Four turnovers not enough as Colorado thumped 42-17 by Arizona State

Omarion Miller hauled in a 22-yard receiving touchdown from Julian Lewis for the third straight week. (Photo by Aspen Doust/Sko Buffs Sports)

Under the lights of Folsom Field for the final time, the Colorado Buffaloes (3-8, 1-7 Big 12) fell 42-17 against the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-3, 6-2) on Saturday night. 

Colorado’s defense did all it could to keep the team afloat, forcing four turnovers against Arizona State. Behind a barrage of three-and-outs (5), the Buffs’ offense could only muster 17 points, even with favorable field position.

Arizona State’s running back Raleek Brown had a field day carrying them for 255 yards and a touchdown rushing as well as receiving. Brown had fumbled the ball in the third quarter but was able to rebound. The dagger run came at 13:31, after a Colorado fumble, where he gashed the Buffs for 88 yards and made the score 28-17. The Buffs gave up 355 rushing yards, an area teams have attacked all year. 

Jeff Sims was well contained by Colorado, but finished completing 11/24 of his passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Receivers Derek Eusebio (87) and Jordyn Tyson (61) had big nights receiving, and Eusebio was able to find the endzone as well. 

Sims was picked off by John Slaughter and bobbled the ball into the hands of Shaun Myers on a different series for two of the turnovers. Tawfiq Byard was Colorado’s third leading tackler with six tackles and had a forced fumble as well. Even after leaving the field with an injury, the Buffalo returned, providing a huge spark to Colorado’s defense. 

No matter how hard they tried to keep the game close, Arizona State's commitment to running in the fourth quarter wore down the Buffs.

Colorado’s offense struggled mightily, with Julian Lewis only completing 19/38 of his passes for 161 yards and a touchdown pass. His highlight play came on a 22-yard dime to receiver Omarion Miller for a touchdown. In each of Lewis’s last three appearances, he’s been able to connect with Miller and shows optimism for the pair in the future. Miller finished with just 35 yards. 

"In all honesty, I don't think he's a guy you can guard man coverage," Lewis said about Miller. "I think he's shown that tonight...Next week, just get back in the lab and get ready."

With the era of the transfer portal, speculation has already begun about the freshman's future in Boulder. A pending redshirt conversation and discussions about the future will have to occur over the break. Postgame, Lewis assured he will be staying at Colorado for next season.

"I'm a Buff through and through," Lewis said. "I got my crib out here, all my guys are out here, I got no reason to go."

Without Jordan Seaton, Colorado’s run game was still efficient, gaining 135 yards on the ground. A one-two punch of Dallan Hayden (65) and Micah Welch (51) worked well when the Butfs were committed to it. Colorado was closer than the scoreboard showed, but the fourth-quarter disaster put Colorado down big. 

The frustration of the offense being unable to consistently move the ball was apparent, and Lewis found himself sacked four times. Colorado’s self-inflicted wounds kept them to just three points off of turnovers. 

Colorado will travel to Kansas State to play the Wildcats on Saturday for their final game of the season at 10:00 am MT (FS1).