ASU reaching the six-win mark to hit bowl eligibility would have been a major win in Kenny Dillingham’s second year as head coach.
Doing it in eight games with wins over Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State? A dream.
Well this dream is a reality for the Devils as they dominated Oklahoma State on their way to a 42-14 win.
In a game that featured a 2 1/2 hour lightning delay, the Sun Devils came out of halftime and dictated the game in the second half and outscored the Cowboys 21-7 after halftime. There’s plenty of football left to play in 2024, but it’s fitting to look back and see how much this program has changed under Dillingham’s watch in 20 games.
Much like Saturday, Dillingham’s first game at Arizona State involved a lengthy weather delay. Sun Devil players were doing homework to make their Friday at midnight deadlines, and they had to hang on for dear life to outlast Southern Utah.
That team’s depth was tested throughout the year. ASU couldn’t practice for virtually the second half of the season because so many players were sidelined. The Devils didn’t have enough linemen to set up for a field goal against Washington, which proved costly in that game. A lot worked against the Devils in “Year 0” while they built a foundation.
Which is why seeing the Sun Devils come out of that rain delay and dominate a reminder of how far they’ve come, and what they could accomplish the rest of the way.
It’s a team that’s won in different ways and took adversity on the chin that would have knocked them to the floor last year.
It’s a team that’s depth is a strength now. It’s a team that wants to run through you.
Which leads us to Cam Skattebo, who eclipsed the 1,000 rushing yard mark in eight games. He led the way with 153 rushing yards, 121 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. It’s the first time a Sun Devil has reached the 100 yard mark in receiving and rushing in one game since 2015 when Demario Richard reached that mark. Kyson Brown – as Kenny Dillingham alluded during the bye week – saw an expanded role and rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Sam Leavitt had a career high 304 yards with three touchdowns and, most importantly, zero turnovers. Jordyn Tyson caught eight balls for 81 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, the Sun Devils held running back Ollie Gordon, the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, to 25 yards.
The Sun Devils now get ready to face off against UCF at home on November 9.
