Kenny Dillingham was flat-out exhausted after Arizona State’s 24-17 win over Kansas on Saturday in London, capping a brutal travel schedule that would flatten any team. The Sun Devils trekked over 5,000 miles to College Station and then across the pond in successive weeks, and Dillingham didn’t mince words about the toll it took. “I’m tired,” he said. “Our players are going to be tired when they get home. We need to go get some rest.” It was a win, but man, it was ugly, and it perfectly showcased why college football games played internationally rarely look pretty.
This Wasn’t Pretty, But Coach Dillingham Didn’t Care
The Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium was the first-ever college football game between two FBS teams in England, and it lived up to the low-quality standard of international contests. Remember North Carolina’s 15-10 slog against TCU in Ireland earlier this season? Yeah, it was like that. Travel, time changes, unfamiliar surroundings, it all conspires to deliver a “gloomy weather” level of play. This game was no different. ASU’s offense managed a paltry 95 passing yards, Kansas gave up three turnovers, and both teams combined for 11 penalties totaling 105 yards. The special teams kick coverage provided “endless teaching tape” for both sides, including Kansas running a punt back for a touchdown, even though ASU generated one of their own. Normally, Dillingham would be ripping into the mistakes, but after losing 48-20 to then-No. 8 Texas A&M despite topping them in multiple statistical categories, he was ready to take the win however it came.
“Give Me Losing The Stats And Winning The Game 100 Times Out Of 100”
That’s the quote, right there. Dillingham summed it up perfectly. He knows the game wasn’t “clean on all three phases,” but it was “clean enough to come away with a victory.” His defense played great in London, but the offense? “Not so inspiring.” Still, his team found a way, and that’s all that mattered given the circumstances. Winning the turnover battle handily by not turning the ball over themselves was a huge silver lining. The clock was turning, and they had the lead. Thinking about the alternative, Dillingham was just glad he avoided it. “It would have been a miserable flight home to think about this whole process,” he admitted. “We would have flown 10 hours home after a loss. To go into a bye and have to sit on it for two weeks, that would have been absolutely miserable.”
Now, Dillingham and the Sun Devils can finally head home to Tempe, catch their breath, and enjoy a much-needed bye week without the agony of a loss hanging over their heads. That long flight is going to feel a whole lot better after a victory, no matter how ugly.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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