Reports: Arizona State football facing Colorado in Week 0 to kick off new season
Multiple Arizona State officials say they were as surprised as everyone else when Kirk Herbstreit said during the College Football Championship game telecast on Monday that new Colorado coach Deion Sanders told him the Buffaloes were facing the Sun Devils in Week 0, which would be Aug. 26, to kick off the 2023 football season.
Since ASU played in Boulder the past season, that game would take place at Sun Devil Stadium.
While that may have taken most by surprise, other reports indicate that is in the works with Pac-12 officials trying to make that happen. The conference was originally going to release a schedule in December but that was delayed and has yet to happen.
Colorado was originally to open the season the following week, Sept. 2, against TCU so if the ASU game were to take place in Week 0, TCU would be the second game for the Buffaloes.
Meanwhile, Arizona State was set to open its season against Southern Utah on Aug. 31 but if the Colorado game were to come off, that other game would likely be pushed back to Saturday, Sept. 2.
There would be a lot of benefit for the conference to make that move. Sanders' much publicized move from Jackson State to Colorado has brought a buzz to the program that hasn't been there in awhile. The last winning season for Colorado came in 2016 when it was 10-4. The Buffaloes are 5-19 over the past two seasons, including a 1-11 showing the past season. Karl Dorrell was fired late in the season with offensive coordinator Mike Sanford finishing out as interim coach before Sanders' appointment.
Exposure is no doubt the biggest reason for the conference to make it happen. It also means the Pac-12 game would likely get a prime time and television slot in a week in which there are not traditionally a lot of premier games.
Sanders was 27-6 in three years at Jackson State, highlighted by a 12-1 showing the past season. His team defeated Southern 43-24 to win the SWAC and then was dealt its lone loss of the season by North Carolina Central 34-31 in overtime in the Cricket Celebration Bowl. He then bolted for Colorado for a five-year deal worth a reported $29.5 million.
ASU is coming off a 3-9 campaign in a season that featured the departure of coach Herm Edwards after the third game. But the appointment of Kenny Dillingham, at 32 the youngest head coach of a Power 5 program, has energized its fan base as well.
The Sun Devils have 24 Division I transfers to restock their roster via the transfer portal, much like Sanders has done with his at Colorado, which has 20. A transfer class ranking by 247Sports has the Buffaloes class ranked No. 2 behind Florida State with ASU at No. 7. Seven of Colorado's transfers are athletes following Sanders from Jackson State.
The Sun Devils have an attractive schedule, with eight home games. Among the home opponents are Colorado, USC and rival Arizona, as well as non-conference foe Oklahoma State. All three of their non-conference games are at home so if the Colorado game was moved, it would mean ASU would play the first four games at home when it is still traditionally hot come game time.
Having a game in Week 0 would also mean ASU should have two bye weeks over the rest of the season. A game that early also means ASU would begin fall camp a week earlier than has been customary.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Reports: ASU to open 2023 football season vs. Colorado in Week 0
