Overview
- Arizona State was routed 55-19 by Baylor on Oct. 3, surrendering 564 total yards including 244 rushing while the Sun Devils went 4-of-15 on third down and committed multiple turnovers.
- After reviewing game film, Dillingham accepted responsibility for the breakdown and identified missed assignments and poor tackling as coaching and communication failures that must be corrected.
- On Oct. 6 Dillingham formally handed in-game offensive play-calling back to offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo, saying calling plays had stretched him too thin and that he needs to focus on overall team operations.
- The Sun Devils are 2-2 (1-1 Big 12) and will use Saturday’s Oct. 10 game against Hawaii as a short-term test while the staff considers depth-chart tweaks such as starting tackle Champ Westbrooks and changes in the cornerback room.
- The change mirrors a wider 2026 trend of midseason play-caller switches and creates a tight window for ASU to fix assignment and execution problems before a demanding Big 12 stretch beginning Oct. 17 at Texas Tech.