Sun Devils charge into Boulder for penultimate regular season game

It seems just like yesterday that the season started, but the final two weeks of the regular season have snuck up on us.

Arizona State hits the road for the final time in the regular season on Saturday, taking on a Colorado Buffaloes team that has failed to measure up to a 2024 season that saw them finish tied for first in the Big 12 but lose out on tiebreakers, settling for an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against fellow Big 12 opponent BYU.

The first season without Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders has been nothing short of challenging, struggling to a 3-7 overall record (1-6 Big 12). Replacing Sanders at quarterback has been a question that head coach Deion Sanders has not been able to solve. Kaidon Salter had the starting job for much of the season after transferring in from Liberty, but has experienced a huge regression in his play from a 2023 season that saw him throw for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns leading the Flames to their first ever New Year's Six bowl appearance. In 8 games this season, his completion percentage is up at 63.5%, but largely ineffective with only 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns against 6 interceptions to show.

Enter true freshman Julian Lewis, a five-star recruit out of Carrollton High School in Georgia, who replaced Salter midway through Colorado's matchup against Arizona on November 1st. Lewis would get his first career start against West Virginia and while he did not record the win, had a respectable performance with 22 completions for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns. Odds are Coach Prime will continue to put the freshman out to complete the season.

Despite the substandard play from the quarterbacks, Omarion Miller has been standing out as a high-upside draft prospect with his play as a junior. Ranking in the top-5 in the Big 12 in yards per catch (19.2), touchdowns (7), and receiving yards (652), his consistent play has been one of the few bright spots for the Buffaloes in an otherwise forgettable season. His consistency is matched in the backfield (in effort if not numbers) by running back Micah Welch. The team's leading rusher with 313 yards, he has been handicapped by an overall ineffective rushing attack under the guidance of first-year running backs coach Marshall Faulk, but possesses plus-physicality and a low center of gravity (5' 9", 215 lbs.), making him a tough back to tackle.

Colorado's offensive line has been a mixed bag to say the least. Left tackle Jordan Seaton is the anchor of the unit, but a mix of incoming transfers and coaching staff changes have not allowed the line to mesh at all to this point in the season. Pass protection is a high point, giving 4.7 seconds for their quarterbacks before defensive pressure, but ranks among one of the worst lines in the country allowing 2.4 sacks per game. The run blocking has been an issue as well, cramping the run-heavy offensive style that new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has attempted to implement.

Defensively, the Buffaloes again have few bright spots among areas that need improvement. Running a 4-2-5 scheme, Colorado shows a bend but don't break approach. Unfortunately for them, that's a big bend that gives up 210.9 rushing yards per game and 209.8 passing yards per game. Amari McNeill has been the leading pass rusher and Tawfiq Byard the leading tackler, the only notable standouts in a defensive unit that has regressed mightily from leading the Big 12 in sacks a season ago.

Much like last week, Saturday's game is simply another business trip for the Sun Devils as they gear up for a heated battle with their rivals to the south for the 99th edition of the Territorial Cup. The Sun Devils and Buffaloes will kick off from Folsom Field at 6pm on November 22nd on ESPN2.