EL PASO — Arizona State arrived in El Paso on Saturday ahead of this year’s Sun Bowl and wasted little time getting to work.
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Arizona State football players and staff watch folklórico dancers perform as they arrive at the Atlantic FBO Hangar in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, ahead of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. © Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Sun Devils were welcomed by the local community with folklórico dancers and mariachi music as they stepped off the plane. Head coach Kenny Dillingham was even presented with a maroon-and-gold mariachi hat as a symbol of the warm reception.
The celebration, however, was brief.
ASU put on shoulder pads and returned to business the following day as it prepares for its eighth appearance in the December showcase, owning a 4-2-1 record. The Sun Devils will face ACC champion Duke in the postseason matchup.
Del Valle alum Jake Fette, an incoming Arizona State freshman, second from the right, joins ASU practice at Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during Sun Bowl week ahead of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. © Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Despite more than 30 players expected to miss the game, Dillingham said the approach remains unchanged.
“It’s part of it,” Dillingham said, according to Sun Devil Source. “That’s the nature of it. Like I told our guys, we’ve got to go compete and do whatever we can to scratch, claw and try to win a football game.”
While the Sun Bowl does not carry College Football Playoff implications, Arizona State is intent on closing the season on a high note. The program has drawn attention in recent weeks amid speculation surrounding Dillingham’s future and questions at the quarterback position after reports indicated Sam Leavitt would enter the transfer portal.
Now, the focus has narrowed.
Del Valle alum Jake Fette, an incoming Arizona State freshman in gray, warms up as he joins ASU practice at Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during Sun Bowl week ahead of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. © Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Sun Devils enter the game with one objective: win one more time this season against an ACC champion.
Dillingham’s insistence on maintaining competitiveness underscores the importance he places on finishing seasons the right way and treating every opportunity to play as a chance to win. The approach reflects the changes the Sun Devils’ head coach has made during his short time in Tempe and how the Valley has embraced it.
With history and preparedness on its side, Arizona State aims to reinforce what it wants to become: a program ready for any challenge, regardless of the situation.
Good vibes. All business.@TonyTheTigerSB pic.twitter.com/nJsgiW3Sv6
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) December 28, 2025
The Sun Devils and the Blue Devils will face off on New Year’s Eve on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 12 p.m. MST.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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