This season, many head coaches are making headlines; Kenny Dillingham, the 34-year-old head coach, is one of them. Although becoming the head coach at Arizona State was his dream job, it wasn’t an easy task to take over a program that was in serious trouble. He entered the program after Herm Edwards was fired after an investigation that led to major NCAA penalties. However, Dillingham started the new chapter with his announcement last year, and 2024 has been a dream come true for him.

8-2 record speaks a lot about their improvement. The Sun Devils finished 2023 with a record of 3-9 in Dillingham’s first season. With great results comes appreciation and acknowledgement. A few days ago, Pat Forde appreciated him for his work this season. Now, as college football enters week 13, Adam Breneman, a football analyst, has named him the “most underrated” college football coach.

Underrated how? You may ask! Well, let’s start with how the Sun Devils’ was predicted to go. They were picked to end up at the final spot in the Big 12 conference. How has that predicted one? At 8-2, 5-2 in Big 12 play, Dillingham’s team is in full control of its destiny to earn a well-deserved spot in the Conference Championship game. Moreover, these wins haven’t always come against inferior opponents. When No. 21 Arizona State played, for instance, Utah, the Utes were ranked No. 16. The result? 27-19 in favor of the Sun Devils. A similar story against Kansas State who were ranked No. 20. Arizona State overpowered them by 24-14. So, yes, underrated.

Adam highlighted three points that set him apart from other head coaches and said, “One, he is innovative and willing to adapt to the new era of college football. And he used the new-era NIL portal. You hear so many coaches complain about it. He views it as an asset, as a strength, as a way for him to get an advantage on everybody else, and he’s done that with the transfer portal.” There is no doubt that with the support of his staff, he has done that effortlessly.

Breneman did not stop there and added two more reasons: “He’s brought a new sense of energy from the valley that the valley was missing. A long time. I think the third piece is that he relates to players, and that ties into talent. Acquisition when you get Kenny Dellingham in a room with a transfer portal player with a high school prospect. The players gravitate toward him and want to play for him. And you’ve seen it now with the way they’ve recruited the way Arizona State’s gotten some transported players, and the way they signed a quarterback this cycle; they have the players to compete at the highest level in the B-12, and it’s because of their head coach Kenny Dillingham.”

Now, there are two teams in Big 12 that control their destiny. The Buffs and the Sun Devils. Naturally, Coach Prime is on his way to meet Dillingham in the Big 12 championship game. For that to happen, the Sun Devils must overpower BYU, and the Buffs must win their remaining two games. However, if that turns into reality, Prime Time must not take the Sun Devils lightly. A number of teams have done that, and they are going to watch the post-season from their homes. A similar fate can meet the Buffs, and a star-studded Buffs cast would want a better end of their season.

How did Coach Dillingham rebuild the Sun Devils?

Well, at the onset, let’s say this: it was an impossible task. Just imagine the state of a program that is under an NCAA investigation, and then you have to fire your head coach because nothing is improving on the field. In comes the 32-year-old in Dillingham. Well, 32 does sound young, but Coach Dillingham came with experience. As Oregon’s offensive coordinator, he had already made his name, but a chance to come back to rebuild his alma mater? Well, who’d refuse that?

However, the first season was marred by injuries. 3-9, disappointing, and then the rebuild began. It all started at the transfer portal. Running Back Cam Skattebo was already there, and Coach Dillingham had also managed to get Michigan State QB Sam Leavitt. The offense got sorted. Solid run game, solid pass game. The O-line was also rebuilt through the roster.

“We were a three-win team twice,” Dillingham said. “We were under NCAA sanctions. Most head coaches, to be brutally honest, get fired if you take a job under sanctions. You don’t survive. You’re hired to be fired. That’s the nature of the beast and right now we’re sitting here at 8-2, and I couldn’t be prouder.” Take down BYU, and the playoff spot may just be yours.