BOULDER, Colo. – The Arizona State Sun Devils (7-3, 5-2 Big 12) will close out their road slate in Boulder, taking on the Colorado Buffaloes (3-7, 1-6 Big 12) on Saturday at 6 p.m. MST on Colorado’s Senior Night. It marks the second meeting between head coaches Kenny Dillingham and Deion Sanders.
The two teams last met on Oct. 7, 2023, at Mountain America Stadium. Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who awaits his first NFL start on Sunday, led his side to a 27-24 victory.
Currently sitting second-to-last in the Big 12 standings, the Buffaloes have turned to freshman quarterback Julian Lewis. The true freshman signal caller passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns in his first start against West Virginia, resulting in a 29-22 road loss two weeks ago.
“They have two really talented quarterbacks,” ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward told reporters on Tuesday. “They’re playing the freshman (Julian Lewis), who they think the future is, but the senior (Kaidon Salter) is a dual threat, a runner. So, we’re preparing for both.”
It’s been an up-and-down season for coach Prime’s pack: Colorado went toe-to-toe with then-No. 25 BYU and beat then-No. 22 Iowa State, but later lost to Utah 53-7.
Among other deficiencies, the Buffaloes’ passing offense stands out as a major reason for their struggles this season. Colorado averages the conference’s fourth-worst passing yards per game on offense.
Part of that could be attributed to the wide receiver talent that has departed from the program in recent years, including ASU junior receiver Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson, who played his freshman year at Colorado, led the Big 12 in receptions (57), receiving yards (628) and receiving touchdowns (8) through the first eight weeks of the season. The Maroon and Gold’s leading receiver missed the past three games, hampered by a hamstring injury.
“JT (Jordyn Tyson) comes to work every day. He wants to be on the field bad,” Arizona State senior quarterback Jeff Sims said to reporters on Tuesday about the team’s top target. “Everybody’s supporting him, everybody (has) got his back. Just seeing him trying to get out there means the world to us.”
With a full week of practice, Tyson is trending toward making a return. While Dillingham and his staff have liked what they have seen from the projected first-round pick, Tyson is listed as questionable for this week’s game.
“Usually when you have a lot of injuries to key players, close games don’t go your way. … Somehow close games are going our way because our players are so connected still in those moments,” Dillingham said to reporters on Monday about his team’s five single-possession wins this season. “To see those new guys step in and step up is pretty cool to watch.”
Despite all the injuries this season, the Sun Devils boast the conference’s fifth-best rushing attack, averaging 181.1 rushing yards per game. Sims and junior running back Raleek Brown will look to expose the Buffaloes’ Big 12-worst rushing defense, which surrenders 210.9 rushing yards per game.
However, ASU offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo isn’t taking Colorado lightly.
“They won a lot of games last year. They’ve got a bye week, they’re at home, it’s senior night, you’re on the road in the Big 12 at night. They’ve got everything right now they need to come out and whip us if we’re not ready.”
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. MST at Folsom Field, as Sparky searches for win No. 8 this season.
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