OPPORTUNITY

We’re embracing the challenge of what this is going to be and we know we have to play well.”

On the shortlist of national title contenders, Texas A&M comes in riding a nine-game winning streak, tied with Oklahoma for the second-longest active streak in the country (Alabama has won 15 in a row).

The loaded Aggies are a 16.5-point favorite over the Buffs, which is actually better than CU’S odds in 2007 when No. 3 Oklahoma came to Boulder. Led by secondyear head coach Dan Hawkins and freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins, the Buffs, who were 23-point underdogs, upset the Sooners, 27-24, on a last-second field goal by Kevin Eberhart. That was CU’S last win against a top-five opponent – and it’s also one of the 49 brick games.

These Buffs are also guided by a second-year head coach and a freshman quarterback.

Brendon Lewis, a Texas native, is eager to get on the biggest stage of his life and face a team he watched in his youth.

“I’m excited for the experience playing in the Broncos stadium,” he said. “I’ve never been in there before. Probably not as cool as Dallas Cowboys Stadium but … yeah, I’m really excited to play in that stadium and playing against that opponent. I did watch them when I was growing up, so it’s gonna be really cool to actually be able to play against them. It’s gonna be experience.”

To make it a truly memorable experience, the Buffs will focus on limiting the mistakes they made a week ago – especially the 12 penalties they had against the Bears – having success running the football and playing sound defense.

Win or lose, there is value in playing well against one of the nation’s best teams.

“It’s potential for a huge confidence booster and to see how we rank up with those high ranked teams,” Landman said. “We’re not going to treat this like a huge, crazy game, just because we want to go out there and play college football. We’re not worried about who lines up across from us. We’re gonna play our game no matter what.

“It does have the potential to be a huge confidence booster in the long run and throughout the season and set a benchmark for how the season could go in the weeks to come.”

Only time will tell if this becomes a brick game, but Dorrell is confident his team will do everything it can to make it memorable.

“Our players are excited about this opportunity to play and compete and I know our guys will be ready to play,” he said. “They’ll compete hard. We expect to make great plays, we expect to do some really good things in this game and bottom line, we’re going to have to go and execute and do that for us to win.” a fun