The Buffs have another shot at a ranked opponent this week, hosting No. 25 Arizona State in the final home game of the 2025 season. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MT, and the books have it inside one score
with the Sun Devils favored by seven.
Let’s break down the key matchups in this contest and preview what fans should expect on Saturday night.
The Buffs
Even off a bye, injuries headline the week for CU. Colorado lists five players out and six questionable, and the biggest name is left tackle Jordan Seaton. Seaton is the tone setter up front and the player Colorado leans on to get into deeper concepts without living in peril. If he cannot go, the protections change drastically, as opponents can start to limit this offense in the air and on the ground by turning up the heat in the trenches.
Despite the injuries, there’s still honest optimism for Colorado because of true freshman quarterback JuJu Lewis. In Lewis’ last outing against WVU, he came one yard shy of 300 yards through the air with two touchdowns, and the operation finally looked like it had a pulse. With bowl eligibility off the table, JuJu’s development becomes the point of emphasis. Expect Colorado to keep building around what Lewis already does well: rhythm throws, a little tempo, and some move the pocket. If the line gives him time, it looks like JuJu can make all the throws.
Fans know what the current offense is aiming to be: pass centric and playmaker driven. Omarion Miller remains the big play valve. If defenses shade him, there is obvious talent elsewhere, but it all starts with protection. The run game has not consistently carried drives, so finishing in the red zone will hinge on how diverse the pass attack is. With little to lose, it makes sense to test JuJu’s arm and force Arizona State to cover the full width of the field.
One matchup to flag is Arizona State’s pass rush, who has been inconsistent in the back half of the season. So far, ASU logged only one conference game with a pass rush grade above 61 according to PFF. Their run defense is sturdy, so the cleanest winning script for Colorado is obvious: protect well enough to hit intermediate shots, then let explosives and yards after catch carry you. If Seaton plays, that ceiling rises. If he does not, the counter is to manufacture protection with quicks, chips, and half rolls.
Defensively, Colorado’s goal is simple: win early downs and keep a lid on explosives. Force Arizona State to stack first downs the long way. The Buffs can live with field goals, but they’ll need a to find the endzone a couple of times.
The Sun Devils
Arizona State arrives already bowl eligible and ranked, playing for bowl position and style points, rather than existential stakes. That can go one of two ways, they either play freely and efficiently, or they drift and leave the door open. From a style standpoint, these teams are odd mirrors. A lot of Colorado’s strengths line up with Arizona State’s soft spots, and some of Arizona State’s strengths hit Colorado where it is thin, so predicting a clean script is tricky.
On offense, the Sun Devils sputter at times and might be without their best player on that side. Former Buff wide out Jordyn Tyson has first round traits when healthy. If he is active on Saturday, this becomes a real revenge game watch for Colorado’s secondary. They’ll look to excel in vertical ball tracking, quick game efficiency, and red zone isolation snaps that must be won one on one. If Tyson is out, Arizona State’s passing game capabilities will be significantly limited.
On defense, Arizona State’s front is strong against the run, but has struggled with pass rush. That is where Colorado can shift the math, tempo, and spacing by making them defend the entire field horizontally before taking vertical shots. If Arizona State can get home with four rushers, it will be a long night for CU. If they do not, Colorado’s receivers like Omarion Miller and Sincere Brown will find chances down the seams and on the sideline.
Prediction
With the strength of the Sun Devil defense, this could be a field position and ball control type game. Colorado will need to land a few big plays and move the ball efficiently between the 20s, but the question is the same as it has been for the last two months: Can they finish drives without a reliable downhill run game? If the answer is mostly field goals, they keep it close but invite Arizona State to control the second half. Flip just one or two of those red zone trips into a touchdown and everything feels different.
My gut feeling is the Sun Devils narrowly covering the spread of -7, with a game that sits inside one score for long stretches. The path for a Buffs upset is clear enough to see, especially if they protect well enough to hit some deep shots, win the turnover margin by one, and steal a possession on special teams. Either way, this is a real data point for JuJu, and the final home start of the year against a ranked opponent. Expect the staff to give him the keys and let it rip.
Colorado 16
Arizona State 27
