Kenny Dillingham is stirring up a notable subplot in college football with his work at Arizona State Sun Devils, but according to staff writers at 247Sports, his name remains firmly in the “long‑shot” category for any high‑profile openings right now.
Despite the contract extension conversations last year and statements from athletic director Graham Rossini that “We want Kenny to be a Sun Devil for life and he’s expressed that he wants to be a Sun Devil for life,” rumors surrounding Dillingham’s availability always seem to find a way out.
The piece from 247Sports goes further, suggesting that despite Dillingham’s recent success, notably shepherding ASU into the new Big 12 era and demonstrating offensive acumen, there are serious questions about support infrastructure, NIL strategy, and the lingering NCAA cloud that still hangs over the program. The notion is that his candidacy for a dream job is legitimate in talent, but the odds aren’t stacked in his favor.
For Arizona State, this is a good problem to have. The fact that Dillingham’s name is even floating in these circles signals upward momentum, but it also underscores the urgency. If ASU truly wants to solidify itself as a league leader, it needs to align its internal infrastructure with the external buzz. Dillingham might be a long shot now, but if Arkansas keeps poking around, it’s not out of the question that “long shot” becomes something else entirely.
