Oct. 26th – Cincinnati – This One’s For Peggy … And For The Rest of Us

Colorado gained bowl eligibility with a sixth win, defeating Cincinnati with a balanced effort from both the offense and defense. The Buff offense scored on all four offensive possessions in the first half to take a 24-14 lead into the break, with the defense making it hold up. A 47-yard field goal by CU kicker Alejandro Mata with 1:39 to play gave the Buffs their final two-score cushion, raising CU’s record to 6-2, 4-1 in Big 12 play.

Shedeur Sanders completed 25-of-30 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns, also scoring on a four-yard run. Travis Hunter collected both touchdown passes, with Hunter catching nine passes for a season-high 153 yards. Isaiah Augustave led the CU rushing attack with 91 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, with the Buffs going over 100 yards rushing (123) for the second game in a row.

“We’re excited with some of the things that we’re doing,” Coach Prime said. “We really are. But some of the things are still a work in progress. We’re happy about some things. We’re happy about some of the players and what they’re doing. I got to see the film to see what everyone truly did and clean up some of the mistakes we made because we shouldn’t have let that game get that close. But we got the ‘W. ‘That’s what counts.”

Saturday, October 22, 2016.

A sunny autumn day in the San Francisco Bay area, with an afternoon temperature in the mid-60s.

For the residents of Palo Alto, it was a fine day for sailing, hiking or antiquing. Or, for some 44,535 Stanford fans, a chance to take in a football game between the 5-2 Colorado Buffaloes and the 4-2 Stanford Cardinal.

The game was a rock fight. The Colorado offense was sluggish all afternoon. The Buffs failed to convert opportunities, with CU kickers missing three-of-four field goal attempts. The Stanford offense, meanwhile, was stymied, with the Buff defense forcing four turnovers.

In the end, Colorado emerged with a victory, posting a win with a unique score of 10-5 (the Buffs took a safety in the final seconds, rather than risk a punt being blocked out of the end zone).

The win propelled the Buffs into the national rankings, setting the stage for a run to a 10-2 regular season record, and a berth in the Pac-12 championship game.

The victory over Stanford also gave Colorado a 6-2 overall record, with the Buffs achieving bowl-eligibility for the first time in nine seasons.

Game Day! … Daily Camera: Five Bearcats to Watch … Kordell Stewart: “They’re playing that balanced-style football which is what we did” … Neill Woelk’s Keys to the Cincinnati game …

UC: “Transfer Central”? … Buffs over Bearcats historically (and by wide margins) … Stats: CU’s good offense v. UC’s good defense … Folsom Field and UC’s stadiums share a history …

Week Eight TV ratings: CU/Arizona most watched Big 12 game … CBS list of ten most disappointing teams includes four Big 12 teams … ESPN: CU and Cincinnati “long shots” in Big 12 title race … Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig resigns …

The Game-of-the-Year in college football, with No. 2 CU at No. 3 Nebraska … CU’s wastes a chance at a second national title in a disappointing game … Darius Holland: “They totally and honestly just whipped our ass” …

Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby may be one of the best QB’s you’ve never heard of … Bearcats used to playing close games (but not night games) … CU’s defensive stats are compelling …

Both teams are 5-2, 3-1 … Will the CU offense be able to score against a Cincinnati defense giving up less than 20 points per game? … Will the Bearcat defense be able to hold back CU’s high-powered offense? … Will the late night (and altitude) help CU secure Win No. 6? … Let’s find out …