Even with a win Saturday and another in their finale against Arizona, ASU will need significant help to get back to the title game, its most likely path to the College Football Playoff.

ESPN analytics gives ASU an 8.4% chance to make the Big 12 championship.

The Sun Devils need losses from both BYU and Cincinnati, which play each other this weekend. Head coach Kenny Dillingham and his staff will likely be rooting for Cincinnati, since the Bearcats face a tougher opponent in TCU the following week than BYU does in 4-6 UCF.

ASU also received encouraging news Tuesday when the College Football Playoff selection committee ranked it No. 25.

The Sun Devils’ upset of now-No. 5 Texas Tech continues to be a key piece of their resume, something the committee highlighted in its decision.

“They’re the one team that’s beaten Texas Tech, who’s ranked No. 5, a team that is highly regarded by this committee,” CFP chair Hunter Yurachek said.

The committee also noted ASU’s resilience while battling injuries throughout the season.

“They’ve had a lot of injuries this year and continue to play through those,” Yurachek said.

One of those injuries is to junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, one of the top receivers in the country. Tyson suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Texas Tech. He returned to the game but hasn’t played since, missing ASU’s last three contests.

Dillingham said Tyson was set to begin his running progression this week, but he remains questionable for Saturday.

“We’ve got to see that progression and what it looks like,” Dillingham said. “We need to see him truly moving to play the game.”

Tyson, who began his college career at Colorado before transferring to ASU, would be a major loss for an offense that has moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone.

“We’re productive moving the football,” Dillingham said. “We don’t score and that’s a problem.”

Colorado has struggled defensively this season, which could work in the Sun Devils’ favor. The Buffaloes have allowed 30 points per game this season and 44.7 over their last three.

Despite Colorado’s struggles — the team is 1-6 in Big 12 play — Dillingham said ASU can’t afford to overlook the Buffaloes.

“It’s a team that plays hard and I think it shows up,” he said.

Dillingham also expressed admiration for Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. The former NFL star won two conference championships at Jackson State before taking over at Colorado.

Sanders has coached a pair of standout players in his brief time in Boulder. Travis Hunter, a two-way star at cornerback and receiver, won the Heisman Trophy last season and now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sanders’ son Shadeur was one of the top quarterbacks in college football a year ago and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2025.

Without those stars, Colorado has endured a difficult 2025 campaign, but Dillingham praised Sanders’ coaching and recruiting.

“People are talking about Colorado,” Dillingham said. “Recruits want to go to Colorado.”

He also noted the program’s improvement since its 1-11 season in 2022, before Sanders arrived.

“He’s won 300% more games this year than the year before he took over,” Dillingham said.

Sanders’ NFL background also shows up in Colorado’s defense.

“This defense is truly pro-style,” Dillingham said.

On offense, Colorado senior quarterback Kaidon Salter has been a bright spot. Salter, whom Dillingham once recruited, threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns in the Buffaloes’ lone Big 12 win over Iowa State, which was ranked No. 22 at the time. He is also second on the team in rushing with 293 yards.

Colorado uses a trio of running backs who have each contributed this season. Sophomore Micah Welch leads the team with 313 rushing yards. Junior Dallan Hayden has 195 and senior Simeon Price has added 143.

ASU will be without junior running back Kyson Brown, who has 106 rushing yards this season. Tyson’s status also remains uncertain.

Despite the injuries, ASU enters the game as a 7.5-point favorite, according to ESPN.

The Sun Devils need to win Saturday and again against Arizona — then hope for help elsewhere. Still, Dillingham said he trusts his team’s character as it closes the season.

“They love football; they love competing,” he said.