Nov. 25th – at Utah – Please … Please … Please

Freshman CU quarterback Ryan Staub made his first career start, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough, as the Utes held on for a 23-17 victory in the last regular season Pac-12 game for both teams. Utah senior backup quarterback Luke Bottari was held to 61 yards passing, but scored on two short runs to lead the Utes to the win.

Travis Hunter collected eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, but had two others called back. On one, Hunter stepped out of bounds; on the other, a catch in the end zone was reversed. The latter catch would have given CU a 14-13 halftime lead, but the Buffs instead had to settle for a 47-yards Alejandro Mata field goal and a 13-10 halftime score.

CU’s scores came on a 30-yard trick play pass from wide receiver Jimmy Horn to running back Dylan Edwards, and an 18-yard touchdown pass from Staub to Hunter. On the day, though, the Buffs were held to 262 yards of total offense. The defense held Utah to 329 yards of total offense, but were unable to get off the field in the final 7:26 of the fourth quarter, as the Utes were able to run out the clock after Hunter’s touchdown made it a one score game midway through the quarter.

“We’re certainly heading in the right direction,” Sanders said. “We’re certainly trending forward. We got our butt kicked twice this year in 12 games. There was no winning those two games but every other game we had a shot, and I think that’s progress.”

CU’s fifth one-score loss in the past two months is sending the Buffs into the off-season on a six-game losing streak … While the naysayers will talk about the failed Coach Prime experiment, and complain about the Transfer Portal defections and the lack of a Top 25 Recruiting Class, it says here not to listen …

CU’s Pac-12 finale: “It’s a pride game, so we’ve got to go out there and win” … **Report: Utah down to fourth-string quarterback** … Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Utah Game: No. 1 – Start Fast … Coach Prime: “We’re not an ATM. That’s not gonna happen here” …

A different standard: The Athletic believes ASU’s Kenny Dillingham gets a pass for his 3-9 first season … Michigan State does it again, hires away Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith …

Where will the Buff defensive numbers fall in CU history? … How about the rushing numbers? … Will Shedeur Sanders play – and if he does – how many new CU single season records will he set? … In which category does Shilo Sanders lead the Pac-12? … Which Buff will finish the season leading the team in tackles? …

Happy Thanksgiving! … While there is justifiable reason for the Buff Nation to be disappointed as to how the 2023 season has unfolded, there are also plenty of reasons for the Buff Nation to give thanks … All you need to do is take a look back at where we were one year ago today …

Utah has lost three of its last four games, and will be missing significant talent on the defensive side of the ball this weekend … Will the regular season finale come down to which locker room cares the most? … Third downs and turnovers will make or break CU’s chances at an upset …

The Buffs are three-touchdown underdogs to a team which has lost three of its last four games, and was just blown out by Arizona … Which team still has something to play for? … Can the CU defense and special teams make enough plays to help the struggling CU offense make a game of it? … Let’s find out …