'Very, Very Dangerous': Kenny Dillingham Talks Up Colorado, but the Buffs Still Have to Beat a Freshman QB in Tempe

By Cam Sutton, RF Sports Radio Colorado voice

Buffs fans, when the opposing coach goes out of his way to call your 3-5 team "very, very dangerous," you can take it two ways. It is either real respect or a coach setting a trap. With Kenny Dillingham, I think it is both.

The facts

Colorado (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) visits Arizona State (4-4, 2-3) Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT, 6:30 p.m. CT, on ESPN2 at Mountain America Stadium, per Buffaloes Wire. "This is a very, very good football team that is very, very dangerous," Dillingham said, per Buffaloes Wire. The Denver Gazette lists Colorado as a 3-point underdog.

There are ties everywhere. Dillingham and Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion worked together at Arizona State in 2015. Dillingham is 1-1 against Colorado: the Buffs won 27-24 in Tempe in 2023, and ASU won 42-17 in Boulder last season, per Buffaloes Wire. Deion Sanders and Dillingham took over their programs in the same offseason, and the Gazette notes the two have real respect for each other.

Arizona State lost 27-20 at BYU on Saturday. Freshman Jake Fette made his first start and went 22-of-42 for 166 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, and Dillingham said Monday that Fette will start again, per the Gazette. He is ASU's third starting quarterback this season. Freshman running back Cardae Mack ran 23 times for 123 yards against BYU. Receiver Reed Harris has 48 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns, and former Buff Omarion Miller has 41 catches for 427 yards, per the Gazette. ASU ranks last in the Big 12 in yards per game in conference play.

Colorado ran for 222 yards in its 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State, with Richard Young going for 120 and two touchdowns, per Buffaloes Wire.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: this is a winnable game, and the Gazette is right that November sets up well. A freshman quarterback in his second start is exactly who you want to face if your defense can get after him. Make Fette throw on third-and-long, and the Buffs have a real shot.

But do not ignore Mack and Harris. Mack just ran for 123 against a good BYU defense, and Harris is the best receiver in the conference by yards. Colorado has to stop the run first and keep a safety over the top. If Miller burns his old team for a big play, that will sting all winter.

On offense, keep feeding Young. The running game took pressure off Isaac Wilson against Kansas State, and that formula travels.

What to watch next

Watch the Colorado injury report and the final line. For more on Coach Prime's no-desperation message, read our Nov. 2 look at Colorado's trip to Tempe, and follow the Buffs on our Colorado Football page.

Radio question: does Colorado's new run game travel to Tempe, or does ASU's freshman quarterback grow up at the Buffs' expense?

Sources: Buffaloes Wire (USA TODAY) - Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham calls Colorado 'very dangerous'; The Denver Gazette - Buffs have winnable game at Arizona State up next; Sports Illustrated - Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham makes feelings clear on Deion Sanders.