Arizona State is coming off their worst season since 2016 after finishing last season 3-9. They are also in the PAC-12 where teams like USC and Utah are difficult to get by. Other teams such as UCLA and Arizona are competitive and have been improving their program. Arizona State had a mid-season firing last year when they decided to part ways with Head Coach Herm Edwards. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing as of late, but the Sun Devils still have some things to look forward to next season.
1. New Head Coach Kenny Dillingham
Arizona State HC Kenny Dillingham – Megan Mendoza/The Republic
A new head coach means new changes and new opportunities. Arizona State went and got former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham. In addition to that, he is also a graduate of Arizona State University so it’s a full circle moment for him. Dillingham is only 33-years-old and brings a brand new culture to the Valley. It was an exciting hire as many people believe he is the right guy for the job and his deep Arizona roots will strongly help his cause. He’s an offensive-minded coach and can hopefully turn around ASU’s lackluster offense from the previous season.
When it felt like the program was starting to spiral, Dillingham’s hire has seemed to bring new life and excitement for fans. A young and hungry head coach who seems eager and excited to turn around a struggling team is exactly what this team could use. Although it will be more change after having two coaches last season, Dillingham brings hope of stability and energy to the building.
2. 4-Star QB Recruit Jaden Rashada
Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada (5) – Patrick Breen/The Republic
Something Sun Devils fans should be thrilled for not only next season, but for seasons to come is 2023 recruit QB Jaden Rashada. He’s a 4-star recruit and headlines the list of 2023 commits for Arizona State. According to 247Sports, he was the #44 ranked player nationally and #4 ranked in the state of California. That was a huge get for the Sun Devils as Rashada had decommitted from the Florida Gators. Even though he may not play immediately, it’s still exciting knowing ASU got a top level recruit let alone one at the QB position.
Coach Dillingham has spoken highly of Rashada and talked about his desire to get better. His talent and his drive to improve his game should be something that Arizona State fans like to hear and this is a name people should definitely keep their eyes on.
3. The Quarterback Position
Arizona State QB Trenton Bourguet (16) – Andy Silvas/Sun Devil Source
The Sun Devils entered spring with a pretty interesting QB room. They didn’t exactly have a quarterback who’s guaranteed to start or is running away with the job. At the moment it seems as redshirt senior, Trenton Bourguet has the upper hand after taking over as the starter last season as well as getting the most first-team reps in the spring game. They also have redshirt sophomore, Drew Pyne who’s a transfer from Notre Dame and went 8-2 as a starter last season. Bourguet and Pyne currently seems like the most favorable to start this season and are both great options.
Arizona State also has redshirt sophomore, Jacob Conniver who’s a transfer from BYU in which he spent most of his time as a backup. Other options are true freshman Jaden Rashada and returning redshirt freshman Bennett Meredith. It’ll be interesting to see which direction they’ll go but it’s something to look forward to this upcoming season.
4. Taking Back the Cup
Arizona State Wins Territorial Cup – ASU Athletics
One of the longest rivalries in football, Arizona State vs. Arizona. ASU and UofA do not like each other one bit which always causes excitement when these teams matchup. Arizona leads the all-time series 50-45-1 after they claimed the most recent victory winning 38-35 last season. It snapped Arizona State’s 5-year streak they had on Arizona and they should be determined to take back the Territorial Cup back to Tempe next season. This is a game many fans look forward to and have circled on their calendars every season.
5. Building Off of Last Season
Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports
The team went 3-9 last season so this season is the perfect opportunity to build off of that for Arizona State. They are entering this season with a new coach, new starting quarterback and a pretty new roster. This gives them an opportunity to make some ground this season and start building their way back up. They lost some games last season that were very winnable but then beat #8 ranked Washington. This shows that they’ll always fight but sometimes they are struggling and beat themselves up.
They can start by at least trying to win one or two of the three non-conference games and winning their easier matchups in conference play. That would give them an opportunity to finish with a bowl-eligible record which should be something Arizona State strives for this upcoming season. It should be very interesting to see how things play out.
