New Sun Devils football players will learn more about the Territorial Cup soon after they arrive on campus, head coach says.

Two years ago, on Nov. 27, 2022, Kenny Dillingham was introduced as the new Arizona State head football coach. It was a job not many wanted. The cloud of an NCAA investigation was still hovering and penalties had not been doled out yet. The fan base was frustrated at the direction of the program under the previous leadership.

In a college football season filled with superb coaching jobs, few have been better than Kenny Dillingham's work at Arizona State. On the heels of back-to-back 3-9 seasons, Dillingham has led the Sun Devils to nine wins in their first 11 games.

The turnaround for the Arizona State football team hasn't just generated buzz throughout the Big 12 or on the West Coast. The job Kenny Dillingham has done in Tempe has resonated nationwide, with the Sun Devils registering wins over nationally ranked foes in back-to-back weeks that have put them in the College Football Playoff picture.

Arizona State got embarrassed against rival Arizona last season. In Kenny Dillingham's first season as head coach, the Sun Devils lost to the Wildcats 59-23 at

Arizona State has turned around under Kenny Dillingham, and the head coach of the Sun Devils reportedly rewarded his staff out of his own pocket.

The Sun Devils, who defeated BYU to keep their storybook journey alive, have mirrored their coach. Fun. Passionate. And a little reckless.

Kenny Dillingham has earned some extra money in his second season at Arizona State, and the head coach is sharing the wealth. Dillingham earned a $200,000 bonus after Arizona State won its ninth game of the season with a victory over BYU last Saturday.