TEMPE, Ariz. -- After Arizona State got off to a strong start, winning its first two games, coach Todd Graham offered a message to his team: Forget about it; it's time for conference play.
The No. 16 Sun Devils open Pac-12 play Saturday night against Colorado, taking the first step in their pursuit of another South division title.
"They know you can throw every record out," Graham said. "You've got nine (conference) opportunities, and you better win all nine of 'em. This is a South opponent. You've got to beat every team in the South to win it. We were able to do that last year, but that doesn't count for this year."
Graham said Thursday he believes any team in the Pac-12 can win in conference if the favorite doesn't come prepared. Earlier in the week he pointed to Washington State's week two win over USC last season. The bottom line: ASU better be prepared for the Buffaloes.
The last time the Sun Devils played in Boulder, during Graham's first season, they overcame a shaky first half to win easily, 51-17. Last season, coach Mike MacIntyre's first at Colorado, ASU jumped out to a 47-6 lead at halftime and routed Colorado in Tempe, 54-13.
Graham says the Buffaloes are "a lot better than what they were last year" and playing hard for MacIntyre, but Colorado's season so far might offer a case that not much has changed.
ASU vs. COLORADO
When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.
TV: ESPNU (Anish Shroff, Kelly Stouffer)
Colorado (1-1) lost to in-state rival Colorado State 31-17 to open the season, and last week it barely sneaked past Massachusetts -- a team that has two wins over the past two seasons. The Buffs won 41-38 after trailing by 11 in the third quarter.
Still, Colorado represents ASU's best opponent yet this season and has talented players on both sides of the ball.
"They've got good receivers that can beat you, they've got speed, (and) they've got a solid running back corps," Graham said.
Added quarterback Taylor Kelly: "They've got some very talented guys on defense. Their front seven is talented, they've got some corners and safeties. They're a great team, and you can't overlook a team like that. They're going to do whatever they can."
While ASU takes every Pac-12 game seriously, this one should be its final tune-up before the schedule really gets tough (ASU's next three games: UCLA, at USC, Stanford). But it also stands as an important set-up to those next two games, which could prove decisive in the Pac-12 South race.
Against Colorado, Graham wants to see progress over last week, when ASU's young defense panicked a little bit in the first half.
"We've got to have marked improvement," Graham said. "It's got to jump twice as much this week. Bottom line: We've got to get win No. 1 in the Pac-12 on the road, and that's not easy. Our guys understand the challenge ahead of them."
Run Devils run. With 690 yards on the ground through two weeks, the Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 in rushing and rank sixth nationally. Colorado is allowing 185.0 rushing yards per game, so ASU could be in for another big week on the ground.
Defensive assignments. ASU knew it had to be assignment-sound against New Mexico last week, and when it wasn't the Lobos took advantage. This week will be a better test for the young defense, and mental miscues could be less surmountable against a Pac-12 opponent. We'll see this week if ASU was able to learn from its mistakes and improve.
Special teams. ASU showed improvement on special teams last week, notably on kick coverage teams and kickoffs. Punting, however, remained an issue, even if wind was a factor. ASU also had two extra-point attempts blocked, and its return teams didn't have an impact.
-- While they are conference and divisional peers now, Colorado and ASU have met only five times previously. ASU is undefeated in those games, all of which have come in the past decade. The Sun Devils are 2-0 in Boulder.
-- The last time ASU returned a kickoff for a touchdown: Oct. 11, 2012 at Colorado. The Buffaloes rank last in the Pac-12 in kick return defense (24.90 yards per return), so ASU might have chances to change the game on kickoffs. ASU is the only Pac-12 team yet to return a kickoff this season.
D.J. Foster, RB, ASU -- Foster has gone over 100 yards rushing in four of his last five games. He went over 200 last week. Look for ASU to give him the ball plenty again this week.
Laiu Moeakiola, LB, ASU -- Moeakiola had a big game last week handling New Mexico's run game, and he'll be challenged again this week by what Colorado tries to do on perimeter runs.
Nelson Spruce, WR, Colorado -- Colorado needed a replacement for Paul Richardson, its star receiver last year, and Spruce appears to be it. The junior has 17 receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns in two games.
Sefo Liufau, QB, Colorado -- Liufau has put up big numbers so far -- 50 completions for 559 yards and five touchdowns through two games -- and seems to be getting more and more comfortable in Colorado's offense.
The stakes are much higher this week as ASU enters conference play. One slip can be the difference between a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game and a second-place finish. This will be one of ASU's easier conference tests, one it can't afford to lose.
ASU -- Out: LB Carlos Mendoza (knee), DT Corey Smith (hip). Colorado -- Out: DE Markeis Reed (sports hernia). Questionable: DE Derek McCartney (concussion), DE Christian Shaver (ankle).
Colorado will provide ASU its toughest test yet, but it still has a ways to go in Mike MacIntyre's rebuild. The Sun Devils should handle the Buffaloes with relative ease as long as they remain focused and avoid the mental lapses suffered against New Mexico last week.
ASU 55, Colorado 27
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