Seeing a final score of 42-17 might make it silly to say that Colorado had a legitimate chance of winning the game against Arizona State, but it's true. The Buffaloes only trailed by four early in the quarter, and if it wasn't for a key turnover deep in Arizona State territory that was prompted by a mystifying coaching decision by Deion Sanders, who knows how the game would have turned out.
Trailing 21-17 in the 4th quarter, Julian Lewis hit a screen pass to Sincere Brown on a critical 3rd down that turned into a huge play. Brown broke free for 33 yards all the way down to the Arizona State 26-yard line.
That's when Sanders did the unthinkable. Instead of riding with Dallan Hayden (6.5 ypc) or Micah Welch (10.2), he inserted sophomore walk-on WR Ronald Coleman at RB and put the ball in his hands.
For the first time in his career.
In the 4th quarter of a winnable football game.
Coleman made a nice run and burst forward for 14 yards, but promptly fumbled without being touched. Arizona State recovered, and on the very next play, Raleek Brown took a handoff 88 yards for a touchdown that basically put the game away.
That two-play sequence completely changed the game and was a perfect microcosm of the Buffs' season.
Sanders took full accountability for Coleman being in the game.
"The gentleman who fumbled, that's on me," Sanders said. "I put him in the game to try and have a change of pace. Figured he was going to hit it, and he hit it and he fumbled. It is what it is."
Marshall Faulk looked mystified on the sideline in the aftermath of Coleman's fumble
Cameras caught the reaction of Colorado RB coach Marshall Faulk in the aftermath of Coleman's key fumble. He looked as baffled as every Colorado fan watching the game:
Marshall Faulk's reaction to a walk-on receiver who'd never had a touch in a real game getting a handoff as a running back in the fourth quarter of a one-score game and fumbling without anyone touching him - in case you were wondering pic.twitter.com/dnpFToCsNi
— Colton Denning (@Dubsco) November 23, 2025
Faulk's reaction on the broadcast made it obvious without Coach Prime even having to open his mouth that the decision was above Faulk's head. It was one of those instinctive calls that Sanders makes from time to time, and this one blew up in his face.
Colorado had been having success running the ball with Hayden and Welch all game. Giving the ball to Dre'lon Miller in that spot would have even been defensible. But searching for a big play - on a 1st-and-10 in plus-territory no less - with a walk-on who had not touched the ball in two years is as indefensible as any decision Sanders has made all year.
Colorado has found ways to lose most games this season. Changes are, even if Sanders doesn't make that call - or Coleman simply hangs on to the football - the Buffaloes still would have found a way to lose. It's just what they do.
But it sure would have been nice to see the players have a chance down the stretch instead of that opportunity being robbed from them by another ridiculous decision by the head coach.