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Colorado Daily – Kansas State Week
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October 12th
… CU in a few minutes …
Daily Camera: Five Wildcats to Watch
From the Daily Camera …
5 Wildcats to Watch
RB DJ Giddens: One of the top rushers in the country, he’s racked up 604 yards (120.8 per game) and two touchdowns, while adding eight catches for 91 yards and a TD. He had 1,226 rushing yards last year and has 2,348 in his career.
QB Avery Johnson: Made his first start in the Pop Tarts Bowl last year, leading the Wildcats to a win against North Carolina State (178 passing yards, 2 TD; 71 rushing yards, 1 TD). This year, he’s thrown for 879 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions, while rushing for 321 yards and two touchdowns.
LB Austin Moore: K-State’s leading tackler the last two seasons and he currently ranks third on the team with 22 tackles. Last year, he had 63 stops, led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and was named second-team All-Big 12.
DE Brendan Mott: He leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He’s already off to a better start than last year, when he had 27 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, one sack and two pass breakups to receive All-Big 12 honorable mention.
LB Austin Romaine: Sophomore leads the Wildcats with 34 tackles and also has four tackles for loss and two sacks. He was one of the top freshmen in the Big 12 a year ago.
When Kansas State has the ball …
Klieman said this week: “Our identity is 31 (DJ Giddens) right now and as he goes, it opens up everything else.” A junior, Giddens is one of the top running backs in the country, with 604 yards (120.8 per game, 7.3 per carry). Giddens has rushed for 100-plus yards in seven of his last nine games, dating back to last year, but he’s hardly a one-man show. CU transfer Dylan Edwards (201 yards, 6.9 per carry) brings speed to the table and quarterback Avery Johnson is one of the top dual threat quarterbacks around. Johnson has rushed for 321 yards and thrown for 879 this year, while accounting for 11 total touchdowns. “I think any time you’re playing against a team like UCF (on Sept. 28) and also this team this week with a running quarterback, with an option-style principal, you’ve just got to be disciplined,” CU outside linebackers coach Vincent Dancy said. “Everybody’s got to trust one another, and everybody’s got to execute their assignment, because everybody has a different assignment, especially on the edge. So we just have to be very, very disciplined, lock in on our keys and play our assignment.”
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October 11th – Happy Birthday, Folsom Field!
… CU in a few minutes …
… Folsom Field turns 100 today, with the first CU game played at the stadium (not named after Fred Folsom until after WWII) was a 39-0 victory over Regis …
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Neill Woelk’s Keys to the KSU Game
From CUBuffs.com … A victory over the Wildcats would give CU its fifth win of the year halfway through the season. The Buffs haven’t won more than five games in a season since 2016.
How do they pick up that fifth win? Our weekly Fast Five:
1. Contain K-State’s Johnson. The Wildcats quarterback is truly a dual threat. He’s thrown for 879 yards and nine touchdowns and is second on the team in rushing with 321 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also been sacked just four times.
But he is by no means immune to mistakes. In KSU’s loss to BYU, he threw two interceptions, both of which BYU turned into touchdowns. He finished the game with just 130 yards passing with no touchdowns and was sacked once.
The Buffs, who have steadily improved in their pass rush, need to put pressure on him early while also making sure he doesn’t get free around the edge and pick up yards on scrambles. The Buffs had five sacks in their win over UCF, including two by Taje McCoy. If they can put that kind of pressure on Johnson, they’ll greatly increase the chances of forcing a mistake and creating some momentum-switching moments.
2. Continue to win the red zone. Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston‘s crew has been outstanding with their backs to the wall. CU is currently seventh in the nation in red zone scoring percentage, having given up just 13 scores in 21 opponent red zone penetrations — including just nine touchdowns.
That defense proved critical in the win over UCF, when the Buffs came up with two stops when the Knights had created first-and-goal opportunities. One stop came via a Preston Hodge interception in the end zone with the second on a tackle just short of the goal line on fourth down.
Offensively, Colorado has been very efficient in the red zone. In 16 trips inside the 20, CU has scored 14 times, including 11 touchdowns.
If the Buffs can continue to produce those kinds of numbers on both sides, they’ll be in good shape.
… Continue reading story here …
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October 10th
… CU in a few minutes …
Defensive line not satisfied: “We’ve still got more room to improve”
From the Daily Camera …Senior Dayon Hayes, who missed the Buffs’ 48-21 win at Central Florida on Sept. 28 with an undisclosed injury, is “still a little gimpy, but he’s progressing week by week,” defensive ends coach Vincent Dancy said.
Getting Hayes back would be huge for the Buffs, as he posted 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in the first four games.
Yet, without him at UCF, the Buffs doubled their sack total for the year, from five to 10. Redshirt freshman Taje McCoy recorded his first two sacks as a Buff, while Okunlola had his first.
McCoy had been turning heads at practice since arriving in Boulder last year, but finally got his first true opportunity to shine on game day and made the most of it.
“It was just an amazing feeling, honestly, just being able to cheer with my guys too,” he said. “They’re always happy for me. We were all celebrating on the sideline and just coming together with them. My mom, she couldn’t make it to the game, but I know she was going crazy at home; my sister filmed her. Everybody was excited for me. I had a lot of calls after the game. It was an exciting feeling.”
It was good feeling for the entire group, as McCoy, Okunlola and junior Arden Walker combined for 15 tackles, three sacks and four TFLs against UCF, with all three playing a season-high number of snaps.
“Yeah, it shows what we can do when we all firing off,” McCoy said. “We haven’t even reached our pinnacle yet. We’ve still got more room to improve, honestly, so it’s only up from here.”
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RB Dallan Hayden: “Definitely close to being back to 100%”
From the Daily Camera … “First of all, man, it’s a blessing I got to be back out there with the guys,” Hayden said of the UCF game. “Them two games I missed, I hated not being out there because I wanted to help the team, obviously.”
A redshirt sophomore, the 5-foot-10, 205-pouind Hayden has the potential to be the Buffs’ lead running back, although it’s crowded at the top of that competition.
Hayden (85 yards, 1 TD), Isaiah Augustave (117 yards) and Micah Welch (113 yards, 3 TD) rotate and the trio finally got to show off together at UCF, helping the Buffs rush for a season-high 128 yards.
“The run game, man, I feel like we’re getting better each and every week,” Hayden said. “Zay, Micah did a great job while I was out. Then all three of us last game I felt did really good in the run game.”
Hayden said he’s “definitely close back to 100%” healthy, although running backs are rarely fully healthy once a season begins, he said. But, he looked good against UCF and hopes to continue his progress.
He also sees great potential in the Buffs, who have a chance to make a statement on Saturday and prove they are a legitimate contender in the Big 12.
“Everybody on the team, I feel like has a pro mindset,” he said. “Everybody bashes us for bringing a bunch of (transfer) portal guys here, but we brought a bunch of portal guys that came from winning programs on this team. I feel like all the guys are bringing that winning mentality to this team, and we’re doing a really good job. And I can’t wait to keep going.”
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National Football Hall of Fame Inductee Deon Figures to be celebrated during K-State game
From FootballFoundation.org … Colorado and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor 2024 College Football Hall of Fame electee Deon Figures with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments®. The Salute will take place this Saturday, Oct. 12, during the Buffaloes’ home football game against Kansas State, which will kick off at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.
“Deon Figures was the epitome of a shutdown corner during his time at Colorado, combining instinct, speed, and a relentless competitive drive with his unforgettable interception in the 1990 Orange Bowl, which sealed Colorado’s national championship and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest defenders in college football history,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We are thrilled to honor him at Folsom Field as a member of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.”
The Bellflower, California, native becomes the tenth Colorado player to the Hall, joining Byron White (1935-37), John Wooten (1956-58), Joe Romig (1959-61), Dick Anderson (1965-67), Bobby Anderson (1967-69), Herb Orvis (1969-71), Alfred Williams (1987-90), Michael Westbrook (1991-94), and Rashaan Salaam (1992-94). Bill McCartney remains the sole former Colorado head coach who has been inducted.
During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each electee returns to his respective school to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at the institution. The events take place on the field during a home game, and many Hall of Famers cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them one more chance to take the field and be recognized in front of their home crowd.
A consensus First Team All-American, Figures took home the 1992 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. He twice led the team in pass deflections, posting 12 in 1991 and eight in 1992. He led the team with six interceptions in 1992, and he only allowed six completions in more than 400 man-coverage snaps during his prolific senior campaign. Click here for Figures’ complete Hall of Fame bio.
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October 9th
… CU in a few minutes …
*Edge Coach Vincent Darcy talks with the media*
From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …
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CU/Kansas State now officially a sell out
Press release from CUBuffs.com … The University of Colorado football game between the Buffaloes and the Kansas State Wildcats on October 12 has completely sold out.
Last season, every home game completely sold out for the first time in CU history. Season tickets are sold out for the season, and now single game tickets remain and are going fast for CU’s other two games against Utah (Saturday, November 16) and Oklahoma State (Friday, November 29). Get your tickets now!CU’s first known sellout was in 1952 and this is now the first time in 21 seasons that multiple games have sold out in back-to-back seasons and is now the most games that have sold out over a two year stretch in CU history. From 1989-1997, CU sold out multiple games in every season, 32 overall in a 54-game span.
Overall, this will be the fifth straight sellout the Buffs have played on front of, home and away, matching the second-longest streak in CU history and in the Coach Prime Era, this game will be the 16th sellout in 18 games.
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October 8th
… CU in a few minutes …
*Coach Prime Weekly Press Conference (with CU AD Rick George)*
From BuffsTV …
Rick George … “I feel really good about our start in the Big 12 … 4-1 is great, but we still have a lot of work to do … On preliminary approval of House settlement: “I’m excited, as we got some guidance on where this is going” … Buff fans will need to support 5430 Foundation going forward … NIL is going to change, pleased with 5430 to date, as CU was behind on NIL … With the House settlement, some of that will be brought in house (no pun intended) … Goal for CU: To provide similar opportunities as are being provided now (not cut any sports), while competing at the highest level … When the dust settles, CU will be in compliance with Title IX … We need football to elevate our overall program. CU is second overall in the nation in viewership. Need to build on that to increase revenue … There will be cuts, but we want to win championships in all our of sports … Will be creative in additional revenue streams (including concerts) … Seven-for-seven on national television. Lifts up all of CU’s programs. CU on all four networks and ESPN for the first time … Infrastructure needs, including west side of the stadium and the CEC, have to be done in the near future. Need to create premium inventory for basketball … I’d love to have baseball and softball, but nothing can happen in the near future … We hope Coach Prime finishes his career here. We are on the same page as to where we want the program to go. I like the culture he has created … ”
Also … Running back Dallan Hayden … Defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo …
Coach Prime … “Through five games, over 21 million viewers … Just seven points given up in the third quarter this season … Love where we are, but we’re not comfortable … On redshirts: Are you redshirting for us, or are you redshirting for yourself? If they are redshirting for themselves, they should go. There should be an NCAA rule about letting those players go to the team they are talking to … I went to Texas during the bye week. Staff knows that when I get back, I’ll have a list of things I want to get going. It’s tougher on the coaches when I get back, as I come back with that much more passion … You learn from your losses, but you also learn from your victories … If you want a lot, you have to sacrifice a lot. What you put in is what you get out … As quick as national media can jump on, they can jump off, so I don’t pay attention … I don’t want our players to believe that they have arrived – don’t believe the hype … Shilo is ready; he’s a full go … We should have the the entire starting defense this weekend … Team shouldn’t be surprised at being 4-1. How can you be surprised when you put on a new suit, and someone tells you you look good? … We would like to play Nebraska right now … I love the direction we are going in … “.
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October 7th
… CU in a few minutes …
Kickoff time for Arizona game set (CU 7-for-7 on national broadcasts)
Press release from CUBuffs.com … The Colorado Buffaloes road game at Arizona on Saturday, October 19, 2024, will kickoff at 2 p.m. MDT/1 p.m. MST and be televised nationally by FOX.
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October 6th
… CU in a few minutes …
ESPN’s Bill Connelly: K-State Big 12 favorite; CU seventh choice
From ESPN … We’ve now had a pair of particularly monumental top-10 upsets this season: Northern Illinois over Notre Dame and Vandy over Bama. But Week 6 gave us even more. The teams ranked fourth (Tennessee), ninth (Missouri), 10th (Michigan) and 11th (USC) also lost to conference foes, and No. 8 Miami had to rally from 25 points down in the final 20 minutes to avoid falling as well. If you’re a chaos seeker and wishcaster, I should mention that we’ve already seen eight top-10 teams upset by unranked opponents this season, only one behind the pace set in the first six weeks by the 2007 season, aka the granddaddy of all chaos seasons.
While we attempt to collectively will the chaos to continue, we should take stock. The SEC race certainly got flipped all around Saturday, but we also saw potentially impactful upsets in the ACC (SMU over Louisville), Big Ten (Washington over Michigan, Minnesota over USC) and Sun Belt (Louisiana-Monroe over James Madison), plus the race for the Group of 5’s playoff bid (Syracuse over UNLV). Week 6 scrambled both odds and expectations. Using SP+ projected conference title odds, let’s check in with each of FBS’ nine conferences and see where each race stands, at least until Week 7 scrambles everything all over again.
The Big 12 …
Favorites: Kansas State 23.8% (up 0.5%), Iowa State 21.7% (up 1.5%)
Still in contention: Utah 15.4% (up 0.4%), BYU 10.3% (up 1.6%)
Long shots: West Virginia 7.7% (up 5.2%), Texas Tech 6.9% (up 3.4%), Colorado 5.8% (up 0.1%), UCF 2.6% (down 1.6%), Arizona 1.7% (down 5.2%), Cincinnati 1.5% (up 0.1%), Arizona State 1.4% (up 0.3%), TCU 1.1% (down 4.9%)
Two weeks ago, Utah was emerging as almost the sole favorite in the power conference that has seemed most likely to produce chaos and parity. Then the Utes got thumped by Arizona, opening the door for both the conference’s best team on paper (Kansas State, 14th in SP+) and a pair of teams that stubbornly remain unbeaten (Iowa State and BYU).
K-State is a projected favorite in every remaining game but a Week 14 trip to Iowa State, ISU is favored in every game except a Week 13 trip to Utah, BYU is favored in every game except trips to UCF and Utah, and despite a wilting offense that very much misses a healthy Cam Rising — college football has few phrases that feel less likely than “a healthy Cam Rising” — Utah is a favorite in every game.
If those four teams remain the title favorites moving forward, one can see how we might have a really interesting back-and-forth race. But damn near everyone else in the conference still has a puncher’s chance at making a run, too. Texas Tech is 3-0 in conference play following a road upset of Arizona, while West Virginia moved to 2-0 after pummeling a fading Oklahoma State. (Colorado, on bye in Week 6, is also 2-0.) In fact, only three of 16 teams are more than two games from the league lead, and Arizona State’s rousing back-and-forth win over Kansas late Saturday moved the Sun Devils to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. The top two teams in each of the other power conferences have at least a 55% combined chance of winning the title; in the Big Ten it’s 67%. In the Big 12, K-State and ISU combine for just 45.5%. It’s still the field over the favorites here.
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October 5th
… CU in a few minutes …
CU’s front seven playing better: “We were disruptive on the inside at UCF”
From the Daily Camera … A year ago, the Buffs struggled to stop the run, but they’re getting strong efforts from the line and linebackers this year.
“We were disruptive on the inside (at UCF),” defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said. “If we can play that way, if we can dominate with the front seven, the linebackers playing downhill, I can’t say enough about (Nikhai Hill-Green) and (LaVonta Bentley). I mean, the way they played the last two weeks has been really, really special.”
Bentley and Hill-Green have formed a dynamic, hard-hitting duo in the middle of the defense. They’ve also been freed up to make plays because of the efforts up front.
Shane Cokes, in particular, has been a rock on the defensive line this season.
“There’s not a scout that comes by each day that we don’t mention Shane Cokes,” Coach Prime said. “He’s being mentioned where he should be mentioned with the scouts coming to watch. But Shane is a consistent young man, always on time, watches a ton of film, is a born leader.”
Others, such as Anquin Barnes, BJ Green, Amari McNeill and Tawfiq Thomas, have also played well. And, the Buffs got a significant boost from the return of Chidozie Nwankwo, who might be CU’s best defensive tackle. He missed two games with a shoulder injury, but had two tackles in CU’s win in Orlando.
“Chidozie is the leader,” Coach Prime said. “He’s the dog, and everyone follows his footsteps. He is strong as an ox. You really can’t move him, and he gets leverage, and he does his job. The guys kind of feed off that, because he’s a vocal leader, a visible leader, and he works his butt off in practice.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Pat Shurmur: Bye Week comes at a good time
From the Daily Camera … CU has a lot of momentum going on the field with three straight wins, but offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said this has been a good time for the Buffs’ first bye week. They’ll also have a bye in early November.
“This is a great time for us, because just like anytime you’re practicing or training, it’s important for the guys to work on their individual skills,” Shurmur said. “It’s important for us to come together as a team, and then during the bye week they have a chance to kind of rest, recover, and kind of get back to ground zero with their lives, schoolwork, little bit of family time.”
Coaches in particular are relishing family time, as they get to spend some extra time with their spouses and children this week. As defensive coordinator Robert Livingston talked about having some dad time this week, he had to catch his emotions.
“I almost choked up there,” he said. “It’ll be great to be with the kids and do all that stuff. So that’ll be exciting.”
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October 4th
… CU in a few minutes …
CU Freshmen Playing a Role: “It’s a lot of hidden gems”
From the Daily Camera … While the Buffs haven’t signed a lot of high school players (there are 11 true freshmen on scholarship this season), they’ve found some gems from the prep ranks.
The young group is led, of course, by left tackle Jordan Seaton, a five-star recruit from IMG Academy in Florida who was the No. 1-rated offensive lineman in the 2024 class. Seaton had played every offensive snap this season until the Buffs put in a backup group to run out the clock at the end of Saturday’s game at UCF.
After a bumpy start, Seaton has played well in each of the last three games and is CU’s highest rated pass blocker among the regular starters on the line, according to Pro Football Focus.
Micah Welch is CU’s second-leading rusher through five games, with 113 yards. He also leads the team with three rushing touchdowns and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Welch, a three-star recruit this past year, scored twice in a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor, including the game-winner.
… In 2023, 14 true freshmen saw the field for the Buffs, including center Hank Zilinskas (now the Buffs’ full-time starter), dynamic receiver Omarion Miller and pass rusher Taje McCoy.
The Buffs likely won’t reach that same number this year, but there’s no question there are impact players among the youngsters on CU’s veteran roster.
“I can describe it as special,” Welch said of the freshman class. “It’s a lot of hidden gems. You got a lot, like Jordan Seaton, Drelon Miller, myself. We came in to play right off rip, so I knew it was going to be a great class.”
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October 3rd
… CU in a few minutes …
Neill Woelk: Depth Making a Difference
From CUBuffs.com … After five games, the Buffs have proven to be a complete team, thanks to some significant contributions in a number of areas that were question marks when the season began. The Buffs (4-1 overall, 2-0 Big 12) have improved in just about every statistical category compared to a year ago and are now a legitimate contender for a Big 12 championship game berth and College Football Playoff appearance.
Now, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ squad is making the most of a bye week in preparation for CU’s Oct. 12 showdown with Kansas State at Folsom Field (8:15 p.m., ESPN).
Here’s a quick list of players who have helped the Buffs make the jump from a one-dimensional team to a sound, solid overall group.
8. Punter Mark Vassett and kicker Alejandro Mata. Vassett has been solid, averaging nearly 44 yards per attempt with eight kicks downed inside the 20 and five of at least 50 yards.
Mata hasn’t been perfect but he’s 5-for-7 and has delivered some clutch field goals, including two in the final minute of the first half against UCF that gave the Buffs a 27-14 halftime lead.
That’s the kind of dependability and consistency that will be critical as the Buffs continue their Big 12 march.
9. Defensive tackle Chidozie Nwankwo. The 5-11, 290-pound Nwankwo has played in just three games but when he plays, CU is better against the run. He’s been credited with just five tackles but he has one sack and a tackle for loss — and more importantly, he occupies a couple of offensive linemen on every snap.
That opens up the tackling lanes for linebackers Bentley and Hill-Green and keeps opponents behind the sticks. Nwankwo gives the Buffs a much-needed rock in the middle of the run defense and if he stays healthy, he’ll be a key piece to the puzzle down the stretch.
10. CBs DJ McKinney and Preston Hodge. CU fans knew the Buffs would be solid at one corner with Hunter. But McKinney and Hodge have given Colorado the opportunity to use Hunter in a variety of places.
Both have played well at corner. Both have come up with big plays. Hodge has a pair of interceptions while McKinney has 31 tackles, including two for loss, and a team-best five pass breakups.
11. Edge rushers Samuel Okunlola, BJ Green II and Dayon Hayes; defensive linemen Shane Cokes and Taje McCoy. Lots of names here but the Buffs have utilized a nice rotation up front that keeps fresh legs in the game and produces steady production.
Okunlola has 3.5 tackles for loss. Hayes also has 3.5 TFLs with two sacks and Green had four TFLs.
Cokes, meanwhile, has made a big step from last year and shown he has adjusted to the Power 4 game. After not recording a single sack or tackle for loss last season, he has 2.5 TFLs and a sack in the first five games. McCoy, a redshirt freshman, has two sacks and gives Buffs fans plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future.
Overall, that’s the production the Buffs have been needing from the players up front and a big reason why Colorado’s defense is much improved.
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WR Will Sheppard isn’t “back” – Coach Prime: “He never left”
From the Daily Camera … CU (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), which is on a bye this week, is loaded with talent at receiver, with Will Sheppard being one of the best. But, the Vanderbilt transfer had yet to have a breakout game with the Buffs, and he was coming off a disappointing week.
On Sept. 21, Sheppard caught just one pass for five yards in the Buffs’ 38-31 overtime win against Baylor. And, he dropped a deep pass from Shedeur Sanders inside the 5-yard line with two seconds left in regulation and the Buffs trailing 31-24.
It’s debatable whether or not Sheppard would have scored on the play, as he appeared to be falling anyway and CU might have ran out of time and lost the game, but that became irrelevant when the Buffs tied the game on the next play. Shedeur hit LaJohntay Wester on a 43-yard pass to send the game to overtime.
“If Will would have caught the ball (against Baylor), the time would have ran out the clock,” Coach Prime said. “That was God’s hand, man. So we’re grateful that it didn’t happen and I told him that.”
Still, Sheppard wanted some redemption and he came back to post his best game as a Buff on Saturday, hauling in four passes for 99 yards and his 47-yard touchdown. It was his first score in a CU uniform.
“I think everybody saw what happened (against Baylor) and luckily we had LaJohntay come save the day,” Sheppard said. “I tried to not get too down on myself after that, and just know who I am and why I’m here and why I came here. And I think (the game against UCF) proved that and showed that.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Sheppard proved himself numerous times during his four seasons at Vanderbilt. He caught 152 passes for 2,067 yards and 21 touchdowns with the Commodores. He was Vandy’s top receiver in 2022 and 2023.
CU knew it had stars Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. coming back this year, and they also knew they had a rising star in Omarion Miller returning. But, the Buffs jumped at opportunities to land Wester (from Florida Atlantic) and Sheppard because of their proven production.
… Continue reading story here …
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October 2nd
… CU in a few minutes …
John Snelson behind the scenes at UCF game
Colorado vs UCF#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/2jnMzGRxXY
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 2, 2024
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Increased tight end play leading to a more balanced attack
From the Daily Camera … CU’s tendency has been to play with 10-personnel sets (one running back, no tight end, four receivers) the majority of the time and utilize the exceptional depth they have at receiver.
“Obviously, the world knows we’re primarily a 10-personnel team, because that fits what we are personnel wise,” Shurmur said.
CU’s top tight end, Sav’ell Smalls, had played just 22% of the offensive snaps in the first three games of the season. The only other tight end to play was Sam Hart, who saw four total snaps.
In a 38-31 overtime win against Baylor in Week 4, however, Smalls played 32 of 92 snaps (35%) and Hart played five.
Shurmur and the Buffs took that up a notch at UCF, with Smalls playing 42 of 63 snaps (67%) and the other tight ends playing six more. Smalls actually played more snaps than starting receivers LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn Jr. and Will Sheppard.
“I think in order to play a balanced offense where you can run the ball and protect the passer, we have to play in a little bit of 11 (one back, one tight end), and obviously the impact the tight end makes in that is important,” Shurmur said.
The result? With an extra blocker on the field, CU rushed for a season-high 128 yards, while running backs Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch both scored touchdowns.
While using more tight end sets the past two games, the Buffs have had five rushing touchdowns. They had none in the first three games. Emphasizing the run a bit more, the Buffs have averaged 109.3 yards on the ground the last three weeks after averaging 37.5 in the first two games.
Shurmur gives credit to Smalls, a converted defensive end, for his role in helping the offense post 418 yards and 41 points at UCF.
… Continue reading story here …
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October 1st
… CU in a few minutes …
*OC Pat Shurmur and DC Robert Livingston post-practice talk with media*
From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …
*OC Pat Shurmur … The world knows we’re primarily a 10 formation team (one running back; four wide receivers), but with improved tight end play, CU can use some different formations … Self-scouting a primary focus during the bye week … It’s important not to overreact too heavily to the earlier part of the journey because these are young guys by and large figuring things out for the first time … Travis has shown he can play professionally on both sides of the ball; it will be up to the NFL team who picks him to choose how to use him … Dre’lon Miller: He’s really good at football, and we want to use him in various positions …
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*DC Robert Livingston … We talk about family, and having a tribe mentality … Travis is a unicorn. We try to just not mess him up and let him do his thing … Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig – He’s the heartbeat, our unquestioned leader. Everything you want in a player and a leader … (On red zone success): The rallying cry: Yards don’t equal points. Just tighten the screws when you have to … You’re only given 12 opportunities, so we have to make the most of every opportunity … It’s players, not plays. Each week you have to look at your opponent, and take away their best options, and make them play left-handed …
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September 30th
… CU in a few minutes …
CU’s improved defense in two words: Robert Livingston
From the Daily Camera … Colorado safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig offered a simple explanation for why the Buffaloes played so well defensively on Saturday.
“His name is coach Rob Livingston,” the senior said following CU’s thorough 48-21 dismantling of Central Florida at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
From the time head coach Deion Sanders took over the CU program in December of 2022, the Buffaloes have always had the threat of a dynamic offense led by Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter.
Yet, five games into Year 2 of the Coach Prime era, it’s time to take serious notice of the Buffs’ defense.
“The way he coaches, the scheme that he sets up for us, it’s a scheme that all of us love to play, and it plays to all of our strengths,” Silmon-Craig said.
CU (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), which has a bye this week, doesn’t have a statistically dominant defense, but that unit has more strengths than a year ago, comes up big in the biggest moments, and is no longer the liability that it was in 2023.
In fact, it might be the more reliable side of the ball for a CU squad that is riding a three-game winning streak.
“I give coach Rob Livingston all the credit,” Silmon-Craig said. “I mean, players we go out and execute and play our heart out for him every day, but I give Coach Rob all the credit.”
… Continue reading story here …
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Big 12 After Dark: CU v. Kansas State set for 8:15 p.m., MT (ESPN)
Press release from CUBuffs.com … The Colorado Buffaloes home game against Kansas State on Saturday, October 12, 2024, will kickoff at 8:15 p.m. MT and be televised nationally by ESPN.
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CBS 1-134: Buffs (finally) make a big move
From CBS Sports … A strong start to the 2024 college football season was taken to the next level during a Week 5 slate highlighted by an instant classic and controversial finishes that led to plenty of shakeup in the rankings. And while there are sizable changes throughout the CBS Sports 134, our comprehensive ranking of every FBS team, the latest update is most notable for yet another change at No. 1.
At the start of the year, it was Georgia battling with Ohio State before the Bulldogs nearly took sole control of the top spot after a statement win against Clemson. Then Texas rolled into the Big House and stunned Michigan in Week 3 to make its move to the top of our rankings, which are compiled by ballots from experts across CBS Sports and 247Sports. Now, after beating Georgia in a battle of the sport’s titans on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, it’s Alabama that makes a jump from No. 5 all the way to No. 1 in the rankings.
The Bulldogs dropped down to the Crimson Tide’s previous spot of No. 5 after the defeat, six spots ahead of any other one-loss team. A similar drop came for Ole Miss after the Rebels fell to Kentucky at home, down six spots to No. 13 but still among the top one-loss teams in the rankings. That led to some resorting within the top 10, but those changes are far from the biggest ones in a week that saw voters reacting swiftly to the changing landscape.
These conference battles have given voters real data points that help in splitting ties between teams with similar records. Here, we saw 12 teams from the top 30 of last week’s rankings move at least five spots up or down following the Week 5 results. There are penalties for teams like Ole Miss and Louisville suffering the first loss of the season but also increased belief in BYU (up five spots to No. 14), a bounce back for Kansas State (up nine spots to No. 21) and more necessary shuffling after the weekend.
Biggest movers
- No. 41 Colorado (+18): Now 2-0 in conference play with wins against Baylor and UCF, Colorado has placed itself firmly in the Big 12 title race. The Buffs are finding different ways to win, too, which is a mark of a team that’s built to contend throughout the ups and downs of a league schedule.
- No. 43 Oklahoma State (-17): A competitive start to Saturday’s loss at Kansas State inspired some hope that maybe the Pokes would find a form close to their preseason projections. But after the double-digit defeat, our voters are selling Oklahoma State stock fast.
- No. 45 UCF (-22): The Knights have been climbing up in the rankings with an undefeated start but have quickly been knocked back to something close to their starting position after a blowout home loss to Colorado.
From the Big 12 …
- No. 10 – Iowa State … up three spots from last week
- No. 14 – BYU … up five spots
- No. 18 – Utah … down eight spots
- No. 21 – Kansas State … up nine spots
- No. 27 – Arizona … up nine spots
- No. 31 – Nebraska … up one spot
- No. 41 – Colorado … up 18 spots
- No. 43 – Oklahoma State … down 17 spots
- No. 45 – UCF … down 22 spots
- No. 50 – Texas Tech … up three spots
- No. 54 – Arizona State … down nine spots
- No. 57 – TCU … up seven spots
- No. 66 – Cincinnati … down five spots
- No. 67 – West Virginia … down 13 spots (despite not playing last Saturday)
- No. 80 – Baylor … down 12 spots
- No. 85 – Kansas … down 14 spots
- No. 98 – Houston … down three spots
- No. 106 – Colorado State … down one spot
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September 29th
… CU in a few minutes …
Coach Prime: “I feel like we’re trending in the right direction”
From the Daily Camera … While the 2023 Buffs stumbled after a hot start, the 2024 Buffs are doing the opposite. They slugged past North Dakota State 31-26 in the opener and got rolled at Nebraska, 28-10, in Week 2.
Since then, the Buffs have routed rival Colorado State 28-9 on the road, rallied past Baylor for a miraculous 38-31 overtime win on Sept. 21 and then completely dominated a heavily-favored UCF squad on a rainy, humid Orlando afternoon.
“I feel like we’re trending in the right direction,” Coach Prime said. “I feel like you guys are seeing the fruit of a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, great hires … bringing the right guys in with the right attitude, the right work ethic. I love where we are as a program. I really do. Could we be better? Of course, I think everyone can, but I know we’re trending in the right direction.”
The shift began at halftime in Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 7. After a horrible first half, the Buffs went into the locker room down 28-0 to the Cornhuskers. In the second half, CU outscored the Huskers 10-0 and held them to 121 yards in offense.
That night, Coach Prime said he didn’t remember what he said to the team at the half, but added, “I just try to really get in their minds, get in their hearts, and just try to propel us to the next level.”
Whatever was said worked and CU has been impressive since, for the most part.
At Colorado State on Sept. 14, the Buffs faced a significant challenge against a bitter in-state rival in its backyard. CU answered the challenge and smacked the Rams.
On Sept. 21, the Buffs were backed into a corner, down 31-24 in the final seconds. They answered that challenge, too, with a last second prayer to tie the game before winning it in overtime.
Saturday, they faced a hyped up UCF squad that was favored by 14 points. Again, the Buffs met the challenge head-on and dominated.
“I challenged a multitude of young men in different ways; ways that they were capable of handling the challenge,” Coach Prime said after Saturday’s game. “And they stepped up, they stepped out and they did the doggone thing. And I’m proud of each and every one of them. … I’m so darn proud of where we are. We could be in a whole different place right now, but we’re going into the break, what’s the record? Because I’m one game at a time.”
The group of reporters in the room collectively said, “4-1.”
“Say it again. I just wanted to hear y’all say it collectively and you all fell for it,” he said with a laugh. “We’re 4-1 right now going into the break, and I’m so excited. You have no idea. It’s gonna be really good plane ride tonight.”
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Neill Woelk: CU has a legitimate, play-well-in-all-three-phases team
From CUBuffs.com … All those questions folks had about Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes?
(Checks notes … )
Asked and answered in Saturday’s 48-21 thumping of UCF.
Improved run game? A very efficient 128 yards on 29 carries (4.4 average) with 10 first downs on the ground.
Improved pass protection? Two sacks allowed.
Improved run defense? The nation’s leading rushing team at 375 yards per game finished with a very pedestrian 177 on 44 carries.
Improved turnover margin? Four forced turnovers leading to 14 points while giving it up just once (and that one the Colorado defense negated by collecting an end zone interception).
Big 12 contenders? Just ask every other conference coach who took note of Saturday’s game and whispered to themselves, “Uh oh …”
Indeed.
The Buffs are a good team. Along with having two of arguably the top 20 players in the nation — one of whom is arguably THE best — they have a legitimate, play-well-in-all-three-phases team.
… Continue reading story here …
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Four Big 12 Teams ranked between 16-20; Oklahoma State falls out; Colorado gets one vote
From ESPN … Alabama returned to No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll for the first time in two years Sunday following its dizzying victory over Georgia, making this 16 of 17 seasons the Crimson Tide has held the top spot at some point.
UNLV, unbeaten through four games for the first time in its Division I history, cracked the rankings for the first time ever just days after losing its starting quarterback over an NIL dispute. The Rebels are tied for No. 25 with Texas A&M.
Alabama received 40 of 63 first-place votes and leapfrogged three teams to take over No. 1 from Texas, which tussled with Mississippi State deep into the second half as a five-touchdown favorite and slipped to No. 2. The Longhorns got 19 first-place votes, well off last week’s 44.
Ohio State remained No. 3 with four first-place votes. Tennessee, which had an open date, moved up a spot to No. 4. Georgia, whose only three losses since 2021 have come to Alabama, dropped to No. 5.
Oregon, Penn State, Miami, Missouri and Michigan rounded out the top 10.
Ole Miss and Utah took the biggest falls. The Rebels, upset by Kentucky at home, dropped from No. 6 to No. 12. The Utes, who lost to Arizona at home, went from No. 10 to No. 18.
Associated Press Top 25 …
| 1. Alabama (40) | 4-0 |
| 2. Texas (19) | 5-0 |
| 3. Ohio State (4) | 4-0 |
| 4. Tennessee | 4-0 |
| 5. Georgia | 3-1 |
| 6. Oregon | 4-0 |
| 7. Penn State | 4-0 |
| 8. Miami | 5-0 |
| 9. Missouri | 4-0 |
| 10. Michigan | 4-1 |
| 11. USC | 3-1 |
| 12. Ole Miss | 4-1 |
| 13. LSU | 4-1 |
| 14. Notre Dame | 4-1 |
| 15. Clemson | 3-1 |
| 16. Iowa State | 4-0 |
| 17. BYU | 5-0 |
| 18. Utah | 4-1 |
| 19. Oklahoma | 4-1 |
| 20. Kansas State | 4-1 |
| 21. Boise State | 3-1 |
| 22. Louisville | 3-1 |
| 23. Indiana | 5-0 |
| 24. Illinois | 4-1 |
| 25. UNLV | 4-0 |
| 25. Texas A&M | 4-1 |
Others receiving votes … Others receiving votes: Arizona 106, Pittsburgh 42, Nebraska 30, Boston College 18, Iowa 17, James Madison 13, South Carolina 8, Oklahoma State 8, Rutgers 7, Navy 6, Kentucky 6, SMU 4, Army 2, Colorado 1
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26 Replies to “Colorado Daily”
This comment belongs on the other thread, but I will place it here. There is EVERY indication that the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences (based on comments over the course of the past year and decisions regarding future scheduling) are fully intending to move to a form of the American Conference and National Conference in the NFL. Those two conferences do not see a need for 100+ or even 70+ “schools.” They see roughly a NFL style 32-team “league” without anyone else “invited.”
If their “model” comes to fruition, the ACC, Big 12 along with Notre Dame and schools in ALL of the other conferences will be “on the outside looking in.” Television networks will “love it,” but the nature of “college football” seems to be more all encompassing than 32 (or so) schools.
Do you think the Big Ten and Southeast Conference Commissioners, presidents of institutions in those two conferences, and networks can be stopped before the two conferences sign a “mega” television deal with the all of the “outsider Institutions” left out in the cold?
Yes.
Pro teams are aligned to cities.
College loyalties carry a layer of rings, people who are nearby but didn’t attend, alumni, and others who choose their team for other reasons.
For me, in the nfl, my first team was that team from dc. Because I was born and spent early years in va. Next pro team was the Seahawks. Because I grew up largely in wa.
College? Buffs all the way. Alumnus. Pac 12 and big 12 due to conference affiliation.
It’s different.
They cannot exclude the wazzus, osu’s bay’s and sdsu’s without killing eyeballs.
NFL could have killed the packers. NBA the kings. They didn’t, because eyeballs matter.
Will they realize this? I think so.
I may be a dreamer though.
Go Buffs
I hope your insights come to pass. Your description of college football being different than the NFL is, in my view, on target with regard to the “fan.” Will television executives, the gambling establishments, and University presidents in the Big Ten and SEC agree? I sure hope the short-term lure of the almighty dollar does not, over the long term, destroy the wonderful sport of college football.
Just viewed this,… So sad,…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4lx1fzQfvc
Project Rudy and the other one with 72 teams are a good start. Once they realize it needs to be all 130 whatever d1 schools, and revenue sharing means the big dogs support the little guys, like in every major league, it’ll all work out. With regional divisions.
Go Buffs
I am starting to love being an underdog…..let’s play with a chip on our shoulder.
so Pat
you mentioned individual skills. What are going to do over the bye? Watch some opponents game film and design some new stuff for them? or just work in the yard and on your stamp collection?
More better blocking schemes? more pre snap motion and fake handoffs?
Did you see the well executed new wrinkle fake punt that Mich ST pulled off? or the perfectly timed and executed reverse by Navy? Lotta cool stuff going on out there in college football world. Unfortunately some teams are still over using that pass to the WR at the line or slightly behind. How many times has that worked for first down yardage for us with 5 or more yards to go? I cant remember one. Maybe thats because of the trauma I experience that shuts me down everytime I see it.
I feel your pain re: WR screen to flat.
Since today is optimists day, it is possible all three of those poll question answers happen.
Go Buffs
I agree and it could be said that for Hunter to win, the team must do at least eight or more wins, and competing for the Big12 would make him stand out even more. All three could happen if the last game is the beginning of improvement and the team is still coming together/improving compared to if it’s becomes one of their best games.
I think it was the Buffs best game to date, but there’s more improvement and adjustments to come. UCF is good, but they haven’t played a ranked team, their stats before the Buffs are from 2 of 3 games that were against cupcakes.
are they really going to let Shurmur recruit?
You should probably be his stand in?
Go Buffs
On the offense….yes even in my limited capacity. If nothing else I could show a modicum of passion as opposed to you. I can see you sitting in a players living room with his parents saying “ya know we will be ok and happy even if we lose”
Passion. Yes. That is funny.
Go Buffs
funny to those without. Love to hear how your wrestling turned out.
lets see how far we can go till you get the last word.
Fine. You win. Wrestling turned out well. Thanks for asking.
Go Buffs.
I love Silmon-Craig as a player, I love how well Livingston’s defense has played to date, and I love that we’ve embraced running the ball (at least kinda/sorta). As a middle-aged, East Coast Buff the 10:15 PM kickoff time for K-State is a tall order. Think I’ll begin napping now to ensure I bank the sleep I’ll need!
What if Shedeur and Travis decide to come back for one more year together?
Talk amongst yourselves.
Go Buffs
Shedeur already played two full years at Jackson State before coming to CU.
Unless you are suggesting he red-shirt (perish the thought!), after his first snap against KSU he will be done after this year.
Rats. I confused myself again.
Go Buffs
The Buffs are one of the most watched teams on TV and they scheduled the game for a late night time slot?
Probably didn’t want to compete with Ohio State at Oregon (5:30 p.m., MT, kickoff).
The CU/CSU game last year was an 8:15 kickoff on ESPN, and drew 10 million viewers, so I’m thinking ESPN is hoping that a large number of Ohio State/Oregon viewers will stay up to watch CU/Kansas State.
There are also games like: Oklahoma/Texas; Penn State/USC; and Ole Miss/LSU.
CU/Kansas State, even with Prime playing a ranked conference opponent, doesn’t move the needle as much as the other games.
Still, this will make 6/6 for national games for CU.
Yes, they made a good choice. Lots of eyeballs. I’m just not looking forward to getting home from the game at 2am. Ugh.
I hate it. Won’t get back to my friend’s house in Highlands Ranch until 1:00 … write up for the game will take until 2:00 … get up at 6:00 to write my essay … off to the airport at 8:30 for my trip home.
YUCK!
I understand now thanks Stuart. I was only looking at the Big12 games and I guess it’s better than espn2 during the day.
I told my friend that I wanted the Buffs to win at UCF, but I’d be OK with them being just outside of the top 25. She questioned why I didn’t want them to be ranked, my response was “I’ve seen them get into the top 25 before just to lose and fall out the next game, I don’t want it to go to their heads and I want them hungry for their next game(s).”
Seeing them win the way they did was great and I/we want to see that continue and I think they can continue to grow and become a top team in the conference… The rankings will follow if the Buffs handle their business, I believe they have a group of leaders on the team and coaches that can keep them focus and on course.