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The Arizona State Sun Devils will soon make their first appearance in the College Football Playoff. Head coach Kenny Dillingham says it’s only added to his list of expenses with the transfer portal now open.
He pleaded for more NIL support from donors after winning the Big 12 Championship Game. He believes that rivals will soon try to poach players from his roster given recent success.
The Sun Devils are one of college football’s best stories. Entering the year, they were picked to finish dead last in the conference. After winning 10 games in the regular season, they booked their ticket to the postseason by besting Iowa State in the title game.
Dillingham says that success comes with a price. Given the surprise performance from unexpected stars, Arizona State will soon take on the task of keeping its roster intact.
The head coach knows that suitors will come calling. It will put many of his current players in the position of choosing between either school loyalty or a quick payout.
“It’s unfortunate that those kids that want to be Sun Devils, some of them are going to have to face questions of ‘Do I want to be a Sun Devil more than I want another $300,000?’… If this community wants a winner and wants to continue to have a winner, then they’re going to have to step up and continue to step up… The only unfortunate thing is we keep winning, and it’s funny that when you keep winning, it gets more expensive to win.”
Kenny Dillingham on NIL and roster retention:
“It’s unfortunate that those kids that want to be Sun Devils, some of them are going to have to face questions of ‘do I want to be a Sun Devil more than I want another $300,000?’…If this community wants a winner and wants to… pic.twitter.com/nYqbQqZb4D
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) December 8, 2024
Kenny Dillingham has been behind the eight-ball when it comes to college football’s current NIL structure. He claimed prior to last season that the Sun Devils wouldn’t have even fielded a team had it not been for a $1 million preseason gift from a generous booster.
“We wouldn’t have a football team without (booster) Nap Lawrence giving $1 million in NIL… That dude is as valuable to the program as anybody on the field… Without you, we don’t have a team.”
-Kenny Dillingham
He’s since made it his mission to fundraise for his program. That included asking bettors who cashed in on Arizona State’s projected win total to give their earnings to the school’s NIL collective. Everyone can win!
The Sun Devils exceeded expectations in 2024 under Dillingham’s leadership, but there’s a price for winning. It must be matched for sustained success. The head coach understands that fact, and he’s sending a message loud and clear with his College Football Playoff game looming.