Kenny Dillingham challenges students and fans ahead of Miss. State game

TEMPE, Ariz. — On Saturday night Kenny Dillingham and ASU football took care of business. The Sun Devils forced multiple early turnovers and never looked back on route to a 48-7 win over Wyoming to open up the season.

While the electricity was pumping on the field with the players, it was also pumping in the stands. Saturday night 13,698 students flooded through the gates to watch Arizona State football.

The large turnout was the second-largest student turnout in history only behind the 2014 UCLA game.

Kenny Dillingham aims to break student attendance record

Dillingham over the years has been very vocal about wanting bigger crowds. Last season after the road win atUCLA, Dillingham said he wanted Mountain America Stadium to be ‘rocking’ for the last few games of the season.

Now, just a season later buzz seems to be a bit bigger around the program. Following a dominant performance, Sun Devil fans and students are optimistic for the first time in years. Now, the Sun Devils’ second-year head coach wants to translate that into a better atmosphere.

Dillingham’s goal for this weekend? To break the student attendance record.

“That’s the challenge for our guys for the students is you’re a part of this and we want to break the record,” Dillingham said. “I want to have more students that’s ever been in a game and I want you guys to be a part of the first time Arizona State’s ever won against an SEC team. Come be a part of history, let’s pack it out from the fans, to the students, to everything, and let’s make this the best environment in college football this week.”

New faces In new places

The large turnout is thanks to multiple enrollment records that the university has set this season. According to Arizona State, the university welcomed 40,800 new students across all of its campuses. One in four students at ASU this year are new to the university.

17,000 new students are first-year students, and a record 9,170 of those are from the state of Arizona.

Head coach Kenny Dillingham said he wanted to recruit the state of Arizona, and it looks the University followed his lead.

More of the student numbers can be seen here: https://news.asu.edu/20240819-university-news-asu-sets-multiple-enrollment-records-fall-semester-begins

Large crowds mean success

Over the last 10 seasons, there have been some big turnouts at Mountain America Stadium (previously known as Sun Devil Stadium). Since 2010 here are the largest student turnout numbers:

• 14,084 vs. UCLA/Sept. 24, 2014 (L)
• 13,698 vs. Wyoming/Aug. 31, 2024 (W)
• 13,615 vs. Northern Arizona/Sept. 1, 2022 (W)
• 12,274 vs. Arizona/Nov. 21, 2015 (W)
• 12,114 vs. Southern Utah/Sept. 2, 2021 (W)
• 12,024 vs. Kent State/Aug. 29, 2019 (W)
• 11,783 vs. UTSA/Sept. 1, 2018 (W)
• 11,680 vs. Southern Utah/Aug. 31, 2023 (W)
• 11,429 vs. Arizona/Nov. 19, 2011 (L)
• 11,395 vs. Oregon/Oct. 18, 2012 (L)
• 11,151 vs. Missouri/Sept. 9, 2011 (W)

Out of those 11 games, ASU has a record of 8-3. The data backs the theory that a larger student turnout has a direct correlation with on-field success.

Kickoff for this weekend’s game against Mississippi State is 7:30 p.m. AZT on Saturday.

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