The problem is Kenny Dillingham was never the safe bet. Arizona State knew that when they made him the youngest Power Five head coach in the country. But CFB isn’t won by playing it safe. It’s won by rolling the dice and having the guts to double down. ASU did just that, and the gamble paid off in a big way. Dillingham didn’t just turn things around—he made the Sun Devils a powerhouse, clinching a Big 12 title and a CFP berth in 2024. With his coaching stock skyrocketing, ASU locked him down with a five-year extension. But as the dust settled, a new challenge emerged. With Heisman finalist Cam Skattebo off to the NFL, the Sun Devils lost their backfield workhorse, leaving QB1 Sam Leavitt in a spotlight that suddenly feels a little lonelier. Or maybe not.

Leavitt isn’t just another thrower in the system—he’s the system now. And if anyone had doubts about his ability to carry the weight, they weren’t watching last season. With 2,663 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, Leavitt went from an afterthought at Michigan State to the face of ASU football in months. His rapid rise has caught the attention of NFL scouts, and if 2024 was any indication, his name would be plastered all over draft boards come next April. But as Kenny Dillingham made clear on The Unafraid Show, success is a tricky beast. “That’s the last word in our saying—lifers—success, and it’s way harder to manage success,” the head coach said. It’s not just about talent anymore; it’s about navigating the noise.

“You go from under-recruited to not playing at Michigan State really to whatever, four months later, from winning a job, you are a Heisman candidate.” That meteoric rise comes with its own set of challenges. Dillingham knows it, and more importantly, Leavitt does, too. The Arizona State Sun Devils’ HC pulled no punches when talking about the distractions that come with stardom. “People are going to be coming at you to want things. Everybody is going to give you something that can help you,” he said, before cutting through the illusion. “How many things can actually help you?” That’s the balancing act Leavitt faces.

Talent gets you to the doorstep, but discipline and focus determine if you walk through. “There’s no such thing as a favor. Every favor has a return. You just don’t know when the return is,” Dillingham warned, highlighting the mental game that comes with being a top-tier QB. But what separates Leavitt from the rest? His hunger. “The best thing about Sam is he is not satisfied at all. Sam is one of the most driven kids I’ve ever been around,” Dillingham said. That’s a terrifying prospect for opposing defenses. To the outside world, Leavitt has already arrived. To him? He’s barely getting started.

While Leavitt may not have Skattebo in his corner anymore, ASU is making sure he isn’t left without firepower. Enter Jordyn Tyson. The wide receiver isn’t just another target—he’s a game-changer. On the Arizona Sports podcast, analyst Jesse Morrison didn’t hold back. “I think he’s playing one more year at ASU, gonna be a first-round pick. That’s my opinion.” But he won’t be alone in helping Leavitt reach that level. Co-host Jeremy Schnell chimed in with a name that should have ASU fans buzzing. “We could see that, and someone that’s going to help with that is Jordyn Tyson.” The hype isn’t just talk. Pro Football Focus had Tyson ranked third among returning wide receivers in all of college football, and for good reason.

Tyson’s production speaks for itself. Coming off a redshirt sophomore season, he put up 75 receptions, 1,101 yards, and 10 touchdowns in just 12 games. The only receiver with more yards than him? Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. That’s an elite company. With Tyson’s ability to stretch the field and Leavitt’s arm talent, ASU’s passing attack could be one of the most dangerous in the nation. The chemistry between a quarterback and his top receiver can make or break a season, and if early signs are any indication, Leavitt and Tyson are about to be one of the deadliest duos.

ASU’s meteoric rise under Kenny Dillingham is even more impressive when you consider where they started. Just a year ago, they were coming off a brutal 3-9 season, with people questioning if hiring the youngest coach in the Power Five was a reckless bet. Now, they’re conference champions, playoff contenders, and home to a quarterback with the potential to be a first-round pick.

How ASU Bet Big on Kenny Dillingham—And Hit the Jackpot

Arizona State’s appointment of Dillingham was radical. At just 32 years old, Dillingham was a rising star in the coaching world but had never led a program. His offensive brilliance was evident during his time as Oregon’s OC, but running an entire team? That was a whole different challenge.

Adam Breneman, a former ASU staffer, admitted there was plenty of skepticism surrounding the decision. “There were a lot of other coaches on the market at the time that would have been much easier to hire, that would have been much safer of hires,” Breneman said. But ASU wasn’t looking for safe—it was looking for transformational. “Making the safe hire doesn’t ever become a legendary hire.”

Beyond his X’s and O’s, Dillingham’s connection to Arizona State made this gamble make sense. “Kenny grew up dreaming of becoming the head coach of Arizona State,” Breneman added. “So making the risky hire, when it pays off, it pays off really well.”

With ASU looking to turn the page on the Herm Edwards era, they needed a coach with vision, energy, and a deep love for the program. So far, Dillingham has been exactly that.