Sun Bowl: Dillingham Took On More Offensive Responsibility, But ASU Was Unable To Shake Off Turnovers

(Photo: Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

It had already been a busy December for Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham. Earlier in the month, ASU gave Dillingham a revised deal after he and his agent worked through a lengthy contract negotiation. Yet, that was likely not his biggest concern off the field with his wife, Bri, in the final month of her pregnancy and their second child due Sunday.

With so much happening off the field, Dillingham chose to put even more on his plate in the Sun Bowl. He took on a more active role with the Sun Devil offense by relaying play calls from offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo through a headset to redshirt senior quarterback Jeff Sims. Sims, who played three seasons at Georgia Tech, had experience playing ASU’s opponent, Duke.

Prior to Thursday, Sims had never been on a team that lost to the Blue Devils. But when staring at a three-point deficit in a two-minute drill, he and redshirt sophomore wideout Derek Eusebio weren’t on the same page, leading to an interception. That was Sims’ last pass at the college level. His last game did not end with an on-field celebration as the Sun Devils (8-5) fell to Duke (9-5) in a 42-39 shootout.

“When the time came for me to make a play I didn’t,” Sims said. “And that’s probably going to be the only thing I’m thinking about.”

Dillingham’s bowl game decision followed ASU committing 13 turnovers in its final four games of the regular season, including nine in the last two weeks. The Sun Devils were turnover-free at halftime, but that quickly changed on their third quarter opening drive. After picking up the first down on a wide receiver screen, junior Jalen Moss fumbled at the Blue Devils’ 8-yard line.

Later, when ASU led 39-35 with less than three minutes left, redshirt senior cornerback Nyland Green broke up a pass in the endzone on fourth down. All the Sun Devils had to do was chew clock and get two first downs to ice the game. The drive looked like it couldn’t have started any better when redshirt freshman running back Jason Brown Jr got enough yards to pick up the first.

That’s when disaster struck. As Brown Jr fell to the ground, the ball jarred free as he was holding it between his helmet and his shoulder. Duke recovered it on ASU’s 22-yard line, and it took just two plays for the final touchdown to be scored by redshirt sophomore receiver Que’Sean Brown. Brown finished the day with 10 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

“We got a stop when it was needed and that’s a big piece of defense,” Dillingham said. “We made enough plays there at the end to win the football game with short fields, but they made one more play than us.”

Dillingham circled back to the same sentiment throughout his postgame press conference: “they made one more play.” At the same time, he emphasized that one play does not define a player. With Brown Jr, who made his first college start, Dillingham highlighted his 148 scrimmage yards in spite of the fumble.

Dillingham also spoke highly of Sims without mentioning his turnover inside the final three minutes. While he did not address the interception like he did Brown’s fumble, he likely holds a similar attitude toward both players.

“We called a bunch of bad plays out there today, and I get paid to do it, so I’m worse than (Brown Jr),” Dillingham said. “What I told him after the game is, ‘You think one play defines your game? That’s not true.’”

The Sun Devils capped off 2025 with arguably their best offensive showing of the year, even with the three turnovers. ASU’s 619 yards of offense set a record for the highest total in Sun Bowl history. Of those 619, Sims accounted for 445, with 375 yards coming through the air. He paired that with four total touchdowns — two passing, two rushing.

Dillingham did not clarify whether his increased involvement with the unit was just for the bowl game or something to expect next season. He did, however, express gratitude toward the athletics department for its role in allowing him to build a staff that gives him more freedom.

“I’m an offensive guy and when I get involved in football more, I want to lean to one side over the other,” Dillingham said. “I think we’re to a point as a program, based off the administration and what they’re doing to help, that I get to coach a little bit more football.”

After ending the year on a busy note, Dillingham enters 2026 with more work cut out for him. His family at home will have a new face in the household, and the team he coaches — which he also views as a family — will feature many new Sun Devils by spring.

When the clock hits midnight, the new year arrives — and the countdown to ASU football’s next kickoff has already begun. As Dillingham prepares the Sun Devils for what’s ahead, he’s also reflecting on the program’s progress toward his original goal: creating a valley.

“Like I said, when I got here, you’re going to have valleys and lows when you climb,” Dillingham said. “The goal is to create a valley that’s higher than it’s ever been. And I think this team has set a valley higher than it was when they got here. Now, our job is to continue to raise that.”