Texas vs. Arizona State live updates: Latest news, predictions, odds and analysis from today’s Peach Bowl

Before the Sun Devils left Tempe, offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo discussed what drew him to Arizona State. He said he sensed an alignment from the upper administration. He liked the recruiting of head coach Kenny Dillingham. This seemed odd, given that Arroyo was hired in December 2023 with Arizona State after a three-win season and is facing NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations that occurred under former coach Herm Edwards.

Asked about this, Arroyo admitted it was a dark time for the program, but he said he did his homework, made some calls. And he liked Dillingham’s vision.

Arroyo may have seen this long before anyone else. The Arizona State program appears to be aligned, from school president Michael Crow on down, as well as it has for years. In November, Arizona State awarded three-year extensions to Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward. Late Tuesday night, not long before the clock struck midnight, athletic director Graham Rossini told fans at an Arizona State rally that the school had reached an agreement with Dillingham.

Dillingham has long called this his dream job, but the five-year extension, which will make the 34-year-old one of the better-paid Big 12 coaches, shows Arizona State’s commitment to football, a move the school has been hesitant to make. make.