Kenny Dillingham couldn’t hide his emotion after watching Jeff Sims rush for a program-record 228 yards in the Arizona State Sun Devils’ upset win at Iowa State. The sixth-year quarterback’s journey through three colleges made the breakthrough moment even sweeter, prompting his coach to deliver heartfelt praise on social media.
What Did Kenny Dillingham Say About Jeff Sims After the Iowa State Win?
After Arizona State edged Iowa State 24–19, Dillingham used his postgame interview to commend Sims.
“Talk about battling. That was the definition of battling by that kid, man. That kid chose to stay here, be a part of this team. Crazy,” Dillingham said.
Kenny Dillingham got choked up talking about Jeff Sims.
You can see how much he means to this team: pic.twitter.com/eIC0LuTrIf
— Blake Niemann (@Blakes_Take2) November 1, 2025
Sims delivered on that belief by carrying 29 times for 228 yards and two rushing touchdowns while adding 177 passing yards and one touchdown through the air. His rushing total shattered the previous Arizona State quarterback single-game record in the mud and rain at Jack Trice Stadium.
The praise carries extra weight given Sims’ winding college journey. The Jacksonville native started with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 2020 to 2022, moved to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2023, and then transferred to Arizona State for the 2024 season.
He stepped into the starting role this season after Sam Leavitt suffered a season-ending foot injury.
Dillingham expanded on his team’s mentality when asked about the significance of the road win heading into a bye week: “No doubt. I mean, our guys are fighters. They’re going to fight. That’s one thing we’re going to do. We may win, we may lose. We may play sloppy football, but we’re going to fight.”
How Did Jeff Sims Respond to His Record-Setting Performance?
Sims opened his postgame comments with gratitude and faith following the career day in Ames.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity. It feels amazing,” Sims said.
He then explained the daily mindset that carried him through stops at three different programs: “We go to work every day, you know what I’m saying. I try to go to work for the guys every day, and just getting this win for them feels good.”
Dillingham responded to Niemann’s post on X hours later with a simple but powerful message: “He is everything that is right about college football.”
He is everything that is right about college football https://t.co/R46VMgriqz
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) November 1, 2025
That sentiment extended beyond social media. Arizona State’s athletic department plans to preserve Sims’ mud-streaked jersey from the rain-soaked victory as a symbol of perseverance.
Arizona State improved to 6–3 overall and 4–2 in Big 12 play with the upset. The Sun Devils rank 209th nationally with a 77.4 Offense Impact score according to PFSN metrics, but Sims’ performance showed the ceiling when the attack leverages his dual-threat ability.
Arizona State returns from its bye week to face the West Virginia Mountaineers on Nov. 15.
