Arizona State head football coach Kenny Dillingham addressed the media on Monday, Oct. 26, ahead of a trip to face No. 8 BYU. The Sun Devils are looking to maintain momentum following a home victory over Kansas State.
Dillingham noted that starting quarterback Mikey Keene is currently questionable. The coach stated that Keene is a tough competitor and will be evaluated during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 27. If Keene is unable to play, Jake Fette is expected to take the field. Dillingham emphasized the importance of preparing a plan regardless of which quarterback is active.
Discussing the environment in Provo, Dillingham described it as one of the hardest places to play in college football due to the consistency of the coaching staff and the fan base. He noted that the team must focus on executing every play to block out the environment. Regarding BYU's defense, Dillingham remarked on the complexity of their schemes, which include various coverages like cover two sim, cover three, and cover six, often utilizing three high safeties to create chaos.
On the offensive side, Dillingham highlighted the performance of true freshmen Cardae Mack and Jake Fette. He noted the potential for having both freshmen in the backfield during the road game against BYU. He also credited BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier for his efficiency, noting that Bachmeier avoids turnovers and extends plays without taking excessive sacks.
The Sun Devils' previous matchup against BYU was marked by communication issues that Dillingham admitted were not handled correctly. To address this, the team has added mock two-minute and four-minute drills to their Thursday practices to ensure they can execute in high-pressure situations.
Arizona State is scheduled to play BYU on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 12:45 p.m. AZT.
