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Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
With only a few more days until the Buffs kick off their 2024 season, the team’s fully pivoted from summer camp training sessions to their standard weekly game prep. CU opens their season with an ... interesting? ... opponent: FCS powerhouse North Dakota State University. The Buffs probably should win – most Vegas lines have them somewhere between a three and 3.5 point favorite – but if there’s an FCS school that’s consistently capable of pulling off the upset, it’d be NDSU.
While chatting with the media on Monday afternoon, both coordinators talked about just how challenging NDSU is, and what problems they pose.
“They make you play 11 on 11, I can’t say enough about their quaterbacks,” defensive coordinator Rob Livingston said. “They had a two system last year – Wyoming was very similar. I think [NDSU QB Cam Miller] runs better than you anticipate, and [NDSU QB Cole Payton] is a phenomenal athlete, so we’ve got our hands full. When they go make it 11 on 11, we’ve got to tackle, get off blocks, and play fast. Can’t talk enough about the culture they have over there. Guys get off the ball, whether it’s the 1’s or the 3’s in some of their blowouts. They had some hell of a wins last year. And it’s a consistent effort.”
NDSU’s culture was something that came up on multiple occasions throughout the two interviews, with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur also noting how impressed he was by the way that they work on fundamentals.
“They’re a team that’s built on toughness,” Shurmur added. “They’ve got a rich, winning tradition. They’re very fundamental in their approach. I’m going to say fundamental in their approach because they’ve got enough wrinkles to keep you on your toes, whether it be pressure os simulated pressures. They will play some man. I think it’s just a cultural thing with them. They’ve got a really talented players, All-Americans. But they also have a sum of their parts, they play good team defense.”
The Buffs’ 2024 season officially begins on Thursday night, with kickoff scheduled for 6 P.M. local time.
by camellis
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