The Colorado Buffaloes headed out to Pullman, Washington last Friday to try to make a statement versus the Washington State Cougars and get into a bowl game. Facing a Cougars team who have had a similar season to the Buffs (WSU started 4-0 but lost six games in a row after that), CU headed into their Friday night game with a bit of confidence after putting up a fight against a tough, nationally ranked Arizona Wildcat team the week before. However, the game played out to no Buffs fan’s expectations, as Colorado got pummelled 56-14. Here are a couple of my notes on the game after their performance.
Shedeur’s Body Has Officially Given Out
This was eventual. Of the several records CU has broken this year, a not-so-positive one is the fact that the Buffs’ QB1 Shedeur Sanders is the most sacked quarterback in the entire country. Sanders has been taken down on 52 different occasions. In the first quarter of Friday’s game alone, he was sacked four times — all within the first ten plays. The pain was so bad he had to be removed from the game, but only for a second as he successfully persuaded his dad and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders to let him back into the game.
However, the pressure from the Cougars’ fierce defensive front eventually forced Shedeur into the locker room after a fumbled snap. Shedeur has endured a lot of bruising his past couple of games. It’s gotten so bad in recent weeks, he’s had to be injected with painkillers in order to continue play. And at this point, those might be his best blockers. Which brings me to my next point.
The Offensive Line Had Its Worse Game This Season — By Far
After the Buffaloes took on the Arizona Wildcats, there was buzz circulating around the world of CU football saying the offensive line had taken a step in the right direction. Against the Wildcats, Shedeur was sacked for the least amount of times this season. The line created holes for the quarterback that allowed him to rush for 42 yards and gain a rushing touchdown. The pocket was secure enough that multiple 20+ yard throws were possible. However, in Pullman against Washington State, all that progress the line seemed to have made appeared to have stayed in Boulder.
As mentioned before, QB1 was sacked four times in less than 15 minutes, forcing him to eventually leave the game. Backup quarterbacks Ryan Staub and Gavin Kuld didn’t have much time either. We have already seen progressions made concerning the future of the offensive line. Multiple high schoolers and transfers are interested in joining the Black and Gold. However, many more steps in the right direction will have to be made before the sturdiness of the offensive trenches are solidified.
Despite Recent Struggles, Progress Has Been and Will Continue to Be Made
To end on a more positive note, we must talk about the future of Colorado football. One thing Coach Prime has stressed is the fact that despite their slide, his team hasn’t quit. Having that trait will be beneficial during the recruiting season. New players will certainly be added to Colorado’s roster— we’ve already seen some of that. Returning players will have to ensure those newcomers know how to behave. When Coach Prime purged his roster a couple of months after his arrival, the Colorado Buffaloes were a team made completely from scratch and on the fly.
But fast forwarding to our current times, the Pro Football Hall of Famer has created a culture made of titanium. The coaches know what to expect, future prospects know what to expect, and current players know what they need to do. We are heading into a new era of college football. New teams will be in new conferences, and CU is returning to the Big 12. The landscape and stakes of college football will surely be different. But, one thing is for certain — we comin’, and we ain’t hard to find.
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