What You Need To Know: Buffs At Arizona State
September 25, 2021 | Football, Neill Woelk
COLORADO (1-2) at ARIZONA STATE (2-1)
KICKOFF: 8:32 p.m.. Sun Devil Stadium, (56,634)
TV, RADIO: The game will be televised by ESPNU with Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Tom Ramsey (color commentary). The radio broadcast will begin on KHOWÂ (630 AM) and switch to KOA (850 AM) once the Rockies-Giants game is over. Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson will be on play-by-play, Gary Barnett will provide color commentary and Bob Pesavento will report from the sidelines.
ON THE INTERNET: The game can be heard on the internet at CUBuffs.com and the radio station websites (www.850koa.com, https://khow.iheart.com.) in the Denver-Boulder metro area. Live statistics and a continuously updated in-game blog will also be available at CUBuffs.com.
THE COACHES: Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell is in his second year at the Buffs' helm. Last year's Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Dorrell is 5-4 at CU and 40-31 overall as a head coach. Herm Edwards is in his fourth year at ASU, where he is 19-14. Dorrell was 3-2 against ASU when he was the head coach at UCLA while Edwards is 0-2 against the Buffs.
THE SERIES: ASU has an 8-3 all-time lead in the series, which began in 2006. The Buffs, however, have won three of the last four and two in a row, including a 34-31 win in Tempe in 2019 in the two teams' last meeting.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The Buffs have a chance to win their fourth straight Pac-12 opener and send a message that they plan on being in the Pac-12 South title conversation..
LAST OUTING: The Buffs dropped a 30-0 loss to Minnesota at home last week while ASU fell to BYU on the road, 27-17.
TEAM LEADERS: Colorado's Butkus Award candidate, linebacker Nate Landman, is en route to another outstanding season. Landman has been in on a team-leading 32 tackles, including five for loss, and also has a team-leading three pass breakups. Outside linebacker Guy Thomas has come on strong in the last couple of weeks and has 18 tackles, including two sacks, while DB Mekhi Blackmon has 15 tackles and CU's only two takeaways this season with one interception and one fumble recovery.
Offensively, RB Jarek Broussard leads the Buffs with 153 yards and two TDs on 32 carries. Tight end Brady Russell has six catches for 37 yards while WR Daniel Arias has a team-best 45 yards on four catches.
ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels has completed 73 percent of his passes (51-for-70) for 572 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. RB Rachaad White leads the Sun Devils in rushing (44 carries for 219 yards and five touchdowns) and receiving (15 catches for 117 yards). Linebacker Darien Butler has 20 tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and also has two interceptions. Defensive lineman D.J. Davidson has 12 tackles (2.5 for loss).
KEY MATCHUPS: Colorado's Landman vs. ASU's Daniels. While it's not technically a head-to-head matchup, Landman will play a big role in helping keep Daniels from extending plays. If Landman and his defensive mates can keep Daniels contained, it will be a big step for the Buffs' defense.
UP NEXT: The Buffs return to Boulder on Saturday, Oct. 2, for a noon matchup with Pac-12 foe Southern California.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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