No. 25 Arizona State winning with backup QB, takes on struggling Colorado
FLM
Nov 19, 2025
No. 25 Arizona State Sun Devils faces Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday in Boulder, Colo., riding a two-game winning streak under veteran backup quarterback Jeff Sims, while the Buffaloes look to the future with freshman quarterback Julian "JuJu" Lewis.
Colorado (3-7, 1-6 Big 12) is assured of the second losing season in Deion Sanders' three-year tenure as head coach following the 29-22 loss at West Virginia on Nov. 8.
A bright spot for the Buffaloes, who are on a three-game losing skid, was the play of Lewis in his first collegiate start against the Mountaineers.
He finished 22 of 35 for 299 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the ninth true freshman to start a game at quarterback for Colorado and the fifth since 2000.
The 299 passing yards were the second-most by a freshman in a starting debut, behind Sanders' son, Shedeur Sanders, who passed for 510 yards against TCU in the 2023 season opener.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said Monday that Lewis' performance with Colorado is indicative of high-caliber recruits wanting to play for Deion Sanders at Colorado.
He defended Deion Sanders' performance as head coach by saying, "You know, he's won 300 percent more games this year than the year before he took over? That's pretty good. I think he's done a great job there."
Colorado was 1-11 in 2022, the season before Deion Sanders was hired.
"I haven't forgotten how to coach in a year," Sanders said Tuesday in his weekly press conference. "A lot of these wonderful coaches out there that's not winning haven't forgotten how to coach."
Sims, a redshirt senior formerly of Georgia Tech and Nebraska, has led Arizona State (7-3, 5-2) to wins over Iowa State and West Virginia after Sam Leavitt suffered a season-ending foot injury in a loss to Houston on Oct. 25.
Against Iowa State and West Virginia, Sims passed for 384 yards while completing 32 of 52 passes with four touchdowns and an interception.
He rushed for 309 yards on 46 carries, including a 228-yard performance on 29 rushes against Iowa State.
--Field Level Media
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(0:05 - 2nd) J.Gomez kicks 65 yards from ASU 35 to the COLO End Zone. Q.Gibson returns the kickoff. Tackled by A.Smith at COLO 21.
Field Goal
4 & 10 - COLO 29
(0:09 - 2nd) J.Gomez 39 yard field goal attempt is good Center-C.Davis Holder-K.Floyd.
No Gain
3 & 10 - COLO 21
(0:15 - 2nd) J.Tyson steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for C.Metayer.
No Gain
2 & 10 - COLO 21
(0:20 - 2nd) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for M.McClain.
No Gain
1 & 10 - COLO 21
(0:25 - 2nd) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for M.McClain.
+59 YD
2 & 6 - ARIZST 20
(0:30 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 59 yards. Tackled by T.Parks at COLO 21.
+4 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 16
(1:01 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by R.Hughes at ASU 20.
COLO
Buffaloes
- Punt (3 plays, 4 yards, 0:34 poss)
Result
Play
Punt
4 & 6 - COLO 38
(1:15 - 2nd) D.Greaves punts 48 yards to ASU 14 Center-K.Hawkins. Z.Sample returned punt from the ASU 14. Tackled by P.Hodge at ASU 16.
No Gain
3 & 6 - COLO 38
(1:25 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for J.Williams.
+4 YD
2 & 10 - COLO 34
(1:32 - 2nd) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by D.Miller for 4 yards. Tackled by J.Crook at COLO 38.
No Gain
1 & 10 - COLO 34
(1:35 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for J.Williams.
ASU
Sun Devils
- Interception (1 plays, 0 yards, 0:07 poss)
Result
Play
Int
1 & 10 - ARIZST 48
(1:42 - 2nd) J.Sims pass INTERCEPTED at COLO 34. Intercepted by J.Slaughter at COLO 34. Tackled by ASU at COLO 34.
COLO
Buffaloes
- Downs (9 plays, 27 yards, 1:37 poss)
Result
Play
Sack
4 & 6 - ARIZST 38
(1:50 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Sacked at ASU 48 for -10 yards (J.Wodtly).
No Gain
3 & 6 - ARIZST 38
(1:54 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for O.Miller.
No Gain
2 & 6 - ARIZST 38
(2:00 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for O.Miller.
+4 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 42
(2:14 - 2nd) D.Hayden rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by C.Smith at ASU 38.
+4 YD
2 & 10 - COLO 39
(2:31 - 2nd) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by S.Brown for 4 yards. Tackled by K.Breedlove at COLO 43. PENALTY on ASU-J.Wodtly Roughing the Passer 15 yards accepted.
No Gain
1 & 10 - COLO 39
(2:35 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for O.Miller.
+6 YD
3 & 2 - COLO 33
(2:50 - 2nd) J.Lewis rushed for 6 yards. Tackled by A.Wilson at COLO 39.
No Gain
2 & 2 - COLO 33
(2:55 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for Z.Atkins.
+13 YD
1 & 15 - COLO 20
(3:19 - 2nd) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by J.Williams for 13 yards. Tackled by J.Crook at COLO 33.
(3:19 - 2nd) J.Gomez kicks 65 yards from ASU 35 to the COLO End Zone. Touchback.
ASU
Sun Devils
- Touchdown (8 plays, 77 yards, 5:05 poss)
Result
Play
PAT Good
(3:19 - 2nd) J.Gomez extra point is good.
+33 YD
4 & 2 - COLO 33
(3:28 - 2nd) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by R.Brown for 33 yards. TOUCHDOWN.
+3 YD
3 & 5 - COLO 36
(4:04 - 2nd) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by D.Eusebio for 3 yards. Tackled by K.Wade at COLO 33.
+3 YD
2 & 8 - COLO 39
(4:50 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by S.Myers at COLO 36.
Penalty
2 & 3 - COLO 34
(5:15 - 2nd) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by J.Moss for yards. Tackled by COLO at COLO 26. PENALTY on ASU-K.Scott Ineligible Downfield Pass 5 yards accepted. No Play.
+7 YD
1 & 10 - COLO 41
(5:59 - 2nd) J.Sims rushed for 7 yards. Tackled by T.Love at COLO 34.
+5 YD
2 & 1 - COLO 46
(6:36 - 2nd) K.Udoh rushed for 5 yards. Tackled by R.Hughes at COLO 41.
+9 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 45
(7:15 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 9 yards. Tackled by J.Slaughter at COLO 46.
+11 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 34
(7:49 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 11 yards. Tackled by P.Hodge at ASU 45.
+11 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 23
(8:24 - 2nd) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by D.Eusebio for 11 yards. Tackled by P.Hodge at ASU 34.
COLO
Buffaloes
- Punt (5 plays, 18 yards, 1:59 poss)
Result
Play
Punt
4 & 10 - COLO 36
(8:36 - 2nd) D.Greaves punts 52 yards to ASU 12 Center-K.Hawkins. Z.Sample returned punt from the ASU 12. Tackled by P.Hodge at ASU 23.
No Gain
3 & 10 - COLO 36
(8:41 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for S.Brown.
No Gain
2 & 10 - COLO 36
(9:20 - 2nd) D.Miller rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by K.Elliott at COLO 36.
No Gain
1 & 10 - COLO 36
(9:26 - 2nd) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for Z.Atkins.
+15 YD
2 & 7 - COLO 21
(9:53 - 2nd) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by O.Miller for 15 yards. Tackled by K.Abney at COLO 36.
+3 YD
2 & 10 - COLO 18
(10:23 - 2nd) D.Hayden rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by J.Wodtly at COLO 21.
ASU
Sun Devils
- Downs (11 plays, 58 yards, 4:40 poss)
Result
Play
No Gain
4 & 1 - COLO 17
(10:36 - 2nd) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for J.Tyson.
No Gain
3 & 1 - COLO 17
(10:53 - 2nd) K.Udoh rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by A.Barnes at COLO 17.
+5 YD
2 & 6 - COLO 22
(11:21 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 5 yards. Tackled by A.Barnes at COLO 17.
+4 YD
1 & 10 - COLO 26
(11:59 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by S.Myers at COLO 22.
+19 YD
4 & 7 - COLO 45
(12:46 - 2nd) K.Floyd pass complete. Catch made by B.Lono-Wong for 19 yards. Tackled by J.Slaughter at COLO 26.
No Gain
3 & 7 - COLO 45
(12:50 - 2nd) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for M.McClain.
+6 YD
2 & 13 - ARIZST 49
(13:33 - 2nd) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by C.Metayer for 6 yards. Tackled by T.Byard at COLO 45.
-3 YD
1 & 10 - COLO 48
(14:15 - 2nd) R.Brown rushed for -3 yards. Tackled by T.Byard at ASU 49.
+25 YD
3 & 8 - ARIZST 27
(14:51 - 2nd) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by M.McClain for 25 yards. Tackled by I.Yates at COLO 48.
No Gain
2 & 8 - ARIZST 27
(15:00 - 2nd) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for ASU.
+2 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 25
(0:03 - 1st) J.Sims rushed for 2 yards. Tackled by I.Yates at ASU 27.
Kickoff
(0:03 - 1st) B.Buchanan kicks 65 yards from COLO 35 to the ASU End Zone. Touchback.
COLO
Buffaloes
- Touchdown (4 plays, 57 yards, 1:47 poss)
Result
Play
PAT Good
(0:03 - 1st) A.Mata extra point is good.
+7 YD
1 & Goal - ARIZST 7
(0:07 - 1st) D.Hayden rushed for 7 yards. TOUCHDOWN.
+8 YD
2 & 7 - ARIZST 15
(0:35 - 1st) J.Lewis rushed for 8 yards. Tackled by ASU at ASU 7.
+3 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 18
(1:17 - 1st) M.Welch rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by B.Lono-Wong at ASU 15.
+39 YD
1 & 10 - COLO 43
(1:50 - 1st) M.Welch rushed for 39 yards. Tackled by K.Abney at ASU 18.
ASU
Sun Devils
- Punt (3 plays, 4 yards, 1:02 poss)
Result
Play
Punt
4 & 6 - ARIZST 17
(2:06 - 1st) K.Floyd punts 54 yards to COLO 29 Center-C.Davis. Q.Farrakhan returned punt from the COLO 29. Tackled by U.Neloms at COLO 43.
+6 YD
3 & 12 - ARIZST 11
(2:06 - 1st) R.Brown rushed for 6 yards. Tackled by M.Vickers at ASU 17. PENALTY on ASU-M.Jefferson Offensive Holding 10 yards declined.
(2:17 - 1st) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for D.Eusebio.
+3 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 13
(2:52 - 1st) R.Brown rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by A.Barnes at ASU 16.
COLO
Buffaloes
- Downs (4 plays, 9 yards, 1:40 poss)
Result
Play
No Gain
4 & 1 - ARIZST 13
(3:00 - 1st) J.Lewis rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by P.Dorbah at ASU 13.
+8 YD
3 & 9 - ARIZST 21
(3:05 - 1st) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by D.Miller for 8 yards. Tackled by K.Elliott at ASU 13.
+2 YD
2 & 11 - ARIZST 23
(4:04 - 1st) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by D.Miller for 2 yards. Tackled by K.Abney at ASU 21.
-1 YD
1 & 10 - ARIZST 22
(4:32 - 1st) D.Miller rushed for -1 yards. Tackled by M.Rowser at ASU 23.
ASU
Sun Devils
- Fumble (2 plays, -9 yards, 0:41 poss)
Result
Play
-9 YD
2 & 10 - ARIZST 31
(4:42 - 1st) J.Sims pass complete. Catch made by D.Robinson for -9 yards. D.Robinson FUMBLES forced by T.Byard. Fumble RECOVERED by COLO-K.Wade at ASU 22. Tackled by ASU at ASU 22.
No Gain
1 & 10 - ARIZST 31
(5:13 - 1st) D.Robinson rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by K.Wade at ASU 31.
COLO
Buffaloes
- Punt (3 plays, -4 yards, 0:57 poss)
Result
Play
Punt
4 & 14 - COLO 31
(5:24 - 1st) D.Greaves punts 48 yards to ASU 21 Center-K.Hawkins. Z.Sample returned punt from the ASU 21. Tackled by I.Hardge at ASU 31.
No Gain
3 & 14 - COLO 31
(5:30 - 1st) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for D.Hayden.
-4 YD
2 & 10 - COLO 35
(6:05 - 1st) J.Lewis pass complete. Catch made by D.Hayden for -4 yards. Tackled by K.Breedlove at COLO 31.
No Gain
1 & 10 - COLO 35
(6:10 - 1st) J.Lewis steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for D.Hayden.
ASU
Sun Devils
- Punt (3 plays, 2 yards, 1:39 poss)
Result
Play
Punt
4 & 8 - ARIZST 24
(6:17 - 1st) K.Floyd punts 41 yards to COLO 35 Center-C.Davis. Fair catch by Q.Farrakhan.
No Gain
3 & 8 - ARIZST 24
(6:25 - 1st) J.Sims steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for J.Tyson.