Arizona State Coach Dares Texas Tech Fans To Throw Tortillas At Him

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham has an unusual game plan for Saturday's showdown with No. 10 Texas Tech, and it involves one of college football's strangest traditions.

Forget trick plays or fourth-down gambles. Dillingham is apparently willing to take a tortilla to the body if it helps his Sun Devils pick up a few extra yards.

Advertisement

MORE: JT Toppin Headlines Texas Tech Big 12 Basketball Preseason Honors

With Texas Tech's longtime tortilla-throwing tradition prohibited under stadium rules, the Arizona State coach joked this week that Red Raiders fans should feel free to make him a target, particularly when his offense needs a first down.

"I am open to get hit by tortillas on fourth downs and third downs," Dillingham said in comments captured by FOX 10's Blake Niemann.

His reasoning? A potential 15-yard penalty against the home team.

Dillingham even welcomed the possibility of taking one for his players, joking that he'd gladly sacrifice himself if it helped Arizona State move the chains.

Advertisement

The comments add another entertaining wrinkle to Saturday's Big 12 matchup between the conference's two most recent champions.

Texas Tech enters at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, riding an 11-game home winning streak under coach Joey McGuire.

Arizona State arrives at 3-2 following a 30-12 victory over Hawaii, looking to build momentum against one of the nation's remaining unbeaten teams.

The tortilla controversy dates to last season, when Texas Tech faced penalties and financial consequences after fans repeatedly tossed tortillas onto the playing surface.

University officials eventually prohibited the practice, warning that spectators throwing objects could face ejection and the loss of ticket privileges.

Advertisement

The restrictions remain in place this season, with tortillas specifically listed among prohibited items at Galaxy Stadium.

Dillingham clearly hasn't forgotten.

Asked whether he'd prefer flour or corn tortillas, the Arizona State coach declined to choose.

"I'm not touching them tortillas!" he joked.

Of course, his comments shouldn't be mistaken for a serious invitation to violate stadium policies.

Texas Tech's home crowd has become an important part of the Red Raiders' success, and McGuire certainly doesn't want unnecessary penalties disrupting another potential championship run.

Advertisement

There's also plenty of actual football history surrounding this matchup.

Arizona State handed Texas Tech a 26-22 defeat last season, while the Red Raiders won the previous meeting in Lubbock, 30-22, in 2024.

Saturday gives Texas Tech an opportunity to reach 6-0 for the second consecutive season and extend its home winning streak to 12 games.

Dillingham would undoubtedly prefer to pull off the upset without any assistance from flying tortillas.

MORE: 'Going To Be Great Football!' Texas Tech's Joey McGuire on Arizona State

But if the Red Raiders faithful get carried away, he's apparently prepared to duck — or perhaps stand perfectly still.