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Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
It is kind of wild just how close the Buffs came to losing to North Dakota State, though maybe it’s a fitting that Buff fans get used to Travis Hunter bailing them out nice and early in the year. Now the lasting memory of that game is Hunter’s insane goal line fade, and everyone definitely, totally forgot about how Shedeur Sanders decided that running out the clock wasn’t as fun as checking into a deep shot.
Overall things went pretty well for the Buffs, but this wouldn’t be a sports blog if there weren’t day-after grades. So let’s grade!
Offense: B+
Broadly speaking, it’s hard to be mad about how the offense played on Thursday night. The Buffs will take 31 points and over 450 yards of passing every week of the year, which they may have to now that they’re back in the Big 12. If Jimmy Horn really is that kind of player this year, they’re going to be one of the most explosive passing offenses in college football. And arguably the most encouraging part of the whole thing was the offense line, which didn’t even play that well. It was just already such a large improvement over last season, which wasn’t a particularly high bar in the first place, but you take the wins where you can get them. Jordan Seaton might be the real deal?
The glaring lack of any run game obviously dampens the enthusiasm a little bit, but panicking after one game just seems so exhausting. A B+ is great! Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
DEFENSE: C+
I do kinda buy into the argument that the first half of a season opener against a good FCS team is always going to be chaotic. It’s probably not a coincidence that NDSU’s offense stalled out once they weren’t running scripted drives, and the defense definitely gets credit – especially Savion Riley – for playing better in the second half.
Like basically every coach and player admitted afterwards, there’s plenty of stuff to clean up. NDSU had no problem getting guys open and ran the ball for almost 150 yards. The pass rush also wasn’t particularly encouraging, though a lot of that is more of a testament to NDSU’s line. Things get extremely real next week in Lincoln against Dylan Raiola.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Can’t complain with a kicker that goes 5-5.
by camellis
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