Sep. 14th – at Colorado State – Don’t Go Away Mad, Just Go Away

Colorado defeated Colorado State for the seventh straight game, winning the Rocky Mountain Showdown, 28-9. In the first game played between the teams in Ft. Collins since 1996, the Buffs spotted the Rams a 3-0 first quarter lead, but then scored the next 28 points to pull away for the victory. Playing before a Canvas Stadium record crowd of 40,099, the Buffs posted 419 yards of total offense, holding CSU to 340, with the game marred by 22 penalties (12 going against the Buffs for 111 yards).

Buff quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 36-of-49 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns, with two apiece for wide receivers Travis Hunter and LaJohntay Wester. Hunter finished the game with 13 catches for 100 yards, becoming the first player in CU history to ever post four straight games with over 100 yards receiving (though not without controversy, with Sanders targeting Hunter late, getting Hunter a ten yard catch late when running the ball would have been the more strategic move).

Colorado was led on the ground by freshman running back Micah Welch, who led the Buffs with 65 yards on only nine carries. Overall, the CU rushing attack, which had a grand total of 75 yards rushing in the first two game, posted 109 yards on only 19 carries. A week after surrendering six sacks to Nebraska, the Buff offensive line gave up only one late sack to the Rams.

“Great, darn victory,” Coach Prime said. “Offensive line was phenomenal; did a great job not only run blocking, but pass blocking as well. The defense picked up right where it left off in the second half of last week’s game, and started the game and kept the momentum the entirety of the game.

“We did what we needed to do to come out here with a victory. We just really wanted it to be decisive.”

There were any number of reasons for the Colorado State faithful to be looking forward to their rematch against Colorado in Ft. Collins this weekend …

— The Buffs were coming off of an embarrassing, demoralizing, and humbling 28-10 loss to Nebraska, with the score not indicative of the beating. Colorado was down 14-0 before the game was fully underway, with the Buffs down 28-0 at the half. The offensive line was a sieve, giving up six sacks, and the Buff rushing attack was non-existent, not getting into positive numbers until the final drive of the game. In short, everything which had been a problem in the second half of the 2023 season, when the Buffs finished the season with a six-game losing streak, was back in full focus. The Buff Nation was demoralized, with bickering and second-guessing in full voice on the message boards;

— Meanwhile, in Ft. Fun, the Rams had shaken off a demoralizing loss of their own in the season opener with a workmanlike 38-17 win over Northern Colorado. It wasn’t a signature win, but there were plenty of positives to build upon, especially with an schedule which included CU and a hapless UTEP team left in non-conference play before taking on a weakened Mountain West schedule;

Game Day! … Drew Litton’s take on the RMS … John Snelson’s Rivalry Video … Shedeur Sanders Draft status: “Don’t see a top-five pick; he’s probably a first round guy” … Neill Woelk’s Keys to the CSU game …

Who will join the “Pac-6” to get the conference to (at least) eight teams? … Boise State, CSU, Fresno State and San Diego State to join the “Pac-12” … The Athletic: If Shedeur wants to be the No. 1 Draft Pick, he needs to act like the No. 1 pick …

CU has more wins over CSU in Ft. Collins (23) than CSU has in the history of the series (22) … Travis Hunter targeted only six times in 128 defensive plays … Looking back at last season’s 43-35 double OT thriller …

Ready for a pick-me-up? … Game Three of the 1994 season was the memorable “Miracle in Michigan” … Here’s the full game story, the full game video, a video of the last minute of play, and an interview with Kordell Stewart … Enjoy! …

Buffs haven’t lost to CSU since 2014, and haven’t lost to CSU in Ft. Collins since … 1955 … Will Tory Horton play (and collect another 16 receptions, like last year)? … Will CU’s defense show up (in the first half this time)? … Let’s find out …

Can CU right the ship in arguably the easiest game remaining on the schedule? … Can the Buffs figure out its offensive line play, creating holes for the running game, while also protecting the passer? … Can the Buffs avoid their first loss to the Rams since 2014? … Let’s find out …

CU carries a six-game winning streak over CSU into this year’s game … But this year’s game will be the first in Ft. Collins since 1996, and, while the Buffs tend to beat the Rams regularly, the contests are usually close (including last year’s 2OT game) …