Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban praised what ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham has been building in the desert on ESPN's College Gameday show.
The show reviewed the potential Big 12 championship-clinching scenarios, and Saban let the nation know what has made the Sun Devils dangerous.
"Arizona State has something going for it, though, because when your team buys into something, as coach Dillingham said, activate the valley," Saban said.
A season ago, the Sun Devils lost to Utah 55-3. A moment Dillingham acknowledged was likely the lowest moment a season ago. The Sun Devils won just three games last year.
Fast forward a year and the team is 9-2 with three ranked wins. As Saban said, the team has bought into what Dillingham preaches.
Brotherhood and belief were needed against No. 14 BYU. ASU gave up over 14 unanswered points in the second half signaling a potential collapse was brewing. A failed ASU fourth-down attempt gave the Cougars 2:34 to win the game. The Sun Devil defense had to come up big.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Javon Robinson didn't blink when he sealed the game with his late interception of redshirt junior BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff — a pivotal play in yet another close game for the Sun Devils in a 28-23 win over the Cougars.
"The boys you know they've fought every day," said senior running back Cam Skattebo. "We go back to summer workouts and everybody fights every single day. We didn't blink an eye when they started scoring points."
Since the first week of the season, Dillingham has preached how much this team loves football. He's believed in this team from day one when experts didn't.
"The culture has changed man and everybody loves each other," Skattebo said. "We've turned this thing around. But it's not finished yet because there's still a process. There is still work to do in the process."
ASU has an undefeated 6-0 home record for the first time since 2004. The team is also 6-1 in one-score games this season. The Sun Devils win with the odds stacked against them.
The last time the Sun Devils won their conference was in 2007. Now, 17 years later, Dillingham has his team in place to potentially win the Big 12 and earn a College Football Playoff berth.
ASU has changed the narrative surrounding the team. Now, the Sun Devils are reaping the rewards and can be thankful for the grit and trust that got them here.
"It's amazing," said redshirt sophomore receiver Jordyn Tyson. "It's just a testament to the team. They counted us out and we continue to keep working, proving the haters wrong."
The Sun Devils extended both of their coordinators before the BYU game to help keep the culture growing. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward were rewarded with three-year extensions.
Saban told the nation this morning that something dangerous was brewing in the desert, and tonight is another indication of what may come. A football team that believes in themselves is a dangerous one.
"But for us, this process feels great," Dillingham said. "It's even better that it's a day game. Have fun. Enjoy it. Wake up, move on. Repeat the process, because nobody cares what you did yesterday, and nobody is going to care if we turn out to be a nine and three football team that missed the Big 12 championship. If we want to continue to do something special, you have to do it every single day, and you've got to repeat it."
Edited by Jack Barron, Sophia Braccio and Natalia Jarrett.
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Daniel is a senior studying sports journalism. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at WCSN, OC Riptide, 1550 Sports and AZPreps365.
