Colorado heads to Tempe on Saturday with a little momentum and a lot still hanging in the balance.
The Buffaloes finally got back in the win column last weekend, edging Kansas State to snap their losing streak and pick up their first Big 12 victory of the season. Now they get another conference chance on the road against Arizona State, a team that just pushed top-10 BYU in a hard-fought loss. The Sun Devils are 4-4 overall and 2-3 in league play, while Colorado sits at 3-5 and 1-4 in the Big 12.
Arizona State’s offense runs through Cardae Mack and Reed Harris, and those are the names Colorado’s defense has to keep in check. On the other side, the Buffaloes will try to keep building off a rushing performance that topped 200 yards against Kansas State.
Head coach Deion Sanders said earlier this week that Richard Young will start at running back after he ran for 120 yards on 24 carries last weekend. That ground game will be tested by an Arizona State defense that gives up 134 rushing yards per game.
There’s plenty riding on the result for Colorado. A win would leave the Buffaloes with a fairly manageable route to bowl eligibility, needing two victories in their final three games. A loss, especially a rough one, would bring back the same ugly questions that followed the five-game skid.
Colorado-Arizona State will air on ESPN2 in Week 10 of the 2026 college football season. Chuckie Kempf and Dustin Fox will call the game from the booth at Mountain America Stadium with Lauren Sisler reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of Friday, Nov. 6.
Arizona State 27, Colorado 21: Last week could have gone really bad if Kansas State pulled off a last-second win, but it didn't, and Colorado pulled out the win. The Buffaloes need an even cleaner performance to take down a more talented Sun Devils team.
I think Colorado's defense will make life hard for Fette, but the secondary will have big issues with Reed Harris if Fette can get him the ball. ASU's run defense has been much better lately, which I fear will stymie the Buffaloes' rushing attack.
It will be another tight game, but the home-field advantage, even if a lot of Colorado fans will be there, puts Arizona State over the edge.
Over/under: 48.5
Colorado’s 2026 schedule now shows the Buffaloes at 2-5 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play, with Arizona State next, followed by Houston on Nov. 13, Cincinnati on Nov. 21 and UCF on Nov. 28.
In Other News...
Arizona State Could Catch Colorado At A Very Good Time
Arizona State may be catching Colorado at an awkward moment, with the Buffaloes heading into Week 10 still dealing with a trimmed-down injury picture. Colorado said most of the players who had been considered hopeful for the matchup are now ruled out, leaving the roster thinner than it looked earlier in the week and putting extra pressure on the available depth.
There is at least some stability at a couple of spots, with cornerback Cree Thomas and center Sean Kinney listed as probable. But the bigger concern is the long list of unavailable contributors, especially on defense, where the absences could force Colorado to shuffle things again just as the schedule tightens and every conference game starts to carry more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Buffs Tennis Just Sent An Encouraging Early Message In San Diego
Colorados tennis team opened the San Diego State Invitational with a clean start in doubles, and the early results offered a nice snapshot of a group that looked organized and sharp from the outset. Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo, Heidi Crncan and Willow Gretsch, and Pia Rebec and Louise Ternstroem all came through in their matches, giving the Buffaloes a strong foundation before singles even began.
The momentum carried into singles, where Crncan and Bubalo added victories of their own to keep the day moving in Colorados direction. For a team trying to build rhythm early in the season, performances like that matter because they hint at depth at the top and across the lineup, even if the bigger picture in San Diego is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Game Day Concern Could Shape Deion Sanders Road Upset Bid
Colorado heads into Saturday nights matchup at Arizona State trying to steady a season that has gone sideways in league play, and the injury report is adding another layer of uncertainty. The Buffaloes are 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Sun Devils come in at 4-4, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2 and Arizona State listed as a three-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The biggest concern for Colorado may be how its defense holds up after Naeten Mitchell was added to the injury report, a development that puts more pressure on a secondary already facing a tricky road test. Colorado is also monitoring Danny Scudero, while Arizona State has its own health questions with running back Jason Brown Jr. out of the mix, and the Buffaloes will have to sort through a few more availability issues before they can fully settle on how they want to attack this one. [Read more 🡒]