Arizona State reaches College Football Playoff for first time under coach Kenny Dillingham

Arizona State University has reached the College Football Playoff for the first time, facing Texas in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal. This follows a challenging 2023 season where they finished 3-9 and faced a bowl ban due to NCAA violations. Under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham, ASU transformed from last in the Pac-12 to Big 12 champions with an 11-2 record. The team heavily utilized the transfer portal, with 17 of 23 new players starting in the title game. Key players include running back Cam Skattebo, quarterback Sam Leavitt, and receiver Jordyn Tyson, all of whom contributed significantly to the team's success. Dillingham's leadership and roster changes have been pivotal in this turnaround.