TEMPE -- The Arizona State Sun Devils football program got the first taste of a bowl game with major national implications for the first time since the 1996 Rose Bowl, less than two years ago. The heartbreaking 39-31 loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff in January of 2025 has set the benchmark for what Arizona State football can be in the future under head coach Kenny Dillingham, who has established himself as one of the elite coaches in college football in the early stages of his career. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham pose for photos before facing off in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. | Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Now, Arizona State's fortunes have an opportunity to further entrench themselves in the national conversation on a regular basis, as the CFP is likely to be expanded to a 24-team field for the 2027 season. Explore how this possible wrinkle benefits Arizona State below.…