When Netflix announced its latest sports documentary, Against All Odds: The Kenny Dillingham Story, it promised an inside look at one of college football’s most improbable turnarounds. What viewers got was more than just a gridiron story—it was a deeply human, emotionally charged narrative of resilience, belief, and bold leadership. Centering around Arizona State head football coach Kenny Dillingham, the film peels back the curtain on a young coach who returned home to Tempe and led a struggling program back to relevance, rejuvenating an entire fanbase along the way.
Released to a surge of online acclaim and early critical praise, Against All Odds is already being compared to seminal works like ESPN’s The U and Netflix’s Last Chance U, not just for its production quality but for its raw honesty and storytelling. It’s a documentary that doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges—it embraces them.
Humble Beginnings in Tempe
Born and raised in Arizona, Kenny Dillingham’s connection to the state and to Arizona State University (ASU) runs deep. Early in the film, childhood photos and home videos juxtapose with narration by Dillingham himself, painting a portrait of a kid whose love for football began in his backyard and blossomed in the shadow of Sun Devil Stadium.
The film details his early coaching stints, beginning as a high school assistant at Chaparral High in Scottsdale, where he got his first taste of leading young athletes. From there, Dillingham’s rise was meteoric—working through the college ranks at Memphis, Auburn, Florida State, and Oregon before being tapped to return home to ASU in 2022.
“I wasn’t the flashiest name. I wasn’t a proven head coach,” Dillingham admits in the documentary’s opening act. “But this was my home. I knew what this place could be. I believed in it—probably before most people did.”
Inheriting Chaos
When Dillingham took over at Arizona State, the program was in disarray. The fallout from Herm Edwards’ tenure included NCAA investigations, a depleted roster due to the transfer portal, and an athletic department facing financial and reputational instability.
Against All Odds doesn’t gloss over these issues. Netflix’s filmmakers are unflinching in their presentation of the challenges that awaited Dillingham: scholarship reductions, players leaving en masse, dwindling fan attendance, and a general sense of apathy surrounding the football program. Athletic Director Ray Anderson’s resignation looms in the background, as do the internal political tensions that Dillingham had to navigate as a first-time head coach.
“We were a shell of a team,” former ASU quarterback Trenton Bourguet says in an interview. “And Kenny walked in like he didn’t see the fire behind him. He saw the potential in front of him.”
Building a Culture, Brick by Brick
Dillingham’s first major focus wasn’t on Xs and Os—it was culture. The documentary follows the head coach during his first team meetings, where he emphasizes the importance of accountability, toughness, and local pride. One of the more powerful segments shows Dillingham asking each player to name something they love about Arizona.
“It wasn’t about football yet,” linebacker Tate Romney says. “It was about reminding us why we were here and what it meant to play for Arizona State.”
From there, the rebuilding process began. Dillingham’s recruiting approach was aggressive and innovative—targeting under-recruited high school prospects in-state, while convincing several Power Five transfers to take a chance on a program most saw as a rebuild at best, a lost cause at worst.
The documentary features clips from living room visits, player Zoom calls, and war-room strategy sessions that highlight Dillingham’s relentless passion and charisma. He comes across as equal parts football savant and hype man—motivating staff and players with the belief that anything was possible.
Year One: Grit, Growing Pains, and Glimmers of Hope
The Sun Devils’ first season under Dillingham wasn’t glamorous. The team finished with a 3–9 record, but the film emphasizes that the win-loss column wasn’t the full story. Injuries ravaged the roster, and depth issues plagued the team in almost every game. Yet, it was in those losses where Dillingham’s vision started to take root.
One particularly emotional scene captures the locker room after a narrow loss to USC, in which the undermanned Sun Devils fought valiantly against a top-10 opponent.
“You played like Sun Devils tonight,” Dillingham tells his team, his voice breaking. “Now let’s go build on it.”
The film then shifts to highlight specific players who blossomed under his leadership, such as freshman running back Cameron Skattebo, who emerged as a versatile star, and defensive back Jordan Clark, whose interviews offer insight into the emotional toll of a program on the mend.
2024: The Breakthrough Season
The final act of Against All Odds chronicles the breakthrough 2024 season that put Arizona State back on the map. After another strong offseason in the transfer portal and landing a top-25 recruiting class—ASU’s first in over a decade—the Sun Devils began the year with a shocking win over Texas Tech, sparking belief that this team was different.
The Netflix crew had full access during the season, and the footage is cinematic: postgame celebrations, sideline mic’d-up sequences, and intimate family moments that reveal the emotional weight of the journey.
With key victories over Utah and Arizona, and a bowl-clinching win against Cal, the Sun Devils finished 7–5, marking their first winning season since 2019. The emotional climax of the film is a locker room celebration where Dillingham is hoisted onto players’ shoulders.
“We did this together,” he shouts, confetti flying. “This is just the start.”
Behind the Scenes: The Making of the Documentary
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ezra Morgan, known for his work on HBO’s Hard Knocks: College Edition, Against All Odds took over two years to make and required unprecedented access to ASU’s program. Morgan praised Dillingham’s openness.
“Kenny gave us everything,” Morgan said in a press interview. “From his first day in the office to postgame tears after a win, he never asked us to turn the camera off. That kind of transparency is rare in college football.”
Executive produced by Netflix in partnership with Overtime and Omaha Productions, the documentary mixes locker room grit with cinematic flair. Its soundtrack features rising indie artists from Arizona and includes original scoring from Emmy-nominated composer Blake Neely.
Reception and Impact
Since its release, Against All Odds has ignited social media and resonated with fans across the country—not just Sun Devil supporters. Prominent figures like Pat McAfee, Deion Sanders, and Robert Griffin III praised the film for highlighting the heart behind rebuilding programs.
Former ASU greats like Jake Plummer and Terrell Suggs also appear in the film, offering perspectives on the program’s evolution and how Dillingham restored pride in the pitchfork.
“It gave me chills,” said Suggs. “You can feel the culture shift. Kenny isn’t just building a team. He’s building a legacy.”
The documentary also sparked a surge in Arizona State football merchandise sales and a record number of season ticket renewals for 2025, according to the athletic department.
Looking Ahead
As the credits roll, Against All Odds teases what’s next: a fast-rising recruiting class, plans for a renovated Sun Devil Stadium, and Dillingham’s continued efforts to make Arizona State a perennial contender in the new Big 12 landscape.
In one final, poignant scene, Dillingham stands alone on the field after a game, looking into the empty stands.
“I used to sit up there as a kid dreaming about this,” he says softly. “Now we’re living it.”
Final Thoughts
Netflix’s Against All Odds: The Kenny Dillingham Story is more than just a sports documentary—it’s a story of homecoming, heart, and healing. It paints a portrait of a young coach whose belief in something bigger than himself has reignited a proud program.
For Arizona State fans, it’s a celebration. For college football lovers, it’s a masterclass in resilience. And for the next generation of coaches and players, it’s proof that with the right leader and the right mindset, no challenge is insurmountable.