The Buffs are in great position for a postseason push.
How happy are you with the Buffs’ 6-2 start?
Sam: Could not possibly be happier. This is the second time in the last 20 years the Buffs have been ranked this late in the season. We have the best QB in school history, the most talented CFB player since Cam Newton, a nasty receiving corps, and a pack of dawgs led by people’s hero Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig. This team is amazing and the Coach Prime era has been a resounding success.
Ryland: It’s hard to describe how happy I am with the Buffs this season. Not only are they crushing any expectations we’ve set for them, but they’re playing a fun brand of football while doing it. CU’s receiving corps might legitimately be the best in the entire country and the defense has surprised everyone by being lock-down, especially on the defensive line. Watching Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders play for my alma mater every Saturday is an unreal feeling and something I’m trying not to take for granted.
Jake: 6-2 is a great start for the Buffs after many of us expected them to have some growing pains this season. With the Buffs bringing in transfers at key positions this year it’s understandable that they had a rough first few games. From barely escaping an FCS team to getting blown out in Lincoln, this season didn’t start pretty. The Buffs accomplished exactly what they have needed to do up until this point though, improve with each week and grow as a team. if they continue to play well the Buffs have set themselves up for a real shot at a Big 12 championship game.
Jack: Too much sunshine above me here. 6-2 is realistically as good as anyone could expect before the season. However, people also expected the Colorado Buffaloes to play more good teams before the season began. This gauntlet of a schedule has turned into a cupcake in front of us. The Buffs are winning the games they have to. They look great doing it. But it’s hard to look at the 1st of Nebraska or the last drive of Kansas State and not feel a little twinge of regret. Especially Kansas State. Man, if Shedeur Sanders doesn’t throw the worst pick of his career....If CU isn’t in man coverage on the last drive....7-1 sounds really good right now.
What’s something you could change or do over?
Sam: This might be mean, or it might get us in trouble, but Shilo Sanders is the worst football player I have ever seen (JACK NOTE: Sam blocked out the 2022 season). We probably beat Kansas State without him and it’s only a matter of time before his missed tackles, botched coverages and 15-yard penalties cost us again. Other than that maybe we can do better containing mobile QBs and covering RBs and TEs but that’s normal.
Ryland: There’s one particular night in Lincoln, Nebraska that I would love for the Buffs to have back. They just didn’t play a good game. The offensive game plan was atrocious, we couldn’t run the ball, Shedeur threw the ugliest pick-six I’ve ever seen him throw, and the defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed in the first half. I know it doesn’t help us in the race for a conference championship, but I want another shot at the Huskers. At this point in the season, I think we’d kill them.
Jake: I wish I could change the play call on the deep pass play Kansas State had to secure the victory. With less than two minutes left Kansas State had to score a touchdown to win the game, and we came out in press man coverage and got burned over the top. To this day I see no reason why we shouldn’t have been in a more conservative coverage with the game on the line. It would’ve been a huge win, and Colorado would still be undefeated in the conference if we had won that game.
Jack: Jake is right. I would personally change Shedeur’s pick that game. Just a field goal in that situation lets CU win that game. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. That Kansas State game is a missed opportunity.
Personally?
Really wish I took out a second mortgage to bet on the UCF moneyline again. Would’ve been nice to blog from a private jet.
What is Colorado’s path to Big 12 contention? And what has to happen?
Sam: This is kind of a bad question because of course we have to win a bunch of football games. At Texas Tech, vs. Utah, at Kansas and vs. Oklahoma State is not a bad schedule. It looked brutal before the season but the latter three have combined for a 2-13 record in Big 12 football. If the Buffs win out, they may need some help — BYU could lose a game, or else Iowa State and Kansas State will knock each other out in their regular season finale.
Ryland: First and foremost, Colorado has to win out. At Texas Tech will be a tough test, but Kansas, Utah, and Oklahoma State are all broken teams and should be easier. Secondly, they’ll need BYU and Iowa State to lose, ideally twice. Lastly, Kansas State has to lose two conference games. The good news is that two of those things happened last week when Iowa State and K-State both lost. If the Buffs win out and K-State beats ISU in Farmageddon, CU will play in Dallas this December. That Farmageddon matchup to close the regular season is now an extremely important game for the Buffs’ playoff hopes.
(Sidenote: these huge conferences are kinda lame honestly. Can we please bring back divisions so everyone plays each other again? It’s BS that we could get left out of the championship game just because we don’t play BYU and Iowa State.)
Jake: If we can win the next five games and get a little help from some other Big 12 teams we will make the college football playoffs. I think it’s possible, and I do believe that Colorado is either the best or second best team in the Big 12 this season. BYU makes a pretty good case for best team in the conference and I think Iowa State may get humbled again here soon.
Jack: This conference turned itself upside down, which really helps the Buffs. Somehow, skipping BYU and ASU, which seemed to be a curse, turned out really well. Now, CU has to step through some broken teams to get to the championship game. Travis Hunter is healthy. Shedeur Sanders has a line and a running game. Those two need to take their last four college games by the horns and go hard as hell.
What’s the best-case scenario for this team moving forward?
Sam: I don’t think it will happen, but making the playoff is possible. The Buffs would have to win five straight games, including the Big 12 Championship, against teams that they’re better than or just as good as. Whatever happens, we have to stay healthy, clean up some coverage mistakes, and stay strong against these run-heavy opponents coming up on the schedule.
Ryland: Colorado’s best-case scenario would be winning the Big 12 and making it to the College Football Playoffs. They have the talent to do it, but they’ll need some help from around the Big 12 to make it happen. Even if they get blown out in the CFP, just making it to a New Year’s Six bowl is a monumental achievement. I’d be very happy just to have the Buffs be there.
Jake: I still think there’s a chance Colorado can represent the Big 12 in the college football playoff. They will need to win out and stay healthy, but everything is in front of this team.
Who are your offensive and defensive MVPs so far?
Sam: I mean, it’s Shedeur and Travis, but I would die for both Jimmy Horn and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig. Horn would be our best (and most exciting) receiver since Laviska Shenault but he’s third on the team in receptions (we’re so stacked). He’s disgusting in the open field and I loved the taunting penalty he had against Cincy.
Ryland: It would be disingenuous to give the offensive MVP to anyone other than Shedeur. He’s the best QB this school has ever seen and is going to be a top-five pick in this year’s draft. The guy straight-up just rocks. Defensively, it’s probably Travis Hunter, but I’ll be more fun and give it to Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig. Cam has been this unit’s eyes and ears all season long. He’s their biggest leader and has been doing a fantastic job of manning the ship defensively. You rarely ever see him getting beat over the top and he’s a sneaky hard hitter. He deserves way more love than he’s getting and should get drafted this offseason.
Jake: My offensive MVP is undoubtedly Shedeur Sanders. Every week he proves to the nation that he could be the number one pick in the draft come April. This team will only go as far as Shedeur can take them. Defensively I think the MVP is Travis Hunter. He is absolutely lockdown on the outside, which enables the rest of this defense to make big plays across the rest of the field. This defensive scheme does not work near as well without Travis, and as DC Robert Livingston said this week, it all starts with Travis.
Jack: I love going last in these because I have no expectation to pick the “right” answer, I just get to pick my dudes. Offensively, give it up for LaJohntay Wester. That dude is open quicker than anyone I’ve ever seen in a Buffs uniform. The Baylor Hail Mary lives forever, but it’s his 3rd and 7 tricker that keeps this offense ticking. He just makes people miss. What a wideout. Defensively, these idiots let me be the first person to mention Nikhail Hill-Green. The defense
changed when he entered the starting lineup. He’s mean, he’s fast and he stops all momentum. The defensive line is a moat, but Hill-Green is the castle wall. He makes the position fun to watch.
Who’s your unsung hero?
Sam: Now I can talk more about Silmon-Craig. He’s ****en Bob Sanders in the box, throwing himself around with no regard for anyone’s safety, least of all his own. Unlike someone else doing kinda the same thing, CSC reads the game, flies around the field, and actually wraps up on his tackles.
Ryland: Nikhai Hill-Green! It’s unbelievable that this man wasn’t starting at linebacker to start the season. He evidently watches a LOT of film because he’s always in the right place at the right time. He gets downhill fast and has been a game-changer for this defense.
Jake: The right answer here is Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig. He doesn’t get the recognition he deserves but he is the vocal leader of this defense. He is a good all around polished strong safety who can play all over the field, and makes some of the biggest tackles in just about every game.
Jack: Oh my god, these guys keep giving me the easiest answers in the world, this is amazing. Give me some D.J. McKinney. We saw last year that being opposite Travis Hunter is not an easy spot to play on the field. McKinney is good in run support and he is glue on those man routes. He has grown into his role and looks every part of the future NFLer that Coach Prime says he is. Also, because he needs to be mentioned somewhere in this article, Jordan Seaton is easily the best offensive lineman on the roster. He allows this team to run the ball, full stop. That’s pretty important.
Predictions!
Colorado wins and losses:
Sam: Wins over Texas Tech, Utah and Okie State, but lose a weird game to Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium. That would have them finish third in the conference, while two of BYU, Iowa State and Kansas State compete for a playoff spot. I have no reason, but things are going too good and I’m expecting the other shoe to drop.
Ryland: The Buffs win out. BYU loses to Arizona State, Iowa State loses to Cincy and KSU, and K-State wins out. That would put the Buffs tied for first in the conference with BYU so they play in the title game in Dallas and win. The Buffs make the 12-team College Football Playoffs and get smoked by the likes of Texas, Tennessee or Ohio State in an NY6 bowl.
Jake: Everything is still up in the air, and I could see Iowa State dropping a game or two. For the sake of mixing things up I’ll say Colorado wins the Big 12, why not?
Jack: I am absolutely terrified of that Kansas game at Arrowhead. Jalon Daniels is starting to cook and they have led in the 4th quarter of every conference game they have played. To be a downer, CU loses to Kansas to finish 3-1 in November and 7-2 in conference.
However, because Iowa State loses to Cincinnati and Kansas State loses to Iowa State, the Buffs get in to the title game.
Big 12 Championship (e.g. Oklahoma over Texas):
Sam: Iowa State over BYU, 13-9
Ryland: Colorado over BYU, 35-24
Jake: Colorado over BYU, 34-28
Jack: Colorado over BYU, A million - zero
Buffs bowl game:
Sam: Colorado over Pitt in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, 27-22
Ryland: Colorado plays in the CFP and gets the bye. CU loses to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.
Jake: Will play in CFP instead.
Jack: Colorado finishes ranked below Boise State and hosts a 1st round playoff game against 11-Windiana.
National Championship:
Sam: Georgia over Oregon, 28-16
Ryland: Oregon over Georgia, 35-31
Jake: Ohio State over Georgia, 28-18
Jack: Colorado over SMU, Two million - zero (things get weird)
Heisman winner:
Sam: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Ryland: Travis Hunter, Colorado
Jake: Ashton Jeanty
Jack: Travis Hunter with Alejandro Mata accepting
by Sam Metivier
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