Buffs notables
Deion Sand- ers, 1st season (4-4, 31-10 career)
Pac-12
4-4, 1-4
Lost at No. 23 UCLA, 28-16
Colorado has to get the run game going. Is Hankerson the man to lead the way? He’s second on the team in rushing (247 yards), but has been CU’S best runner in the last several games.
CU’S most-targeted receiver last week, with 10. He’s had a good year, but hasn’t had a big game in weeks. Still, he’s caught five-plus passes in all but one game this season.
Since taking over a starting role in Week 5, he’s played well, averaging 8.0tackles per game. He had a big hit to force a fumble last week at UCLA.
Colorado offense
CU made a significant change this week with analyst Pat Shurmur getting a new role as co-coordinator with Sean Lewis. Statistically, the Buffs have been good this season, averaging 32.1 points per game. But, the offense has been stale at times, especially over the past six quarters. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been phenomenal, but he needs some help from his offensive line and running backs.
Colorado defense
This unit deserves some credit for putting together a good game last week against UCLA. The Buffs gave up a lot of yards (487), but held the Bruins to 28 points and forced four turnovers. The Buffs’ defense has given up points and yards all season, but the ability to create turnovers has been crucial at times. If they can continue doing that, they can find success.
Colorado special teams
Kicker Alejandro Mata has settled into the lead role here and he’s been solid. Mata doesn’t have great range, but he’s 7-for-8 on the season, including 7-for7 inside 45 yards. Punter Mark Vassett is averaging 44.03 yards per punt and has landed 13 of his 40 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
How Colorado can win
As always, the No. 1 key is quarterback Shedeur Sanders playing well. But, to win, the Buffs have to give him help. The Buffs need to get a run game going and give Sanders time to operate and his receivers down the field. If the offense can get in some rhythm, and the defense can slow the run game of OSU, the Buffs can win.
• Each of the last two meetings between Oregon State and CU in Boulder have gone to overtime. The Beavers won in overtime on Oct. 27, 2018, while the Buffs won in double overtime on Nov. 6, 2021.
• After just eight games, QB Shedeur Sanders already ranks second in CU history for single-season touchdown passes (22), fifth for completions (246) and 10th for passing yards (2,637).
• Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. are the eighth pair of receivers at CU to each catch 50passes in the same season. They are the first set of Buffs’ teammates to do it since Laviska Shenault and Tony Brown in 2019.
• CU play-by-play announcer Mark Johnson will call his 863rd CU game on Saturday (including 238football games,
617 men’s basketball and eight women’s basketball games). That will break a tie with Larry Zimmer for the most CU games ever by a play-by-play announcer.
• The Buffs rank third nationally in the red zone, converting 96.43% of the time (27-of-28, with 20 TD). They are 15th nationally in holding opponents to just 72.22% (26-of-36).