The Arizona State Sun Devils (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) head to UCF (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) on Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MST on ESPN2 at Acrisure Bounce House in Orlando, and head coach Kenny Dillingham said after practice Wednesday that the Sun Devils are playing harder and faster after tweaking a couple of things the last couple of weeks.
Dillingham said Tuesday’s practice was really good, and the energy and intent have been drastically different. “I think our guys are playing harder and I think we’re playing faster,” Dillingham said. “I don’t know if it’s because of that. I don’t know what it is. We [changed] a couple things that we tweaked the last couple weeks.”
Asked about a Big 12 championship, Dillingham said no. “No, zero times,” he said.
Dillingham said the roster decisions and the extra reps have helped. “It’s good to have those extra reps,” he said. “The more times you get on the grass and coach and teach it’s better for sure.”
The run game is part of it, too. “We just gotta get some carries,” Dillingham said. “This year [we’ve done a] better job of being able to manage rotating guys in certain times and getting more guys fresh.”
Dillingham talked about a figure around the program who is there all the time. “He’s always around this program in some way, shape or form,” Dillingham said. “With his brother. They’ve got a great family.” Dillingham said the coaches teach the players about him. “We obviously teach those guys about what he sacrificed and his history,” he said, adding that he hopes they take that story to heart, though you’d have to ask the players individually.
Dillingham also praised the leadership council. “I think both those guys have been great,” he said. “Both those guys helped them, kept good attitude starting every day and in spirit, and I think that’s just a testament to how close that room is.”
And Dillingham said the bounce-back is what matters most with this team. “When you have high expectations you want to play your best every week and you don’t for a little bit there,” he said. “To be able for our team to bounce back, they bounce back, they get back on track and play better. Not our best game but better. I think it’s healthy that they are still in for the process.”
Saturday is Arizona State’s first trip to Orlando, and the third meeting ever between the programs. UCF beat Kansas 33-32 last week and needs one more win for bowl eligibility, its first since 2023.
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