Three Questions Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State Must Answer vs. Hawaii

Arizona State football faces a critical test this weekend against Hawaii, coming off a devastating 55–19 home loss to Baylor—their worst defensive performance since a 3–9 season in 2023. Head coach Kenny Dillingham has shifted focus to rebuilding fundamentals, admitting there’s no single fix but rather a series of small adjustments needed.

The defense, which allowed four passing touchdowns and over 300 yards to Baylor’s DJ Lagway, will be under intense scrutiny again, especially against Hawaii’s Micah Alejado, a sophomore quarterback who has twice thrown for over 300 yards this season. Defensive coordinator Brian Ward has already taken responsibility for the unit’s lack of effort, while Dillingham has stepped back from play-calling to concentrate on leadership, handing those duties to offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo.

Arroyo, who led ASU to a conference title in 2024, now faces pressure to unlock the offense’s potential, particularly with standout talents like running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson failing to produce consistently. The Sun Devils must show improvement on both sides of the ball to avoid another embarrassing outing in a Mountain West matchup where Hawaii leads the conference in passing yards.

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