ASU HC Dillingham’s controversial 4th-and-goal decision cost team against Mississippi State

It was the Sun Devils first lead of the game, a lead that would only last 68 seconds. Senior quarterback Blake Shapen found senior wide receiver Brenen Thompson wide open on a post route for the touchdown and eventually the win, handing ASU its first lost of the season.

Was it the right decision by the ASU coach?

From Dillingham’s perspective, ASU had back-to-back-to-back opportunities to jam the ball in for the touchdown on runs play and couldn’t get it done. Kicking the field goal makes Mississippi State not as desperate to go for a touchdown and less likely to go for it on a 4th down. The Sun Devils’ defense hadn’t allowed a point for nearly 40+ in-game minutes, the head coach believed in his team.

However, Dillingham is the same coach that did a fake punt in his first College Football Playoff appearance, he is a risk taker. The ASU run game had dominated Mississippi State all second-half, including the 96-yard drive the team was currently on. A fourth attempt to big 6’1 running back Udoh surely would’ve done the trick.

Regardless, if the Sun Devils didn’t find the endzone, the Bulldogs would’ve been placed on the one-yard line with no timeouts, less than 100 seconds to go and having to travel 60+ yards to get into field goal range. The ASU defense was dominating after halftime and was finding pressure against Mississippi State, if given the chance, the Sun Devils could’ve recorded a safety and its fourth sack and seventh tackle for loss in that moment.

In Dillingham’s first two years in Tempe, he has been a risk-taker. The 35-year-old has always been the aggressor, but on Saturday, he took three points instead of seven and ASU lost.

It would be unfair to fully blame the 24-20 loss on Dillingham, as there were plenty of factors that led to the Sun Devils defeat. Nevertheless, Dillingham’s mantra since becoming head coach is taking responsibilities for his mistake and the fourth-and-goal was one of them.