What’s the Biggest Difference for ASU? ‘People Think We’re Good’

“The best part about football, though, is that nothing really matters what you did last year,” Dillingham continued. “You’re trying to smell last year’s roses, and then they die on you. If you’re going to keep smelling them, you’d better plant new ones. I think that’s the biggest difference. People are trying to say good things instead of bad things. That’s the fun part, though.”

That rose imagery isn’t just coach-speak. It comes from a roster that shocked the Big 12 in 2024, rebounding from a 3–9 season the previous year to win the conference title and secure a CFP semifinal berth. But Dillingham won’t let last year’s success soften the edge.

He’s saying the loud praise doesn’t change the work. Winning the Big 12 was historic, but it won’t plant seeds for another season unless they replant effort and focus. The players and staff are hearing good talk now, but expectations change nothing unless matched by accountability.

Dillingham’s message is unmistakable: progress demands repetition. In a league as deep as the Big 12, past glory buys no forgiveness. It also speaks to his style of being authentic, visual, and having no room for complacency.

For the Sun Devils, the shift in narrative is tangible. From written off to worshipped, from doubted to dynastic potential, Dillingham is navigating the spotlight. He’s fine with the positive noise, just as long as the foundation stays built on new roses, not petals from last season.

Arizona State is no longer the underdog, and Dillingham wants to make sure they don’t start acting like one.