The Florida Gators entered Week 1 of the 2025 college football season ranked No. 15 on the AP Top 25 Poll. Just seven games into the season, though, they were 3-4, which led to the firing of head coach Billy Napier on Oct. 19.
Florida now has one of the most appealing head coaching vacancies in college football. They’re not alone, though, competing with other top-tier programs such as the Auburn Tigers, LSU Tigers and Penn State Nittany Lions.
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The rumors continue to heat up, and in an article from Bill Bender of The Sporting News, he predicts Florida will hire Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham to replace Napier.
Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“Dillingham, 35, was the offensive coordinator at Oregon in 2022 under [Dan] Lanning, and he compiled a 22-15 record at Arizona State, which was a complete mess when he arrived in 2023,” Bender wrote. “Dillingham is 5-1 against top-25 teams the last two seasons with the Sun Devils, and the lone loss was a 39-31 double-overtime loss to No. 4 Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. He’s built for this job. “
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With Dillingham calling the plays, Arizona State is averaging 417.5 total yards per game, which ranks fifth in the Big 12. Florida’s offense has been one of its biggest downfalls this year, ranking 15th in the SEC in total yards per game (332.4).
He’s already considered a good recruiter, putting together back-to-back top-50 classes in 2025 and 2026. He’d have more resources with Florida, which, according to 247Sports, has the eighth-highest 2025 NIL collective ($15.8 million).
The Sun Devils’ head coach also has some experience coaching in the SEC. Dillingham served as Auburn’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019
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In 2025, though, Dillingham did sign a five-year extension worth $5.8 million annually. It runs through the 2029 season and is worth $29 million. That doesn’t mean he can’t leave, but it shows some serious commitment between him and Arizona State.
While Florida continues to evaluate its options, Dillingham’s success with Arizona State makes him an intriguing candidate for any school.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.