Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham didn’t sound like a man overlooking Colorado.
Ahead of Saturday’s meeting at Mountain America Stadium, Dillingham gave Deion Sanders’ team a strong endorsement, saying, "This is a very, very good football team that is very, very dangerous," Dillingham said.
The matchup arrives with both teams trying to build momentum. Colorado comes in at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12 after its 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State.
Arizona State sits at 4-4 and 2-3 in conference play after a 27-20 loss at No. 8 BYU.
Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MST on ESPN2.
There’s also a coaching tie inside the game plan. Dillingham and Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion worked together at Arizona State in 2015, adding a familiar face to a matchup that has gone back and forth during Dillingham’s time in Tempe.
As Arizona State’s head coach, Dillingham is 1-1 against Colorado. The Buffaloes took the first meeting, a 27-24 win in Tempe in 2023 that came on Alejandro Mata’s late field goal and gave Sanders his first Pac-12 victory. Arizona State responded last season with a 42-17 win in Boulder.
Colorado’s offense is coming off one of its better ground performances of the year. The Buffaloes ran for 222 yards against Kansas State, with Richard Young posting 120 yards and two touchdowns to help lighten the load for quarterback Isaac Wilson.
Arizona State, meanwhile, is adjusting after a change at quarterback. Freshman Jake Fette made his first career start against BYU after replacing Cutter Boley. Fette completed 22 of 42 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in the loss.
Saturday gives Colorado a chance to stack conference wins, while Arizona State is back home looking for its fifth victory.
In Other News...
Deion Sanders History Suddenly Hangs Over Florida State Opening
Florida States decision to move on from Mike Norvell after a 3-5 start and a loss to Clemson has reopened one of college footballs more familiar coaching conversations, especially for anyone who remembers how quickly the Seminoles have gone from patience to urgency before. Rick Stockstill, a former Florida State quarterback, will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season while the school sorts through a broader reset that includes finding both a new head coach and athletic director.
President Richard McCullough framed the move as a response to the programs trajectory and called it a fresh start, which is exactly the kind of opening that tends to stir up old names around a high-profile job. For Colorado fans, Deion Sanders history in Tallahassee adds another layer to watch, even as the search itself remains in its early stages and the next step is still to be determined. [Read more 🡒]
Buffs Young Core Just Gave Fans A Reason To Believe
Colorado opened its season with a 94-59 win over Abilene Christian, and the most encouraging part for Tad Boyles group may have been the way its second-year players looked right away. Jalin Holland, Ian Inman and Josiah Sanders all showed clear growth, giving the Buffaloes a young foundation that looked more polished than it did a year ago. Holland led the way in scoring, while the overall performance suggested this roster may have more internal development than many expected heading into November.
The backdrop was a quiet one at the arena, with 4,420 on hand for Colorados season opener, the lowest turnout for a first game in Boyles 17 seasons. Even so, the Buffaloes had enough energy on the floor to make the crowd part of the story only in passing, not as the main event. If the early signs from Holland, Inman and Sanders hold, Colorado may have something worth building on beyond a single lopsided win. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Just Raised A Bigger Colorado Question Before Arizona State
Deion Sanders spent part of his pregame availability ahead of Arizona State giving Colorado a fairly routine update, at least on the surface. He said Tuesdays practice was one of the teams best of the season, noted that he stays in regular contact with recruits in the 2027 class, and offered a positive read on the general direction of the Buffaloes as they get ready for another Big 12 test.
The bigger concern, though, is the health of Julian Lewis after a recent medical emergency, and Sanders did not leave much doubt that the freshman quarterback is trending in the right direction. Colorado also appears set to keep riding Richard Young after his strong showing, a sign that the Buffaloes are trying to settle key spots as the schedule tightens and the margin for error gets smaller. [Read more 🡒]