Dillingham: I needed to do a 'much better job' in Peach Bowl vs. Texas
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham shouldered the blame for the Sun Devils' thrilling 39-31 double-overtime loss to Texas in the Peach Bowl.
"I gotta do a much better job with formations and leverages," he said after Wednesday's loss in the CFP quarterfinal, according to Sun Devil Source's Chris Karpman.
"Our guys played good enough to win. Our guys battled good enough to win. This game's 100% on me," Dillingham added, per Sun Devil Source's Blake Niemann.
The 34-year-old also blamed himself for not telling the defense to check out of man free coverage before Texas converted a fourth-and-13 in the first overtime. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers found receiver Matthew Golden streaking into the end zone for a game-tying score on the play.
The Sun Devils previously mounted a furious comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 unanswered points to force overtime following a missed field-goal attempt by Texas' Bert Auburn with three seconds remaining in regulation.
Running back Cam Skattebo led the late-game resurgence for Arizona State. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound tailback accounted for 242 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns in his final game as a Sun Devil. Texas kept ASU's offense out of the end zone for three quarters before Skattebo delivered a pass to Malik McClain for a 42-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to kickstart the team's rally.
Dillingham was effusive in his praise of his star halfback, defending Skattebo's passion on the sideline.
"If him being competitive and passionate on the sideline is a negative, then I'm in the wrong sport," Dillingham said postgame, per CBS Sports College Football.
Arizona State concluded a remarkable turnaround this season after a 3-9 campaign in 2023. The Sun Devils were projected to finish last in the Big 12 this preseason but ended up winning the conference.
Dillingham reportedly agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension with Arizona State on Tuesday that could reach up to 10 years based on contract incentives.
The Sun Devils will move forward without Skattebo in the backfield next season but will return dual-threat quarterback Sam Leavitt to a team that finished the 2024-25 campaign with an 11-3 record.