Nov. 13th – UCLA – CU’s (2024) Run For the Roses

Colorado squandered a 20-7 second quarter lead, giving up 37 unanswered points as UCLA ended up routing the Buffs, 44-20. The CU defense gave up only 69 yards rushing to UCLA offense in the first half, before giving up 149 yards rushing – and three touchdowns – in the third quarter alone.

Brendon Lewis threw for 158 yards, including some long completions to Daniel Arias and Brady Russell, but was ineffective in the second half. Jarek Broussard had his second 100-yard game, with 16 carries for 108 yards, but almost all of those yards were in the first half. Alex Fontenot had two one-yard touchdown runs in the first half, but the Buffs settled for field goals instead of touchdowns in first half red zone opportunities … before collapsing in the second half.

“They did a nice job. I take my hat off to them”, said head coach Karl Dorrell of UCLA’s 37-0 run in the second half. “They made the right adjustments at halftime. We thought we were making the right adjustments, but, of course, it didn’t work out that way.”

“The only other game that I remember being like that was the Oregon State game a few years back”, said tight end Brady Russell, who had five catches for 60 yards. “It was really unexpected, so that’s what’s most frustrating about it. I don’t think they elevated their game that much; I felt like we brought our level down after playing so well. It wasn’t that guys weren’t fighting or anything.  It was weird.”

Dateline: January 1, 2025 … Brendon Lewis and Brenden Rice lead the Buffs to CU’s first Rose Bowl appearance … Colorado has not played well against UCLA in the Rose Bowl, but Buff fans have to believe that there will come a day when CU will play in the Rose Bowl – for real …

Utah struggles to get past Arizona, 38-29 … Los Angeles Times: Kelly’s record makes Dorrell’s years at UCLA “seem like the good old days” … Three “Alliance” commissioners propose an alternative 12-team playoff format …

Rooney: CU has a chance to rise out of the “hot mess” which is the Pac-12 … Freshman safety Trevor Woods getting more playing time: “He’s a very smart kid” … Neill Woelk’s Keys to CU at UCLA … Buffs trying to pick up first win of the season over an experienced quarterback …

Magic numbers: 20 (UCLA has won 58 straight when holding opponents under 20 points) … 200 (UCLA is 5-0 when rushing for over 200 yards) … CU and UCLA are virtually tied on the all-time winning percentage list (both at .576) … Mason Crosby will set a CU record this Sunday …

DYK? CU has a better record than does UCLA during the Chip Kelly era, and has a 2-1 record against Kelly and Dorian Thompson-Robinson … UCLA’s numbers (strong rushing offense … lousy pass defense) are similar to those of Oregon State … Can the Buffs defeat a double-digit two weeks in a row? …

The Buffs almost gave away the OSU game, but showed resiliency in coming back from a fourth quarter deficit and the blow of a 60-yard field goal … Can the Buffs’ offense continue playing well (against a porous UCLA defense)? … Or will DTR and the Bruins run over the Buffs’ defense? … Let’s find out …