seen.

 

The only comparable: the Arizona Cardinals making the Super Bowl in 2009.

 

Think about it. Before the season began, most Sun Devil fans would have been satisfied with six wins and a bowl game. Instead, ASU won 11 games, claimed the Big 12 championship in its first year in the conference, reached the College Football Playoff and was one fourth-down stop away from getting to the semifinals.

 

A photo family affair

While Samantha Chow was busy photographing the Sun Devils for the past few days in Atlanta, her dad, Michael Chow, was capturing the game for The Arizona Republic. Read more about the pair on azcentral.com.

 

“Whe

 

 

 

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

 

 

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

Second, there’s an all-in commitment from the administration and athletics department. The night before the Peach Bowl, Rossini announced that Dillingham had received a five-year contract extension that could turn into a 10-year deal.

 

In November, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward signed three-year extensions.

 

The best college programs are the most stable ones. ASU now has that stability.

 

“I think it shows what’s possible when the ASU fan base and community comes together for a cause, and this hasn’t happened because of any one person or any one moment,” Rossini said. “It’s happened because everybody’s come together in the spirit of ASU.”

 

There is buy-in from the players, as well. Simply put, they believe in Dillingham, as evidenced by the fact that not a single player on the two-way depth chart entered the December transfer portal.

 

“Coach Dillingham’s ‘activate the Valley’ (mantra) is coming true,” said offensive lineman Leif Fautanu. “Coach and his staff recruited dudes that want to be here, dudes who fit the program.

 

“They’ve bought into the culture and coach Dillingham’s idea of what a really good team can be. I feel with all of these dudes coming back, it’s going to be an awesome foundation. I think we’ve laid the foundation strong enough that we can continue to be a successful team.”

 

The season might have ended Wednesday, but what a joyous ride it was. For Sun Devil fans, the 2025 opener against Northern Arizona University on Aug. 30 can’t come soon enough.

 

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Dillingham said. “I’m fired up that we can continue to build this thing.”

 

Chris Fiscus and Samantha Chow contributed

to this article.

 

 

 

 

It was a bittersweet ending, but in no way did it diminish what Coach Kenny Dillingham and ASU did this season. As someone who covered the Valley sports scene for nearly 40 years, I can confidently say that this was arguably the most surprising, come-out-of-nowhere season I’ve ever seen.

 

The only comparable: the Arizona Cardinals making the Super Bowl in 2009.

 

Think about it. Before the season began, most Sun Devil fans would have been satisfied with six wins and a bowl game. Instead, ASU won 11 games, claimed the Big 12 championship in its first year in the conference, reached the College Football Playoff and was one fourth-down stop away from getting to the semifinals.

 

A photo family affair

While Samantha Chow was busy photographing the Sun Devils for the past few days in Atlanta, her dad, Michael Chow, was capturing the game for The Arizona Republic. Read more about the pair on azcentral.com.

 

“Whe