The Colorado football team had one of its best practices of the season this week.
That’s what Deion Sanders said Tuesday after his Buffs snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Kansas State. Coach Prime said the game should’ve never got to overtime, but Colorado needed a win as bad as any team in the country.
Now the Buffs will try to do something they haven’t done in nearly two years: win back-to-back games against Big 12 opponents.
Here are three keys and a prediction for the Colorado football team’s game vs. Arizona State, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
Make Jake Fette look like a true freshman
Arizona State true freshman QB Jake Fette made his first career start last week. He played admirably against a top-10 BYU team in a raucous environment, throwing for 166 yards and two TDs.
With a game of film now out there on Fette, the Colorado football team should be able to exploit his weakness.
When under pressure last week vs. BYU, Fette didn’t complete one of his nine pass attempts. Not one. He was under pressure on 18 dropbacks and sacked on seven of them.
Arizona State’s issues protecting the QB pre-date Fette. The Sun Devils have allowed the most sacks (25) in the Big 12 entering Week 10, which plays right into one of the Buffs’ strengths.
The Colorado football team has the fourth-most sacks (22) in the Big 12 so far this season after racking up five last week in the win over Kansas State. If the Buffs can consistently win 1-on-1s and pressure Fette, they should be able to keep their bowl eligibility alive.
Before they can even attempt to do that, though, they must slow down Cardae Mack. The Arizona State RB averages 6.7 yards per carry and has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of the last two weeks (159 vs. Kansas State, 123 vs. BYU).
Colorado is allowing just 3.7 YPC and just one player (Utah’s Wayshawn Parker) has eclipsed 100 yards against them this season. The Buffs’ pass rush and secondary cannot allow Arizona State’s talented WR duo (Big 12 leading WR Reed Harris, former Buff Omarion Miller) to take over the game.
Protect Isaac Wilson with a balanced attack
Coach Prime is fully aware of how opponents want to defend the Colorado football team.
“We know everybody we play is going to try to force Isaac (Wilson) into making mistakes,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday. “We have to run the ball. He (Isaac Wilson) had 21 passes last week. That was the goal, that was the dream.
“Anywhere from 18-24 (pass attempts), if we can keep him in there, we’re going to be OK.”
It’s no coincidence that Wilson’s first turnover-free start of the season happened on the same day that he threw a season-low 21 passes. OC Brennan Marion, RB Richard Young and the Buffs’ offensive line deserve as much credit for that as Wilson.
Young ran for a career-high 120 yards on 24 attempts during last week’s win, the highest rushing total of the Coach Prime era (since 2021). Not only was Young efficient with his touches, Marion stayed with the running game in a way he hasn’t since Week 1.
The result was a balanced attack that took pressure off Isaac Wilson’s shoulders.
“Isaac has a propensity to play hero ball,” Deion Sanders said Tuesday. “When we just keep him calm and we help him with a tremendous running game, he could do some tremendous things.”
Turnovers by Isaac Wilson doomed the Colorado football team in three straight games before last week. If he can play another clean game, the Buffs will be one step closer to turning this season around.
Make halftime adjustments
Colorado football OC Brennan Marion and Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham were on the same coaching staff in 2015. Coach Prime said this week that he and Dillingham nearly worked together at some point. The Buffs and Sun Devils will meet on Saturday for the third time in four years.
Needless to say, these coaching staffs are very familiar with each either, which is why halftime adjustments will be crucial.
“This is a team that rallies tremendously in the third quarter,” Deion Sanders said of Arizona State. “That means they’re doing a great job at halftime getting those guys together and coming back out with commitment and passion with an understanding of what they’re trying to accomplish.”
What worked in the first half might not be successful in the second half. The coaching staff that better prepares their team with adjustments at halftime will likely earn a much-needed win.
Colorado football vs Arizona State prediction
Deion Sanders may very well be coaching for job security this weekend. Rumors of a buyout are already swirling and the only thing that can make them go away is winning.
Arizona State has been blown out by Baylor and Texas Tech (two teams Colorado hung tough with) and is down to its third-string QB, who happens to be a true freshman. Much like last week vs. Kansas State, there aren’t many excuses for the Colorado football team on Saturday.
The Buffs are the more talented team and they should be highly motivated for multiple reasons (playing for their coach on the hot seat, bowl eligibility and revenge on a former teammate).
Colorado football wins 24-23.
Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.
