Deion Sanders’ Colorado team walked into Arizona State needing urgency and played like it was already gone.
The Buffs dropped a 20-10 decision on Saturday night, and the loss only deepened the noise around Sanders’ future. Colorado is now 3-6, and the skid against Power 4 opponents under Coach Prime keeps piling up: 3-16 over the last 19 games. This was also the 17th loss by two scores or more in the Sanders era, including five this season.
Colorado never found a rhythm on offense. The first four drives ended in three-and-outs, and the next two possessions went nowhere too, both ending on turnover on downs. One of those failures came after a 24-yard sack on Isaac Wilson, and another came on a failed 4th and 1 that left Sanders visibly frustrated.
By halftime, the Buffs had just 102 total yards and had gone 0-for-8 on third and fourth down. A long touchdown pass from Wilson to Ernest Campbell in the first quarter was wiped out by an ineligible man downfield penalty, a fitting snapshot of how the night went.
After putting up a season-high 222 rushing yards last week against Kansas State, Colorado’s ground game vanished again, finishing with just 64 yards. Wilson also threw his sixth interception in the last three games, and no Big 12 quarterback has more picks this season than his eight.
The bigger problem was how flat Colorado looked from the start. With bowl eligibility still in play and Sanders under pressure, the Buffs brought none of the edge they needed in a must-win spot.
Arizona State true freshman Jake Fette looked far more settled than a second-career starter should. He caught a touchdown on a trick play, then delivered a 34-yard scoring strike to Reed Harris in the second quarter. That play also highlighted another questionable Colorado defensive setup, with Jason Stokes Jr. left alone in 1-on-1 coverage against the Big 12’s leading receiver on 3rd and 14.
Fette had struggled under pressure a week earlier against BYU, but Colorado never really made him uncomfortable. He finished 68% passing for 187 yards.
Former Buff Omarion Miller had a 33-yard catch to help set up Arizona State’s first touchdown, and he ended with 56 yards on four receptions. Harris made all four of his catches count, finishing with 103 yards.
One more ugly number for Colorado: the defense has now allowed at least 20 points in every Big 12 game this season.
There was at least one bright spot for the Buffs. Linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron kept stuffing the stat sheet and continued to look like Colorado’s most reliable player. He entered Week 10 as the Big 12’s leading tackler and only widened that lead against Arizona State, finishing with 18 total tackles, 10 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
It was his fifth straight game with at least 11 tackles, and he now has 5.5 sacks over his last four games. Lampron has been Colorado’s most consistent performer this season and could be the program’s next NFL draftee.
Colorado returns home next Friday night to face top-25 Houston. The Buffs lost to the Cougars 36-20 last season.
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 🡒]