Oct. 7th – at Arizona State – The Heat of the Moment

Alejandro Mata kicked a 43-yard field goal with 12 seconds left, lifting Colorado to a 27-24 win over Arizona State. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders accounted for two touchdowns as the Buffs defeated the Sun Devils in Tempe for only the second time in school history. Wide receiver Javon Antonio, who had three catches for 42 yards coming into the game, had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Antonio also had a 43-yard reception with less than a minute to play, setting up the game-winning field goal.

Arizona State out-gained Colorado, 392 yards to 295, in a game marred by penalties (9-for-88 for ASU; 8-for-65 for CU). Shedeur Sanders completed 26-of-42 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown, also contributing a 16-yard scoring run, but Sanders was harassed all night, being sacked five times. Anthony Hankerson led the Buffs in rushing, with ten carries for 58 yards, but, with the sacks included, the Buffs returned to their anemic ways on the ground, finishing with 30 carries for a net of 56 yards.

“Played like hot garbage,” Sanders said. “And I’m trying to figure this out. Sick of it. I really am. I’m sick of us coming out here and putting forth the effort we put forth in the first half. We’ve had really diligent meetings and we’re trying to figure this out, ’cause I’m sick of it. I’m sorry. I’m happy about the win but I’m not happy in the fashion that we won it in. We’re better than that. We really are better than that, and we gotta start showing that. I expect to win and I expect to win in a better fashion than that. I’m sick of these consistent holes that we’re displaying and the penalties and the things that we’re doing. We’re so much better. I apologize for my anger today, but I don’t accept mediocrity.”

CU overcame 100-degree temperatures and their own mistakes to gut out a 27-24 victory over Arizona State … Coach Prime said what the Buff Nation is thinking: I’m happy about the win but I’m not happy in the fashion that we won it in. We’re better than that” …

Game Day! … Injury update: OL Washington out; four DB’s back … Coach Prime: “We got to win the first and second quarter” … Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Arizona State game … Coach Prime the cover story on Time magazine: “The Unwavering Confidence of Deion Sanders” …

ESPN’s Power Index favors CU in a Pac-12 road game for the first time since when? … CU and ASU are both still seeking rushing game success … Shedeur’s three games with four TD passes already a CU single season record … Will temperature at kickoff set a new record? …

Utah NIL gives leased 2024 Dodge Rams to all 85 scholarship players … NCAA permanently eliminates initial counter rule (25 new players/year) … NCAA approves reduction in Transfer Portal window … Both of CU’s next two opponents (ASU; Stanford) in CBS Sports Bottom 25 …

Last season, CU struggled with four QBs … This season, ASU has struggled with four QBs … CU’s warmest kickoff ever was 102-degrees (which might be challenged Saturday) … How many fake punts/onside kicks/halfback passes will the Sun Devils try in order to pull off an upset? …

When does a loss feel like a win? When the Buffs’ furious comeback against USC builds momentum for the rest of the season … Can the Buffs withstand the trick plays the Sun Devils will throw at them? … Can CU (finally) play a solid first half, and take care of business in the desert? … Let’s find out …