College football has long considered ASU a ‘sleeping giant’. But after an 11-3 season, a Big 12 title, and a CFP run, the Sun Devils might just be waking up. And head coach Kenny Dillingham isn’t shying away from the hype. On a recent podcast, he doubled down on ASU’s potential to become the next blue blood in the sport. And now, he’s making waves again — with a major coaching announcement that could shape the program’s future.

In a recent X post, national CFB writer Chris Hummer dropped a bombshell – Arizona State is shaking up its coaching staff. “Arizona State is promoting GA Ty Barrett to assistant o-line coach,” Hummer reported. A bold move indeed. Once a graduate assistant, now stepping into a crucial role. As of now, Barrett’s ability to prove his offensive mind will be the true test. If he delivers, this could be a game-changer. But if not? The risk might come back to haunt the Sun Devils.

However, Ty Barrett’s football journey has come full circle. Once a standout offensive lineman, he started at TCU, redshirting in 2014 before seeing action in 2015. He later took his talents to Sam Houston State, helping anchor the Bearkats‘ offensive line in 2017. But his impact didn’t stop on the field; Barrett shifted gears into coaching, sharpening his expertise as an offensive analyst at Louisiana Tech and UTEP. And now, he’s in Tempe, Arizona, ready to work his magic with the Sun Devils’ O-line. Honestly, a new challenge, and a chance to prove his coaching chops.

The 2024 ASU was an offensive powerhouse, and the numbers proved it. Their O-line, ranked top 25 in pass protection by PFF, gave quarterback Sam Leavitt the time he needed to pick apart defenses. And on the ground, Cam Skattebo led a relentless rushing attack that gashed opponents all season.

They opened the year by steamrolling Wyoming, racking up 499 total yards — 241 of them on the ground — while controlling the clock for over 37 minutes. Then came Mississippi State, where they ran wild for 346 rushing yards, with Skattebo torching the defense for 262 yards. On top of that, against Oklahoma State, the Sun Devils put up a staggering 529 total yards, proving they could attack through the air or on the ground. As of now, ASU is making a bold move, promoting Ty Barrett to O-line coach could be a game-changer.

Safe to say, with Barrett leading the trenches, this offense is built to dominate. And HC Dillingham? He’s all in on Arizona State’s rise and his words say it all. “Every decade there’s a team, I tell our staff this, I tell people this: 2000 to 2010, Oregon showed up. Research it. 2011 to 2020, Clemson showed up. Boom. People look at those teams as blue bloods now,” stated Dillingham. But now? It’s ASU’s turn. “Who’s gonna be the team from 2020 to 2030? Who’s gonna be this era of team that shows up and the next generation of kids looks at them differently? I really think we can do that here,” said the ASU head coach.

So, the message is clear — Arizona State isn’t just aiming to compete; they’re here to take over. And while Dillingham is focused on elevating his own program, he didn’t shy away from expressing his excitement for another head coach.

The enthusiasm Kenny Dillingham has for Dan Lanning

Before taking the reins at Arizona State, Kenny Dillingham was the mastermind behind the Oregon Ducks’ high-powered offense in 2022, serving as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Dan Lanning. A rising star in the coaching world, he’s never shied away from crediting Lanning’s impact on his journey. And now, as he builds his own empire in Tempe, that influence continues to shine through.

Safe to say: the bond between these two runs deep. And now, with Lanning securing a well-earned contract extension, Dillingham made sure to show love. He took to X on March 6 with a heartfelt message: “Fired up for him!!! Worked for everything he is getting! Literally no connections, no short cuts! Just worked!” It was just pure grind, and for Dillingham, seeing Lanning succeed is just further proof that hard work pays off.

Dan Lanning isn’t just one of the youngest head coaches in CFB — he’s now one of the highest-paid. Well, the 38-year-old has turned Oregon into a national powerhouse, securing a Pac-12 Championship and a coveted CFP spot. And now, the Ducks are all in on their leader.

According to reports, Oregon is making a long-term play, extending Lanning’s contract with a massive pay raise — an extra $2 million per year through 2030. So, that bumps his salary to an average of $11 million annually, placing him among the top five highest-paid coaches in the game along with Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin and ND’s Marcus Freeman. However, the deal now awaits board approval on Friday, but one thing is clear — Oregon is betting big on Lanning, and so far, he’s been worth every penny.