What’s Ahead in the Final Stretch for ASU Football

In today's edition of the Sun Devils Insider Podcast, we take a look at the final three weeks of the football season after the bye week.
Nov 1, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Kooper Ebel (47)  looks to tackle  Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jeff Sims (2) during the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones linebacker Kooper Ebel (47) looks to tackle Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Jeff Sims (2) during the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images | Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

TEMPE -- In today's edition of the Sun Devils Insider Podcast, we take a look at the final three games of the season for the football team.

To listen to today's podcast, view below.

Below is a partial transcript of Dillingham's Monday press conference.

On Changing Landscape of College Football

"Yeah, I mean, at the end of the day running the quarterback, you look at Utah right now and the triple option premise that they have, winning a lot of games, scoring all points. You look at Vanderbilt right now, with that style of play.

You know Houston, when they beat us. I mean, I think it was 20 or 19 quarterback runs. There's so many different ways to win in college football. I think you got to figure out your own team and where you fit in that you know what personnel you can get around the quarterback and derive the best plan. But there's so many different ways you know, to win in their strengths and weaknesses, to every choice that you make, to every decision you make. So I think, yeah, there's a lot of ways to win. I think in this era, people kind of get to pick and choose their own route a little bit more."

On Plans For Week Off

“Yeah, I mean week off of football. I mean, they're still coming in and lifting and running and and getting rehab and stuff like that this week. But yeah, I think that getting away from the game, you know, similar to last year, even before the Peach Bowl week off, which most people you know don't do, I just feel like sometimes you need to get away. And that the greatest you know, and the hardest thing you can do sometimes is to let go. And I think the ability to, like, let go for a few days and then come back on Sunday…”

Nov 23, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona State Sun Devils helmet at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On Injury Status of Key Players vs West Virginia

“I think Prince Dorbah has a really good shot. I think Tate Romney has a really good shot to return on those two games. You know, we're still, you know, X (Alford) is working his butt off to try to get back, whether that's West Virginia, you know, he's doing everything he can to get back.

JT (Jordyn Tyson) is doing everything he can to get back. His timeline is probably more Colorado, you know, from, you know, where his injury was, you know, it's probably tending more to have a chance at that one, but he's doing everything he can to get back. So I don't want to leave anybody else out, but I think for the most part, those are the guys that would potentially have a chance to get back no sip’s, I mean, sip (Kyson Brown) is probably going to be out for the year. That's just not trending. And you know, he's doing everything he can to get back to it's just not training in that direction for him to return this year.”

On Conversations About Future With Sam Leavitt

“He’s got to get surgery. He's got to take care of himself. I'll probably give him a couple weeks. And, you know, let him get through this. We're not in a rush. No, I want him to make the best decision for him in terms of whether you need to go pro or not. And you know what him and his team believe are the best decision for him? You know, that's why I do this. So, you know, give them some time to get healthy and get surgery done with and get back around the team and and get his head, you know, back in a good direction of progress…”

On Justin Wodlty’s Performance vs Iowa State

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Arizona State defensive lineman Justin Wodtly (95) walks off the field during a practice inside the Verde Dickey Dome in Tempe on August 12, 2025. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"Yeah, Wodtly played great. That could have been his best games at Sun Devil, like looking back, we put it. We ended up putting a game ball after I watched the table on Saturday night and Sunday morning, I put it. We put a game ball in his locker, because I was a guy that, after I watched it, I felt like deserved a game ball, so I made sure we put one in his locker, because he played probably his best game. Could be his best games at Sun Devil."

Read more on why the Arizona State men's basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and three major takeaways following a gutsy win over Iowa State here

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Kevin Hicks
KEVIN HICKS

Kevin Hicks is an Arizona State alumni and now serves as the Arizona State Beat Writer On SI.