Following an improbable win over UCLA, Arizona State takes the road the face a resurging Colorado program. Inconceivably or not, this is a contest that midway through the season could determine the favorite to capture the Pac-12 South. Joe Healey assesses this matchup and the significant elements of this contest.

Colorado Offense

Due to an injury suffered by multi-year starter Sefo Liufao, Colorado has been forced to start an additional quarterback this season but has seen few ill effects as redshirt freshman Steven Montez has shown to be more than capable in the starting role.

Liufao started the first three games before being injured against Michigan, pushing Montez into his first career start at Oregon and the rookie came up big by guiding the Buffaloes to a 41-38 win at Autzen Stadium. Montez was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for his incredible effort that included 333 passing yards, 135 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.

On the year, Montez has thrown for 940 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions, while Liufao has thrown for 779 yards with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. Both players add value on the ground as Montez ranks second on the team with 218 rushing yards and one touchdown and Liufao has 126 yards and one touchdown.

It is uncertain who will start at quarterback against ASU this Saturday, but unlike the opposing Sun Devils, both options are battle-tested in 2016.

Small in stature but large in impact, running back Phillip Lindsay leads the team with 395 yards on 81 carries with six touchdowns. Lindsay is also involved in the passing game as he is the team’s fourth-leading receiver with 17 catches for 196 yards and a touchdown and surpassed the 100-yard receiving mark last week against USC.

Kyle Evans also sees a handful of carries each game to the tune of 53 carries for 216 yards and two touchdowns on the year so far.

At wide receiver, Colorado boasts perhaps the deepest group in the Pac-12 through the first half of the season as only Washington State also has three receivers with at least 25 catches on the year.

Leading the way is dynamic playmaker Shay Fields, who leads the Pac-12 with 21.4 yards per catch on his 492 yards on 23 receptions with five touchdowns. Devin Ross has a team-high 32 catches for 412 yards with five scores while Bryce Bobo has 27 receptions for 351 yards and two touchdowns.

Coach’s son Jay MacIntytre also sees consistent action as he has registered 12 catches for 137 yards.

Sean Irwin starts at tight end but has yet to catch a pass on the year but was an Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 pick in 2015.

From left to right, the Buffalo offensive line consists of tackle Jeromy Irwin, guard Gerrad Kough, center Alex Kellye, guard Tim Lynott, Jr. and tackle Sam Kronshage.

Colorado Offense Summary

Despite splitting quarterback starts in the first six games, Colorado hasn’t missed a beat as the Buffaloes rank 17th nationally in total offense (504.5) and 21st in the country in pass offense (306.3). Both quarterbacks are dangerous and versatile, and the capable skill position foursome of Lindsay, Fields, Bobo and Ross may not be household names but can attack the Sun Devil defense from numerous angles if the Devils let their guard down.

The million dollar question in this exchange is whether the Arizona State defense from last week shows up to Boulder or if the troubled unit from the majority of the past two seasons makes its way to Folsom Field. With uncertainty at quarterback for ASU, it is an absolute must that the maroon and gold provide an imposing defensive presence to combat a talented Colorado offensive attack.

Colorado Defense

Colorado operates out of a 3-4 base defense, with an all-senior line trio consisting of ends Jordan Carrell and Samson Kafovalu around nose tackle Josh Tupou.

The trio has been highly productive thus far, as Carrell has 28 tackles including 2.5 sacks, while Tupou has posted 26 tackles and 1.0 sack on the year. Kafovalu has posted 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks as well.

Jimmie Gilbert and Christian Shaver start at outside linebacker with Kenneth Olugbode and Rick Gamboa listed as the first-stringers at the two inside linebacker positions.

Olugbode, leads the Pac-12 with 58 total tackles, while Gamboa is second on the team with 43. Gilbert is tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with 4.5 sacks on the year, is tied for 10th in tackles for loss with 5.5 and is currently is tied for the national lead with four forced fumbles. Shaver has five tackles in six games.

Though he is listed as an alternate starter at linebacker, seasoned veteran Addison Gillam has been an impact player this year with 22 tackles on the year.

In the secondary, senior cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon are joined by free safety Afolabi Laguda and strong safety Tedric Thompson.

Thompson has 37 tackles and a team-high two interceptions on the year, while Laguda has 36 and Awuzie has 25 with an interception. Witherspoon has nine tackles and one interception.

Colorado Defense Summary

Statistically, Colorado ranks 22nd in pass defense (185.0), 23rd in total defense (331.8), 25th in red zone defense (0.75), 30th in scoring defense (20.7) and 50th in rush defense (146.8). In most key categories, the Buffaloes rank second behind only Washington when it comes to Pac-12 defensive prowess.

The heavily experienced group features eight seniors and two juniors, with potential conference honors recipients in Gilbert, Olugbode and Thompson, among others. Awuzie was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection in 2015 and remains at a high level as a senior.

The Buffalo defense has allowed seven or fewer points in three of six games played, albeit against Colorado State, Idaho State, and Oregon State. Regardless, Colorado presents a defense statistically better than any ASU has faced to date in 2016, a notable challenge for a true freshman starting quarterback or a Manny Wilkins of perhaps subpar health.

Colorado Special Teams

Colorado has been forced to adjust its kicking game after starter Diego Gonzalez was lost to injury, putting Davis Price and Chris Graham into action. The two have performed admirably, connecting on 5-of-6 field goal attempts in Gonzalez’s absence.

Punter Alex Kinney averages 42.5 yards on 29 punts, ranking sixth in the Pac-12 in gross punting average.

On returns, Anthony Julmisse is the primary kickoff returner with a 22.1-yard average on eight returns, while Jay MacIntyre averages a solid 10.5 yards on 13 punt returns.

Overall Summary

A series owned by the Sun Devils, ASU has won all seven games of this matchup – five since Colorado joined the Pac-12 Conference in 2011 and two played as non-conference opponents in 2006-07. Undoubtedly, however, this year’s Colorado team is the most legitimately talented in more than a decade and one of the more surprising teams on a nationwide scale through the first half of the 2016 college football season.

Aside from Colorado’s hopes to rewrite its history against Arizona State, a stake of control of the Pac-12 south can be claimed Saturday as both teams are on top of the heap in the division entering the weekend.

After having their momentum halted with a loss to USC last week, the resilience of this surprising Colorado team will clash with an Arizona state squad that has found unique ways to win five times over the first six games but will limp onto Folsom Field at some key positions.

Arizona State is a decisive underdog in this contest, largely due to the uncertainty at quarterback, meaning the Sun Devil running game and defense likely will both have to play at peak levels of performance if there are limitations under center for the Sun Devils.

Keys to a Sun Devil Victory

Find a Way to Run

After an outstanding start in non-conference game, the rushing attack of Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage has fallen completely flat in league play as the pair has combined for just 209 total yards over the past three games. As a team, ASU averages just 106 yards per game on the ground in Pac-12 play but still has a season average of 183.3 rushing yards per game, further exhibiting the extreme drop-off the past three weeks.

Additionally, ASU hasn’t been trying quite as hard to run as Richard and Ballage combine for just 40 carries over the past two games.

This skid is a result of multiple issues including offensive line instability and health issues at both running back and quarterback, but against a stout defense such as Colorado’s, if Richard and/or Ballage are largely ineffective and the tide of the game is placed either on a true freshman or a potentially still-battered Manny Wilkins, ASU’s odds have to suffer.

Repeat Last Week’s D

Seemingly out of nowhere, ASU’s defense showed up against UCLA to be a major game-turning factor. Though the passing yardage allowed was still very high, the Sun Devils kept the Bruins in the red in rushing yards and forced a number of big plays and turnovers to help the home team win a close, low-scoring, injury-filled game.

Going against a legitimately talented quarterback – whichever it may be for Colorado – with drastically underrated skill talent and an intimidating defense, ASU will need to continue its defensive momentum in Boulder.

Not Too Much, Not Too Little

The phrase “clear as mud” has been used more than a time or two to describe the outlook this week at quarterback as it’s uncertain whether Manny Wilkins will be healthy enough to play – or even perhaps start – or if ASU will have to lean on a true freshman, likely Dillon Sterling-Cole.

Regardless the starter, it is safe to predict there will be limitations, either physical ones encountered by Wilkins or maturity concerns for the inexperienced Sterling-Cole. However, within these parameters, though ASU likely will not succeed by pushing either quarterback too far outside his comfort zone, the Sun Devils can’t afford to fully restrain the quarterback to the point of inhibiting the offense.

Familiar Faces

· Colorado assistant coach Jim Jeffcoat played at ASU from 1979-82 and is in the ASU Sports Hall of Fame

· Colorado WR Zavier Cochrane attended Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School, as did ASU LS Mitchell Fraboni and QB/DB/WR Jack Smith

· Colorado QB Jordan Gehrke attended Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep and Scottsdale Community College. ASU TE Grant Martinez also attended Notre Dame Prep.

· Colorado WR Justin Jan attended Chandler High School, as did ASU WR N’Keal Harry, DL Jordan Hoyt, DB Chase Lucas, OL Tyler McClure and QB Bryce Perkins

· Colorado DB Isaiah Oliver attended Phoenix Brophy Prep, as did ASU WR Frederick Gammage and S Owen Rogers

· Colorado DE Brett Tonz attended Peoria Centennial High School, as did ASU OL Marshal Nathe

· Colorado CB Andrew Bergner previously attended ASU but was not on the football team

· Colorado TB Kyle Evans attended San Jose (Calif.) Archbishop Mitty HS as did ASU TE Tommy Hudson

· Colorado WR Shay Fields attended Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco HS, as did ASU OL Zach Robertson

· Colorado OL Colby Pursell attended Santa Clarita (Calif.) Hart HS, as did ASU QB Brady White and WR Tim White