Arizona State football is gearing up for the 2026 season without the baggage of a national ranking, a position the program has historically used to its advantage.
Quiet expectations, louder ambitions
The preseason US LBM College Football Coaches Poll places Ohio State at the summit, with Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame rounding out the top five, setting a high bar for every contender.
Within the Big 12, four programs—Texas Tech, BYU, Utah and Houston—earn spots in the Top 25, while Arizona State itself gathers eight votes, hinting at modest but tangible confidence.
Coach Kenny Dillingham’s squad finished 8‑5 last year after a 2024 conference title, only to slip from a No. 11 ranking after a 2‑1 start, illustrating how quickly expectations can shift.
Analysts now project the Sun Devils to finish anywhere from sixth to ninth in the conference, trailing the defending champions Texas Tech and BYU, who are viewed as the early favorites.
The narrative that has emerged is not one of disappointment but of opportunity; the absence of preseason hype may well become the catalyst that fuels a renewed drive.
For Dillingham, the lack of a top‑10 label is less a snub than a blank canvas. He has repeatedly emphasized that the team’s focus is on execution, not on external rankings.
The Sun Devils’ schedule will test that philosophy, with non‑conference matchups against traditional powerhouses providing early gauges of progress. How they respond will ultimately define whether the early‑season optimism translates into a sustained climb.