Freshman Jake Fette Leads ASU Past Colorado
Arizona State freshman quarterback Jake Fette threw for 187 yards and a touchdown in his first home start, a 10-0 halftime lead extended to a win over Colorado.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
Freshman Jake Fette threw for 187 yards and one touchdown, completing 13-of-19 passes without a turnover, as Arizona State defeated Colorado in his first home start. Fette took over at quarterback after senior Mikey Keene was injured in the Kansas State game on Oct. 24.
Why it matters
Fette's performance gives Arizona State a young quarterback who has shown he can contribute as both a passer and a receiver after a significant injury to the team's starter. The offense's struggles after halftime, scoring only three points in the second half, suggest the team still faces questions heading into its remaining games.
Fette completed 13 of 19 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions, and his 34-yard touchdown to Reed Harris pushed the lead to 17-0 with 2:54 left in the second quarter. The offense managed only three points after halftime, and the extraction does not say how long Keene will be sidelined.
The players
Jake Fette
A freshman quarterback from El Paso who was a four-star recruit out of Del Valle High School and became Arizona State's starter after Keene's injury.
Mikey Keene
Arizona State's senior starting quarterback whose injury in the Kansas State game elevated Fette to the starting role.
Cardae Mack
An Arizona State running back who lined up at quarterback in a wildcat formation and threw the pass that set up Fette's touchdown catch.
The details
Fette caught a one-yard touchdown pass from running back Cardae Mack in a wildcat look that gave Arizona State a 10-0 lead with 11:15 left in the second quarter. Later in the same quarter, he hit Reed Harris for a 34-yard score on a 3rd-and-14 play. He is the first Arizona State quarterback since Jake Plummer in 1996 to record both a passing and a receiving touchdown in the same game.
Timeline
Oct. 24, 2025: Mikey Keene was injured in the Kansas State game, opening the starting role for Fette.
Nov. 7, 2026: Arizona State defeated Colorado at Mountain America Stadium in Fette's first home start.
The Tech Race
Fette became only the second Arizona State quarterback since 1996 to record both a passing and a receiving touchdown in one game, matching a feat last seen from Jake Plummer. The comparison places the freshman in a rare historical group for the program at a moment when the team needs a reliable starter.
Fette's 13-of-19, 187-yard outing gives fantasy and roster managers a young quarterback to track while Keene recovers. The offense's three second-half points are a practical warning that the passing game alone may not carry Arizona State.
The takeaway
Fette's first home start showed that a young quarterback can step in during a crisis and produce both through the air and as a receiver. Watching how the offense performs after halftime will reveal whether the early success can be sustained.
Further reading
Find more coverage in the Football section for Tempe.
