Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is back on the coaching carousel, big time. With Florida State firing Mike Norvell on November 1, Dillingham is being connected to the Tallahassee opening, and he did not directly squash the rumors when asked on November 2. This isn’t some quiet whisper, folks, this is exactly what happened last year with Michigan in 2025, which, let’s be real, led straight to that lucrative contract extension he got.
“We’ve Done This Before”: Dillingham’s Calculated Non-Denial
Dillingham addressed the Florida State talk during his weekly Monday press conference, even cracking a smile and a slight chuckle. His exact words? “We’ve done this before.” He then pivoted hard, saying, “I’m trying to find a way to beat Colorado.” He spent time bigging up Colorado, calling them a team “people don’t talk about enough,” highlighting their ability to stay in every game, hold leads, stop the run at a high rate, and run an explosive offense. He finished by saying he’s “100% of the mindset: ‘Let’s go play our best football game versus Colorado.’” Look, it’s a great effort to deflect, but refusing to shut down the FSU rumors entirely? That’s a huge signal. This is a coach who knows the game, and he knows what he’s doing by not slamming the door shut.
Jake Fette Is The Starter, But What Does That Actually Mean?
Amidst all the coaching drama, Dillingham did make one thing clear: Jake Fette is the starting quarterback. It’s a firm declaration, which is good for Fette, but it has to be tough for the locker room to hear the coach openly flirting with other jobs. Dillingham also mentioned the possibility of a reunion with Norvell, who gave him his first college football opportunity, in Tempe. That’s another wrinkle, another distraction that this team just doesn’t need right now.
Now, Arizona State needs to somehow block out this massive distraction and prepare for Colorado. Dillingham says he’s 100% focused on finding a way to beat them. For the sake of his current players, and the ASU program, he better be. Because if he isn’t, and those Florida State rumors keep swirling, who knows what happens next.
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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