“I just see a big hole and burst through it,” Brown said postgame. “I just followed the pullers and burst. Nobody was back there.” 

Brown eclipsed the 1,000 yards rushing mark with 255 on Saturday, Nov. 22, against the Colorado Buffaloes, setting a school record for a road game and the third most in program history, and silenced the crowd on an 88-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal a 42-17 win for the Sun Devils. Saturday’s victory keeps ASU’s slim Big 12 championship hopes alive entering the final week of the season.

Determined to win the game, Brown said he wasn’t aware of the significance of Saturday’s effort.

“I was just focused on the game and trying to do me,” Brown said. 

Before Brown’s housecall touchdown in the fourth, the running back fumbled the ball while trying to hurdle sophomore safety John Slaughter in open space. Instead of making excuses, Brown took responsibility and said he owed the team back.

“I told everybody I was gonna get one, I was gonna get a touchdown next possession, and it happened," Brown said. 

Although Brown’s record-setting day iced the game, the Sun Devils failed to find rhythm on offense until the fourth quarter, where they totaled 205 of 580 total yards and rushed for 205 yards. 

Brown credited the 21-point quarter to the offense establishing the run game between himself, senior quarterback Jeff Sims and junior running back Kanye Udoh. 

“We just had to get a feel for the defense and see what they (were) doing,” Brown said. “Once we got a feel, it was over.”

Head coach Kenny Dillingham echoed a similar sentiment. 

“We got in a rhythm with some (of) our gap scheme runs, which we hit some explosives,” Dillingham said about the running game finding the open field. “We haven’t been very good at gap early this year, but we got a rhythm with them. We hit some big ones.”

In total, ASU running backs totaled 45 carries for 355 yards and three touchdowns, a recipe Dillingham said for success.

“When you can run the football, the game is easy,” Dillingham said. “(If) you can run the ball and stop the run, you’re gonna win 90% of your games if not more.”

Among those to receive a carry Saturday evening was freshman running back Jason Brown, who scored the game’s final touchdown with just over a minute to play. 

“I told coach to take me out and let JB play,” Brown said. 

Outside of a dominant fourth quarter, the Sun Devils failed to sustain much of anything on offense over the previous 45 minutes. 

The turnover bug plagued ASU, as Sims threw an interception and fumbled on an attempted pass, along with freshman Demarius Robinson fumbling on a screen pass and Brown’s fail of a hurdle.

“You can’t lose the turnover 4-1, you’re gonna win 5% of your games,” Dillingham said. “Now (we) happen to be one of the 5%. That’s gotta get cleaned up before next week.” 

Outside of a fake punt and pass on fourth-and-7 from sophomore kicker Kanyon Floyd to junior defensive lineman Blazen Lono-Wong to begin the second quarter, which ultimately led to a turnover on downs after Sims overthrew junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in the end zone, the Sun Devils lacked momentum on offense in the first half. 

In Tyson’s return to action for the first time since Oct. 18 against Texas Tech, the projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft caught two receptions for 61 yards, with 42 coming on a deep ball from Sims in the first quarter. 

Despite being limited to around 30 snaps, Dillingham said Tyson spoke to the team pregame and wanted to get back onto the field and compete, even if it could affect his draft stock. 

“All he talked about was this isn’t about him and this is about the team playing their best football game,” Dillingham said. 

After missing over a month with a lower body injury, Dillingham said Tyson could have forgone the rest of the season in preparation for his future; yet, wanted to help the team win. 

“It just shows that we got really good kids,” Dillingham said.

Although Saturday’s win didn’t necessarily come easy until the late stages, a win is a win, and ASU remains alive for a Big 12 title heading into the Territorial Cup against Arizona and the final game of the regular season.  

“It’s remarkable, it’s a testament to these guys,” Dillingham said of the team entering its 12th game in contention despite countless injuries and a rollercoaster of a season.

Without starting quarterback, sophomore Sam Leavitt, and Tyson for key points throughout the season, Dillingham expressed his gratitude for his team’s grit and determination. 

“If we can play meaningful football on the last Saturday every year, I think we’re going to continue to sell out games,” Dillingham said. “And if we continue to sell out games, we’re going to continue to get more of investment from the university.”