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Deion Sanders' Colorado football team could be missing two key starters for Saturday's must-win game against Arizona State.

Starting safety Naeten Mitchell is listed as doubtful on the Big 12 player availability report.

Starting defensive tackle Dylan Manuel is also listed as doubtful.

Mitchell has started all eight games this season.

He has played the third-most defensive snaps on the team with 563.

Manuel has played the second-most snaps among defensive linemen with 451.

He is one of Colorado's best run stoppers.

Both players were injured late in the fourth quarter of Colorado's Week 8 win over Kansas State.

That overtime victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Buffaloes.

Colorado now sits at 3-5 on the season.

Arizona State is 4-4 and starting a true freshman quarterback, Jake Fette.

This matchup is arguably the most winnable game left on Colorado's schedule.

The Buffs can still afford one more loss and remain bowl eligible.

A loss here would put enormous pressure on the remaining games.

If Mitchell cannot go, Colorado will turn to Ben Finneseth.

Finneseth is a super senior who had played just 13 defensive snaps this season before the Kansas State game.

He is a special teams mainstay but has very little experience at safety in game situations.

Finneseth could start alongside Randon Fontenette at safety.

The secondary depth is thin.

Three defensive backs were dismissed from the team earlier this season.

Other injuries have further depleted the defensive backfield.

If Manuel cannot play, expect Samu Taumanupepe to see increased time.

Taumanupepe will likely line up alongside Santana Hopper on the defensive line.

Colorado's run defense has relied heavily on Manuel this season.

His absence would leave a significant gap in the middle of the defense.

Arizona State's rushing attack will be a major test for the Buffs' front seven.

The Sun Devils have a balanced offense that can exploit defensive weaknesses.

Deion Sanders addressed the team's mindset during his Week 10 press conference.

He focused on the run game and how running back Richard Young will be utilized.

Sanders confirmed that Young will start again this week.

"He runs hard, works hard, prepares, studies, does not miss anything, and he hasn't had a pity party," Sanders said of Young.

"He could have, and he should have, because you've seen [our other running backs], I can't remember names to save my life, but he hadn't gotten his opportunity, a true opportunity, and he got it, and that's the most touches he's ever had in a college football game."

Sanders also addressed the offensive line changes.

"We've used different variations of who they are and what they bring to the table," Sanders said.

"Seeing Leon [Bell] at right guard and Larry [Johnson III] at right tackle, that was different because we get ready to go downhill; we get ready to run, so that provoked that change."

Sanders said the team has dialed back the offensive line rotation.

"I think we really only rolled with five last week, but we have seven to eight ready," he said.

Running back Micah Welch's status remains unclear.

"He's getting better," Sanders said.

"I pray [he'll be able to play this week]."

Sanders expressed confidence in his team's ability to respond.

He emphasized that the coaches and players are not showing any quit.

The Buffaloes will travel to Tempe for a road game against Arizona State.

Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.