How Kenny Dillingham and his staff built a College Football Playoff team in just two seasons

College football coaching has never been easy, but at least the formula used to be simple: recruit well and coach ’em up.

That simple cocktail has been replaced by a complex and delicately balanced combination of recruiting, transfers, NIL money, and retention of players and staff who are often looking for, ahem, greener pastures.

The perfect college coaching cocktail requires boundless energy; little sleep; personable recruiters; willing donors and sponsors; an authentic but convincing sales pitch to players in the portal; a committed athletic department; an attractive coaching staff and program; the ability to win right away; and the promise of immediate playing time.

There is so much to distract from the goal at hand, but it doesn’t seem to bother Sun Devils football coach Kenny Dillingham.

The Sun Devils have clearly balanced all of those challenges to craft this memorable season, but how did a program coming off a 3-9 season while facing NCAA sanctions — one whose department was under fire for its lack of financial support — achieve what the Arizona State football team has achieved this season? 

How did 34-year-old coach Kenny Dillingham, his staff and this diverse cast of players win the Big 12 title in their first season in the conference, thereby qualifying for the first 12-team College Football Playoff in the sport’s storied history?

“Good people who love winning and competition,” Dillingham said.

Good people who also possess excessive amounts of energy, laser focus, and a devotion to detailed analysis.

Let’s take a look at how the Sun Devils built a successful model so quickly.

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There are two camps when it comes to college athletics’ new transfer rules (or lack thereof), announced in May.

Critics believe the current leniency discourages loyalty and team building. They believe it allows student-athletes to bypass the lessons of hard work and perseverance to overcome obstacles by allowing them to transfer at the first sign that things aren’t going their way. They believe it promotes selfishness.

Proponents of the current approach believe it creates a more level playing field where the blue-blood programs can no longer hoard all the top players. It gives student-athletes the same flexibility of choice that coaches enjoy. Put simply: Coaches can’t preach loyalty when they hop to better situations so often. It’s hypocritical. You can’t blame kids for seeking better opportunities. Their time in college is finite.

Whatever your stance, Dillingham and his staff have adroitly navigated the transfer portal early in this staff’s tenure. Take a look at some of their many successes.

RB Cam Skattebo: Skattebo spent his first two seasons at Sacramento State before transferring to Arizona State for the 2023 season. Now he’s a household name, an AP First Team All-American, he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, he has the second most rushing yards (1,568) in a season in Sun Devil history and he is tied for the most TD in a single season (19).

QB Sam Leavitt: Leavitt transferred from Michigan State last year and has turned in a spectacular redshirt freshman season, completing 192 of 304 passes (63.2 percent) for 2,663 yards, 24 TDs and just five interceptions.

DB Xavion Alford: Alford spent 2020 at Texas, 2021 at USC and sat out the past two years. He has 82 tackles and two interceptions this season as a key piece of the secondary, earning him All-Big 12 First Team honors.

OL Leif Fautanu: The Sun Devils starting center transferred from UNLV and now anchors the offensive line as an All-Big 12 First Team selection.

WR Jordyn Tyson: Before he went down with a season-ending injury against Arizona, the Colorado transfer was the Sun Devils’ top receiver with 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 TDs. The All-Big 12 First Team selection still ranks 12th in the nation in yards.

DB Shamari Simmons: The Devils’ starting nickel back transferred from Austin Peay after the 2022 season. He has 69 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception.

LB Keyshaun Elliott: The New Mexico State transfer has 57 tackles, a pair of sacks and an interception. Dillingham loved the fact that Elliott was a team captain at his previous stop, adding leadership to the room.

DL Clayton Smith: The Oklahoma transfer is tied for the team lead in sacks with four.

OL Ben Coleman: The Cal transfer was ASU’s highest-graded offensive lineman according to Pro Football Focus. He will be back next season.

TE Chamon Metayer: Metayer originally transferred from Cincinnati to Colorado, but re-entered the portal after visiting ASU. With Tyson out, he is one of the Sun Devils’ most important receiving options.

WR Xavier Guillory: The Idaho State transfer came up big in the Big 12 title game against Iowa State.

LB Zyrus Fiaseu: The San Diego State transfer is part of an effective linebacker rotation. Like Elliott, Fiaseu was a team captain at his previous stop, adding leadership to the room.

LB Jordan Crook: The Arkansas transfer didn’t get much opportunity with the Razorbacks. He’s getting it in Tempe. His 50 tackles are tied for fifth on the team.

DB Myles Rowser: Rowser spent a season each at Campbell and New Mexico State before transferring to ASU this season where he is starting at strong safety.

DB Javan Robinson: The Washington State transfer had a massive interception to seal a critical victory against BYU.

We could list more, but you get the point. The transfer-portal has been a game-changer for Sun Devils football.

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There are more players in the traditional recruiting category as well, but as an example, let’s look at the three players listed in the graphic above.

DB Keith Abney II: The sophomore out of Dallas has been a crucial piece of the secondary with 50 tackles and three interceptions.

DL CJ Fite: The sophomore out of Tatum, Texas has a pair of sacks and 29 tackles.

RB Kyson Brown: The sophomore out of Lancaster, Texas is the heir apparent to Skattebo. He has 68 carries for 340 yards and two TDs this season.

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It’s probably unreasonable to expect the Sun Devils to keep pace with the big boys in the SEC and Big Ten when it comes to NIL money. At last check, the Sun Devils ranked 40th among Division I schools in that department.

To make up for that lack of funding, ASU will have to accentuate the other ingredients of the aforementioned cocktail while being strategic and creative with NIL money.

Running back Cam Skattebo and offensive lineman Leif Fautanu have substantial NIL deals in place. Defensive back Xavion Alford and linebacker Jordan Crook got NIL deals at mid-season.

The draw of Dillingham helps in that regard. He is a Sun Devil alumnus and a local so he knows the Valley and he knows this community. Athletic director Graham Rossini is also an alumnus.

The Sun Devils will have to work all of their local connections to keep pace in what figures to be an ever-increasing arms race, but they navigated this area well enough in 2024.

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These players, all mentioned above, were critical to retain after Dillingham’s first season in which the team went 3-9: Cam Skattebo, Xavion Alford, Leif Fautanu, Jordyn Tyson, Shamari Simmons, Clayton Smith and Ben Coleman.

To underscore how well Dillingham has retained players, almost none of ASU’s two-deep players on the depth chart have entered the transfer portal this winter (DB Cole Martin being a rare exception), leading ASU to be selective in this year’s portal.

Coaches

Dillingham is the front man who gets the most praise, but talk to the people around this program and they’ll heap praise upon assistants such as offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo (a Broyles Award finalist), defensive coordinator Brian Ward, receivers coach Hines Ward, and offensive line coach Saga Tuitele.

They aren’t the only ones deserving of praise in this landmark season for the program. Sun Devils running backs coach Shaun Aguano, tight ends coach Jason Mohns, and assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Charlie Ragle are all locals. And the list goes on.

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Top photo of Sun Devils football coach Kenny Dillingham accepting the Big 12 title trophy via Getty Images

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