Kenny Dillingham cites 2023 FSU when making Arizona State's case for College Football Playoff seed

Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State won the Big 12 with an emphatic 45-19 victory over Iowa State and now it’s about the College Football Playoff seeding.

Moving forward, there’s a common projection that Arizona State will be the No. 12 seed despite winning a conference. That has to do with two losses this season and their No. 15 overall ranking coming into the weekend.

But Dillingham echoed Florida State’s woes from last year as a reason why they should be higher when the committee creates bracket Sunday.

“Last year, they kept Florida State out because their quarterback didn’t play,” Dillingham said on the ESPN broadcast. “We’re 11-1 with our quarterback, 11-1, and we’re Big 12 champs. I think we should be treated like an 11-1 team.”

How high ASU climbs is anyone’s guess, but they punched their ticket to the dance. Florida State went 13-0, winning the ACC, but lost QB Jordan Travis and were left out of the four-team playoff.

This year, with 12 teams of course, Arizona State won’t be left out. But there will be questions about how high in the rankings they can go, which will ultimately determine a road or home playoff game in the first round.

Heck, there might be an outside shot at a first round bye should Clemson upset SMU in the ACC Championship.

“Very special group,” Dillingham said. “Sam’s over there, over there, special quarterback, special running back, special safeties, special linebackers. this is just a special group.”

Arizona State was dominant from the jump and Dillingham cited all of his special players. That started with Heisman contender Cam Skattebo at running back.

He finished the game with 16 carries for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 38 yards and a score.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt was stout as well, going 12-of-17 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 33 yards and another touchdown.