Colorado heads to Tempe this week riding a little momentum after finally breaking through in conference play, and the Buffaloes will get another chance to stack wins when they meet Arizona State in Week 10.
Deion Sanders’ team is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12 after last weekend’s win over Kansas State, while the Sun Devils sit at 4-4 and 2-3 in league play. Arizona State is coming off a tough loss to top-10 BYU, but there were still positives on offense from new starting quarterback Jake Fette, who threw two touchdown passes against the Cougars.
Even so, the Sun Devils’ attack still runs through Cardae Mack and Reed Harris, and Colorado’s defense will need to keep those two in check. On the other side, Sanders said this week that he wants the Buffs to keep leaning on the ground game after they topped 200 rushing yards against Kansas State. Arizona State’s run defense has been middle of the pack in the Big 12, giving up 134 yards per game, and Sanders said Tuesday that Richard Young will start at running back after his 24-carry, 120-yard outing against K-State.
Arizona State is a slight favorite, but Colorado has a real shot to leave with another conference win.
The game will air on ESPN2, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
It will also stream on Fubo and through the ESPN app. Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers.
In Other News...
Colorado Cross Country Is Sending A Message The Big 12 Felt
Colorados cross country program just turned a strong conference meet into a clear statement about where it stands in the Big 12. Seven Buffaloes were named to the 2026 All-Big 12 Team after the men won the conference championship and the women finished fourth, giving the program a rare double dose of postseason recognition and putting a spotlight on the depth that carried both squads through the meet.
Dominic Serem set the tone for the men with a second-place finish as Colorado piled up 36 points to take the title, while Sheylah Kurgat led the women with an eighth-place run in their fourth-place effort. The honors reflect more than one good day, though, and they leave the bigger question hanging over Boulder: how far can this group push once the championship stage gets even more crowded? [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Recruiting Stability Faces Its Biggest Test Yet
Colorados rough fall has naturally stirred up bigger questions around Deion Sanders and the direction of the program, but the recruiting picture has held up better than the on-field record might suggest. Even through a five-game losing streak, the Buffaloes have managed to keep their 2027 class largely intact, a notable sign of stability for a program that has been under the spotlight all season.
The early signing period is still ahead, and that is where the real pressure begins for any class trying to stay together through a turbulent stretch. Sanders has continued to stay in touch with recruits, and the confidence inside the program remains strong, but the next few weeks will say plenty about whether Colorado can keep that momentum from unraveling. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona State Faces A Bigger Test Than Colorado's Record Suggests
Arizona State may be carrying the better outlook on paper, but Kenny Dillingham is not treating Colorado like a soft landing spot. The Sun Devils coach has already pointed to the NFL-level talent on the Buffaloes roster, a reminder that record and reputation are not always the same thing in a league where both teams are still trying to climb out of the Big 12 cellar.
The numbers still frame the matchup as a meaningful barometer for both programs. Arizona State is sitting with a far better path to six wins, but Colorado remains in the mix of teams facing a difficult finish, and the Buffs have enough high-end pieces to make life uncomfortable for anyone looking past them. For a team trying to build momentum, this is the kind of test that can turn a modest stretch into something more revealing. [Read more 🡒]