FRISCO, Texas. — Affinity is a noun that describes a natural liking, attraction or feeling of kinship toward someone or something. 

The word is often used to describe relationships between people, companies and entities as a whole. 

Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham frequently used the term affinity on Tuesday, July 7, at the 2026 Monster Energy Big 12 Football Media Days to describe the direction of the program and its relationship with the university. He further pointed toward the success of former Sun Devils at the NFL level as a sign of progress. 

Dillingham said the program's recent success has fostered a mutually beneficial “affinity,” enabling the team and the university to grow simultaneously.

“I think they're seeing the connectivity in that affinity,” Dillingham said during his media availability. “I learned that word when I got here. … I learned about the affinity that football can create for the university.”

Since going 3-9 in his first season as head coach of the Sun Devils, Dillingham has changed the trajectory of the program, winning 11 games in 2024, including a Big 12 title, and eight games in 2025. ASU has also made waves in the professional ranks with former wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and offensive tackle Max Iheanachor selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Yet the university isn’t the only party believing in Dillingham and the program’s success. 

The Sun Devil faithful sold out Mountain America Stadium throughout the 2025 season, including setting a student attendance record against Northern Arizona University in the season opener. 

This momentum, Dillingham said, is crucial to building the ASU brand both locally and beyond.

“When we're winning, and people are in that stadium, it's fun to be in, it's sold out, it's loud, the student section's breaking records and you have that environment – that's addictive,” Dillingham said. “That's something people want to be a part of, and that brings people and galvanizes people about the brand of Arizona State.”

Dillingham also praised the university's commitment to the program and how far it's come since he took over. 

“To be able to use football as a focal point to brand the university, and what Dr. (Michael) Crow has built, is huge,” Dillingham said. “I think they're understanding the value add that we have to the university.”

Earlier this spring, Dillingham made a plea to the university and its donors for additional financial support for roster construction and new facilities for the team. 

In return, the university laid out plans to build a new $55 million, state-of-the-art indoor practice facility set to be completed in 2028.

The program also managed to pull in an impressive portal class, including standout wide receivers such as senior Omarion Miller and junior Reed Harris, giving Sun Devils fans a glimpse of a future with more roster resources. 

However, Dillingham said regardless of the progress made, he and the rest of the staff need to push for financial backing in an ever-changing college athletics climate.

“We’ll never be content,” Dillingham said. “You’re always striving to be better. … The day that I stop trying to push for more is the day that I’m complacent and content.”

In his appearance on the main stage Tuesday, Dillingham reinforced the idea of wanting “more” and how it’s in the nature of sports to feel so. 

“You always want more,” Dillingham said. 

Afterward, Dillingham thanked ASU’s leadership for the resources it has provided to the program. 

“The athletic department and the president have gotten way more involved in terms of what they want this program to be,” Dillingham said. “Over my four years here, there's been unbelievable growth in who we are as an athletic department and as a university. 

“I will never be satisfied; anybody who wants to be the very best is going to want the same.”

With more resources at their disposal, Dillingham and staff have the opportunity to continue to bring NFL-caliber talent to Tempe, such as Miller and Reed.

After failing to have a player drafted in his first season with the Sun Devils, Dillingham and the program have picked up steam, sending five players to the draft over the last two seasons, including two first-round picks in 2026. 

When it comes to putting players in the league, Dillingham said the path to the NFL begins with a program culture, which ASU aims to build. 

“The culture you build right creates work ethic,” Dillingham said. “Those habits create better players.”

Dillingham also said that with an improved record comes more players suiting up on Sundays.

“You don't win, you don't get guys drafted,” Dillingham said. “You’ve got to be a part of a program that's going to win.” 

While players earn their draft rights, Dillingham said individual success is team-driven in football.

“My success is through the team; the quarterback's success is through the team; the running back's success is through the offensive line and the defense. …,” Dillingham said. “I think the fact that we’ve got a team – those guys have started to reap the rewards as people started to look at them.

 “Hopefully the team continues to elevate the individual.”

As for the 2027 NFL Draft, Dillingham already has some guys on the team to watch.

“Reed and Omarion (Miller) have chances to go be first- or second-round picks, and I think they're both super talented,” Dillingham said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that I think can get drafted on this team.”

Senior defensive lineman C.J. Fite, who opted not to enter the 2026 draft, is another name Dillingham mentioned to watch this season. 

In the modern collegiate athletics landscape, many draft-caliber players, such as Reed and Miller, often enter the transfer portal between seasons.

The portal and NIL revolution have ushered in a new era where every team has different roster constructions and financial allocations based on their situations.

Dillingham offered his thoughts on roster construction and the direction of college football.

“Everybody's got different amounts, everybody's got different advantages, and you've got to figure out what you want to do,” Dillingham said. “I think nowadays more than ever, you've got to pick what you want to be, and that's not just as a football program, that's an athletic department, that's a university. You have to pick what we want to be, because those decisions could have a drastic effect on everything in your program.”

However, when it comes to ASU and Dillingham's roster construction, the goal is simple. 

“I want to win a championship,” Dillingham said. “If you're not first, you're last. You either try to be the best, or you're not.”