Dillingham Adapts Arizona State to 24-Team Playoff
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham addressed how College Football Playoff expansion to 24 teams in 2027 will shape the program.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
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Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham said the College Football Playoff's move to a 24-team format starting in 2027 requires the program to adapt and adjust. The Sun Devils are 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 with three regular-season games remaining.
Why it matters
Expansion to 24 teams and the end of Big 12 conference championship games change how programs chase playoff bids. For Tempe and the Arizona State fan base, the shift raises the stakes of recruiting and roster building over the next two seasons.
Arizona State is 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 with three regular-season games left in 2026, against a College Football Playoff format expanding from its current size to 24 teams in 2027. How the 2026 recruits develop over the next two-plus seasons remains unresolved.
The players
Kenny Dillingham
Dillingham, 36, is the head football coach at Arizona State, leading the Sun Devils through their 2026 season and the transition to a 24-team playoff.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State's football program competes in the Big 12 Conference and won the conference title in 2024 under a historic run.
The details
Dillingham spoke at his weekly press conference on Monday and said, "It's a new age in college football. Adapt and adjust." He pointed to the offensive line's high variance over the last two seasons and to donor support for NIL efforts as areas the program must address.
Timeline
2024: Arizona State won the Big 12 title with a historic run.
2026: Three regular-season games remain for Arizona State.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Dillingham addressed media at his weekly press conference.
Saturday afternoon: Arizona State plays UCF in Orlando.
2027: The College Football Playoff expands to a 24-team format.
Season Trajectory
Arizona State's 2024 Big 12 title run set a high bar, and its 5-4 record in 2026 leaves it needing a strong finish to position itself for the expanded playoff. The move to a 24-team College Football Playoff in 2027 gives programs like Arizona State a larger path to the postseason.
Arizona State's three remaining regular-season games will determine whether the Sun Devils can reach bowl eligibility and build momentum for the 2027 playoff format. Fans tracking fantasy rosters should note Fette's expected role as the starting quarterback over multiple seasons.
The takeaway
Programs like Arizona State must recruit and develop depth now to compete in a 24-team playoff. The 2026 class, including QB Jake Fette and RB Cardae Mack, will shape that outcome.
What happens next
Arizona State plays at UCF in Orlando on Saturday afternoon, and three regular-season games remain in 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Tempe Football coverage for context on the Sun Devils' season.
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