A debate over which program made the better coaching hire — Deion Sanders at Colorado or Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State — has gained momentum ahead of Saturday's matchup between the Buffaloes and Sun Devils. The discussion, highlighted in a Gridiron Heroics analysis published Thursday, centers on the early returns from both coaches' tenures in the Big 12 Conference.
Sanders, the Pro Football Hall of Famer who took over at Colorado in December 2022, brought immediate national attention and a roster overhaul fueled by the transfer portal. Dillingham, hired by Arizona State in November 2022 at age 32, inherited a program facing NCAA sanctions and has focused on player development and culture building.
Both teams enter Saturday's game with contrasting trajectories, adding stakes to a debate that has divided analysts and fan bases since the hires were announced. The outcome could provide a fresh data point in evaluating the two approaches to program building in the modern college football landscape.
