This weekend, Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State Sun Devils will be facing off against the Utah Utes, after October last year. Back in 2024, Dillingham’s boys crushed the Utes in a 27-19 heroic feat. So, the Sun Devils must have had enough motivational juice to land yet another loss to Kyle Whittingham’s squad. But certain things are surely not in Dillingham’s control. Here comes the injury list before the big day, and it will be difficult to read Arizona State’s injury report without getting breathless. Dillingham has 24 players featured on the list, while the whole list count is 32.

On October 8, 247Sports reporter Chris Karpman shared a screenshot of the elaborate injury report on X. It looks like there is some silver lining for Dillingham and co. But the rest? Sheer darkness. “No surprises on ASU’s availability report for Utah based on Kenny Dillingham’s transparency earlier in the week. The players listed as probable should all play, with the only real uncertainty being whether Kanyon Floyd will punt or simply be a holder on kicks,” read the caption. 

Right now, Dillingham and co. are now to move to 3-0 in conference playoff, following a timely off week in response to two major Big 12 conference victories. But before their next big challenge against Utah, a top-25 caliber team that strengthened with built-up trenches, Dillingham will not have his key weapons to count on. The Arizona State quarterback and La Cueva High School star, Cam Dyer, tore his ACL during the state title game at the beginning of the year. He then suffered from an undisclosed injury during the fall camp, and Dillingham might need some patience on the quarterback’s recovery status.

Along with Dyer, there are DB Xavion Alford, DE Albert Smith III, WR Noble Johnson, DB Plas Johnson, LB Zyrus Fiaseu, OL Doughless Teloma, OL Brent Helton, DL Zac Swanson, and DL MyKeil Gardner on the “out” list. Dillingham is praying for a miracle for OL Desean Bryant Jr. On the other hand, his running back, Kyson Brown, tweaked his ankle back in Week 2 and has been sidelined ever since. He now sits on the “questionable” bench along with DB Montana Warren and DL Ian Shewell.

Going by Dillingham’s assurance on probable players, who are the ones that still have a dim fire of hope, still flickering? They are WR Jordyn Tyson, TE Chamon Metayer, and DL Clayton Smith, among others. Amidst them all, Dillingham must be praying hard for their QB Sam Leavitt. 

The Utah Utes will be playing without safeties Rabbit Evans, Josh Sovereign, and Nate Ritchie, along with WR Daidren Zipperer, among others. The only Utes player on the “probable” list is DT Dallas Vakalahi. Meanwhile, will Dillingham’s grand efforts for Leavitt go in vain?

Kenny Dillingham’s Sam Leavitt luck is at stake while he experiences major regret

When the lights flip on at Rice-Eccles at 8:15 p.m. MDT, the Big 12 title race could take a major turn. But along with Whittingham’s boys standing in front of the Sun Devils as a tough wall to break, Dillingham preps themselves up for another foe. That’s Mother Nature. We have seen how Arizona State brought cowbells to the practice to simulate a Mississippi State situation. This time against the Utah Utes, Dillingham was spotted spraying water in Leavitt’s hands during practice.

CBS Sports posted a clip of the head coach’s hilarious shenanigans on IG with the caption, “Gotta get ready any way you can 😂.” While Dillingham is yet to find out what the universe has in store for his quarterback, he is already biting his nails in regret. Whittingham’s quarterback Devon Dampier is giving the Arizona State head coach some major FOMO. The reason?

“You know, I always thought he was a really good player, but how productive he’s been in college football, I mean, super impressed by him. Completion percentage out the roof, his ability to extend plays, I mean, how he runs the offense and operates it, I mean, super, definitely a miss by me, 100%, and kudos to them for having him on their team, because he’s a really, really good football player,” said Dillingham. Since the dual-threat quarterback hails from Scottsdale, the head coach got enough chances to woo Dampier.

Kenny Dillingham could have put his personal connections to use to woo the quarterback. That’s because the Sun Devils’ head coach’s brother-in-law, Jason Mohns, happened to be Devon Dampier’s coach back at Saguaro. But no point brooding over the past. Let’s hope that Sam Leavitt is fit enough to come back, making Dillingham forget his past recruiting blunders.