Colorado football upset hopes aren't dead against Arizona State
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The Colorado Buffaloes return from a restful bye week to host the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Buffs' final game at Folsom Field in 2025.
The former Pac-12 Conference foes face off with not much on the line for Colorado, whose bowl game dreams were extinguished after their loss to West Virginia, but the same can't be said for Arizona State. The Sun Devils sit at 7-3 with an outside shot at the Big 12 Conference title game, giving the Buffs a final chance at playing spoiler this season.
So welcome to the "Sunny Side," a place filled with positive thoughts around the Colorado Buffaloes, and where deep passes to Joseph Williams are never underthrown.
My show is on
Colorado is set to roll out true freshman phenom Julian Lewis for the fourth, and hopefully final, time this season against the Sun Devils. Need I say more? I most likely don't, but I'll do it anyway. Lewis was as good as a young quarterback could have been against West Virginia, posting a performance that should inspire hope for any Buffs fan.
The box score doesn't tell the whole story. Lewis was in his first start, on the road, against a patchwork offensive line and still found a way to stay competitive. Arizona State's defense will be his latest challenge, and you should be seated to see how he overcomes it.
It's not David vs Goliath
Last week was special because the Buffs got an opponent preview and review in the same week. Arizona State squeezed by West Virginia 25-23 after the Mountaineers threw a costly turnover late in the game. Colorado has had two weeks to prepare for the now Jeff Sims-led Sun Devils offense, and just saw a team they played a competitive game with keep it close. Barring a Utah game-esque start, the Buffs will have a chance in this game to take down a quality opponent.
Trust the process
If you're reading this, you are a true Buffaloes sicko, still searching for hope in a 3-7 season, and that's what I love about you. You also probably enjoy speculating about the program's future, and there will not be a game that tells you more about the future than this one.
With their postseason dreams already gone the way of the dodo, Colorado has to respond with fight and avoid another disastrous upset. So much of football is about wanting to, from tackling to special teams, and the Buffs have yet to show actual quit when they've been in games. Either that means Colorado will keep this game close, or there's going to be a lot to speculate about.
Where names are made
One of my favorite things about being a college football writer is bragging about players that I've watched before they were popular. Remember the time NFL fans discovered the majesty of a Phillip Lindsay long touchdown run or a Paul Richardson contested catch, and you got to boast you'd known they were possible the whole time?
Those moments are what I live for, and these last two games will give you the chance to find those players who will become future stars in Boulder. From the young talent of Lewis to the burgeoning star that is Omarion Miller, now is the chance to find that player and follow them throughout their college journey. The Buffs are loaded with young talent, and I'd encourage you not to miss the Tawfiq Byard hype train while it's stopped at the station.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Reasons Colorado football can upset Arizona State
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