Kenny Dillingham downplays impact of preseason polls on Arizona State’s CFP case

Last season was extremely special for the Arizona State Sun Devils, who were picked to finish last in the 2024 Big 12 Preseason Poll. Instead, they won the league and made an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

This “embarrassment” to the league likely contributed to the decision (made by Big 12 conference athletic directors and coaches) to do away with the league’s preseason media poll this season. Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham was asked how preseason polls affected them at this week’s Big 12 Media Days, but he pretty much shut the question down.

“Yeah, I mean you’re not gonna like this answer but I couldn’t care less and I have no clue,” Dillingham said. “I’m not a voter, and I don’t really care where people put us. Put us first, put us last, put us in the middle. If we’re so focused on other people’s expectations of us, then you’re gonna limit yourself. Who knows. Are we supposed to win six games, are we supposed to win nine games, or are we supposed to go undefeated? Are we supposed to win zero? Who really knows?”

“All I know is that when we show up to work, we should be the very best version of ourselves and if we compete in something, you better compete to win. You better compete to be the very best version of yourself every day, over and over again, and you block out the noise.”

The poll, mostly done for preseason hype and clicks, usually provided nothing but motivation to teams picked below others. Hence, the ASU ascent from preseason No. 16 team in the league to the No. 4 seed in the 2024 College Football Playoff. Dillingham can be credited for that.

Last season, Utah was selected as the preseason favorite in the Big 12 and finished with a 5-7 (2-7) record. The entirety of last season’s Preseason Big 12 Poll, along with the teams’ actual finish, is below.

2024 Big 12 Preseason Poll

1. Utah Utes (T-13th with 2-7 Big 12 record, 5-7 overall)
2. Kansas State Wildcats (T-8th with 5-4 Big 12 record, 9-4 overall)
3. Oklahoma State Cowboys (16th with 0-9 Big 12 record, 3-9 overall)
4. Kansas Jayhawks (10th with 4-5 Big 12 record, 5-7 overall)
5. Arizona Wildcats (T-13th with 2-7 Big 12 record, 4-8 overall)
6. Iowa State Cyclones (T-1st with 7-2 Big 12 record, 11-3 overall)
7. West Virginia Mountaineers (T-8th with 5-4 Big 12 record, 6-7 overall)
8. UCF Knights (T-13th with 2-7 Big 12 record, 4-8 overall)
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders (T-5th with Big 12 6-3 record, 8-5 overall)
10. TCU Horned Frogs (T-5th with Big 12 6-3 record, 9-4 overall)
11. Colorado Buffaloes (T-1st with Big 12 7-2 record, 9-4 overall)
12. Baylor Bears (T-5th with Big 12 6-3 record, 8-5 overall)
13. BYU Cougars (T-1st with 7-2 Big 12 record, 11-2 overall)
14. Cincinnati Bearcats (T-11th with 3-6 Big 12 record, 5-7 overall)
15. Houston Cougars (T-11th with 3-6 Big 12 record, 4-8 overall)
16. Arizona State Sun Devils (T-1st with 7-2 Big 12 record, 11-3 overall)

Arizona State opens the season against Northern Arizona on August 30. The game is set for a 10:00 p.m. ET kick.