Dec. 11th – Utah – Breakfast With Champions

Utah went on a 28-0 run in the second half to turn a 21-10 deficit into a 38-21 victory over No. 21 Colorado. Utah freshman running back Ty Jordan, held in check most of the snowy afternoon in Boulder, broke free for a 66-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach after Colorado failed to convert a fourth-and-five in Utah territory down 27-21 with five minutes remaining.

Colorado quarterback Sam Noyer went 16-for-34 for 258 yards and two touchdowns, but also had an interception and a fumble. Jarek Broussard had his career-opening string of 100-yard games come to an end, collecting 80 yards on 14 carries. The lone breakout player for the Buffs on the day was freshman wide receiver Brenden Rice, who had an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first half, and a 61-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter

The game, the earliest kickoff in Folsom Field history (10:05 a.m.), was played in frosty conditions (23-degrees at kickoff, after several inches of snow had blanketed the field overnight). In addition to losing their first game of the season, the Buffs lost their leading tackler, Butkus Award semi-finalist Nate Landman, to a season-ending injury in the first half.

“It’s unfortunate, our guys are disappointed and most of our disappointment is because of our own shooting ourselves in the foot, more so than anything”, Karl Dorrell said. “The turnovers—we had a few dropped passes that were some conversions on third down, that could have happened. We just didn’t play our normal selves”.

CU’s first loss was hard to take, but it would be a mistake to write off Karl Dorrell or the Buffs (even though that is what will happen nationally) … Karl Dorrell: “I’m still encouraged by this football team with how far they’ve come” (we should be, too) …

Pac-12 announcement: USC v. Washington for Pac-12 title (CU or Oregon to fill in if either USC or Washington can’t play) … Arizona fires Kevin Sumlin – list of potential candidates already posted … Tucson.com: Arizona had no choice but to fire Kevin Sumlin after 70-7 rout by ASU …

Quarterback Tyler Lytle announces his intention to transfer … Karl Dorrell: “It’s all for naught if we don’t take care of business this weekend” … Offensive line working through injuries: “You’ve got to fight through it” …

College Football News: CU in a close one over Utah … The Athletic writers favor CU over Utah; ESPN writers not so much … Oregon falls into ESPN’s Bottom Ten … Arizona schools (+CSU) in CBS Bottom 25 … CU earns first College Football Playoff Ranking since 2016 …

Buffs lead the all-time series (but barely), 32-31-3 … Before 1972, the Utes were known as the ________ … CU is 10th in the nation in rushing offense, but Utah is 11th in rushing defense … Utah game earliest in Folsom Field history (by four minutes) …

It will be CU’s first game in the cold, while Utah will be playing its third such game in four weeks … CU and Utah are both at the bottom of the Pac-12 in passing offense – will Sam Noyer be able to take advantage of Utah’s inexperienced secondary? … Which back gets more yards: Jarek Broussard or Ty Jordan? …

The Buffs rally from a 13-0 deficit to defeat Arizona, 24-13 … A review of the win over the Wildcats and other Pac-12 games from last weekend … A discussion of where CU stands in the Pac-12 title chase (hint: Buffs have to defeat Utah first) … Predictions for CU v. Utah …