ASU coach Kenny Dillingham dismisses Auburn rumors

• As Arizona Republic columnist Greg Moore dramatically put it, a Dillingham departure "would be nothing short of betrayal."

The latest: Sun Devil Source reports that Dillingham assured his players before the team's Nov. 1 Iowa State victory that he'll be back for the 2026 season.

• On Arizona Sports on Friday, he shrugged off the rumors and said he's focused on recruitment and doing "the best job I can for our players, 'cause that's what this is all about."
• "I've said this from the beginning: My next-door neighbor is my sister, my parents live three doors down. My wife's parents live five doors down," he said of his commitment to the Valley.

Zoom in: Dillingham agreed to a five-year contract extension in January that will keep him in Tempe through 2029, though an interested team could buy out the contract if they wanted him enough.

The bottom line: Money and power talk, and programs like Auburn that have storied histories and wealthy donors have lots of both.

• Dillingham would not be the first coach to give in to the allure of a more established football program — UofA fans will remember Jedd Fisch leaving for Washington last year after delivering a 10-3 season for the Wildcats.

My thought bubble: I speak for all Sun Devil fans when I politely ask Auburn (and Penn State and Florida and LSU) to back off.