CONFERENCE CALL.(analysis of college football teams)(Brief Article)

THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT: Sleeper teams

Colorado

He has just three winning seasons in his 11 years as a head coach. His team was 3-8 last season. A once proud program seemingly has faded into one of those magnificent Denver sunsets over the Rockies. Yet there last December was Gary Barnett, his Colorado Buffaloes battling Iowa State--Iowa State?--to stay above the scrum in the Big 12 North Division, talking about playing in the league championship game, perhaps as early as this season. "Why shouldn't that be our goal?" Barnett says. And you believe him, despite the Buffaloes' new perch as the No. 3 team in the state of Colorado behind--get this--Colorado State and Air Force.

Remember, Barnett not so long ago took Northwestern to the Rose Bowl when the Wildcats were living in the same college football house as Duke. One of the nation's best recruiters, he landed three key prospects--QB Craig Ochs and TBs Marcus Houston and Chris Brown--in his first season, and they will be the backbone of the best turnaround in college football this season, Barnett's third in Boulder. The Buffaloes lost five games by a total of 19 points last season. Those games might go the other way this season, vaulting Colorado into a New Year's Day bowl.

Arizona State

The players can laugh about it now. The anticipation and trepidation of the unknown made the first meeting with new coach Dirk Koetter awkward and uneasy. Then he opened his playbook--and a whole new world at Arizona State. "Anytime there's a new coach, there's always the fear of what will be" says QB Jeff Krohn. "But obviously, it's the best thing that could've happened to this team."

ASU long has been considered the sleeping giant of the Pac-10. Top facilities, strong recruiting base, beautiful campus. Now mix in Koetter's wide-open, pass-happy offense, and watch the wins materialize. Krohn is the perfect fit for the offense: a quarterback who makes good decisions and wins. The system should help ASU, a disappointing 6-6 last season, reach new heights.