Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham has rolled out his plan to keep his quarterback, Sam Leavitt's head, in the game amidst all the noise. The Sun Devilsā quarterback has been getting a lot of hype following an incredible performance last season.
Addressing this at the Big 12 media day, Dillingham explained how he will keep the quarterback focused on the season. He said:
āWeāve had conversations. I said, āDonāt worry, everybody else will tell you youāre good. Iām going to tell you that you suck. We can be transparent there. Iāll be the one to humble you.āā

The coach continued:
āBut no, in all fairness, Sam has such big dreams and goals for himself that anything he reads about isnāt as big as the goals and dreams he has for himself. I think thatās what drives him. He wants to be the best.ā
Kenny Dillingham led the Sun Devils to an 11-3 finish last season, with Sam Leavitt a massive contributor all year long. There are great expectations for the program to replicate the performance this season, with many hyping Leavitt to win the Heisman.
Dillingham added that Leavittās dreams are much bigger than whatever expectations the fans and media may have created around him. He further pointed out, however, that these dreams are hinged on the collective performance of the team around the sophomore quarterback. He said:
āI know that the press clippings arenāt going to be relevant to what he wants to accomplish. Heās definitely somebody that we can get behind and make that push. At the end of the day, we have a lot of guys on our football individual awards. The only way you win an individual award is through team success. Thatās why football is so great. Itās the ultimate definition of you pouring into other people, and those other people lift you up higher than you ever could by yourself.ā
Kenny Dillingham praises Coach Prime
Ahead of their Nov. 22 meeting, Kenny Dillingham heaped praises on Coloradoās Deion āCoach Primeā Sanders. Speaking at the Big 12 media day, Dillingham said:
āHeās Deion Sanders. Heās unique, of course. Heās one of the best people at branding. Heās one of the smartest, in my opinion, coaches in branding.ā
Dillinghamās Arizona State fell to a narrow 27-24 defeat the last time it faced Sandersā Colorado in 2023. The two will meet again at Folsom Field in a marquee Big 12 matchup this season.