How ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham reacted to Sun Devils' US LBM Coaches Poll ranking
Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham is not a fan of college football polls or rankings.
So it's no surprise that his reaction to the Sun Devils' No. 11 ranking in the US LBM Coaches Poll preseason Top 25 was less than enthusiastic.
"Cool," Dillingham said when as about his team's ranking in the poll on Aug. 4.
Dillingham also told the media, with a grin on his face: "Polls are always accurate so we should really lean into it."
Dillingham's Sun Devils were infamously picked to finish last in the Big 12 last season, but ended up winning the conference championship in their first season in the Big 12 and playing in the College Football Playoff.
Kenny Dillingham 'couldn't care less' about college football polls, rankings
The ASU football coach had more to say about rankings and polls at Big 12 Media Days last month, but his opinion was clear.
“Yeah, I mean you’re not gonna like this answer but I couldn’t care less and I have no clue,” Dillingham told reporters, via on3.com, when asked about how polls and rankings impacted his team. “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?”
He continued: “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.”
One thing is certain. There is a lot more preseason noise surrounding Arizona State football this season, with the Sun Devils No. 11 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
How will ASU football respond when the expectations are so much higher than a year ago?
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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