The 3-2-1: Now Nationally Ranked, sky is the limit for Colorado
For the first time since 2005, the Colorado Buffaloes are nationally ranked after their 47-6 victory over Oregon State (read more here). Now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in PAC 12 play, the Buffs will travel to Los Angeles to take on USC where they open as a -4 underdog. As usual, we open the week with a 3-2-1 column, as we tell you three things we learned, ask two questions, and make one prediction.
Popular Read: Colorado is Nationally Ranked | (Photos of Recruits in Boulder & More)
What We Learned
1. Colorado is atop the PAC 12 South: Who would have believed that after five weeks of play that Washington would have been leading the PAC 12 North and that Colorado would be leading the PAC 12 South? No. 5 Washington defeated now No. 15 Stanford 44-6 last Friday Night, Colorado now ranked No. 21 in the nation in the latest AP Top 25 defeated Oregon State 47-6.
The two teams are the only remaining undefeated teams in the PAC 12. Colorado is playing their best football under Mike MacIntyre and is riding so much momentum entering Week 6 as the gear up for USC, a team they have never beaten in school history (0-10).
Though USC is 2-3 on the season they recently defeated Arizona State 41-20 and their three losses come against nationally ranked teams: Lost to Alabama, lost to Stanford, and lost to Utah. The Trojans are 2-0 at home this season and will host Colorado, game time is 2PM on Saturday, more on that game to follow.
2. Winning is turning heads: You win football games and nationally writers are going to give you pub, you make ESPN, and recruits show more interest in the program. That’s big time college football. The amount of notoriety media wise Colorado is now receiving is spilling over to recruits and that is very important in the world of social media where prospects that are either committed or not deciding on whether they want to commit to Colorado or not are reading this information.
This past weekend against Oregon State, Colorado hosted some of their most prized Class of 2017 Commitments as well as Greg Rogers, the 4-Star Defensive Tackle out of Arbor View, Nevada that remains among the top recruiting priority. Rogers’ top five include USC, UCLA, Arizona State, Oklahoma, and Colorado.
Oklahoma who is 2-2 on the season is ranked just above Colorado, but the Buffs are ranked higher than USC, UCLA, and Arizona State. Boulder sells itself to recruits, playing time is another selling factor, but now Colorado can pitch to uncommitted prospects: We’re among the nation’s best. They haven’t been able to say that for far too long.
3. Nationally ranked for the first time since 2005: The Amway College Football Poll dropped first yesterday and Colorado was ranked No. 23 then an hour later the AP Top 25 Poll was released and Colorado was ranked No. 21. ESPN released their power rankings Sunday, Colorado was ranked No. 18.
The last time Colorado was ranked was in 2005 when they finished the season 7-6 and lost in the Champs Sports Bowl. While those close to the program knew that Colorado returned more than 17 players with playing experience, let’s face it most everyone wrote Colorado off before the season even started.
ESPN had CU ranked No. 54 in the Preseason, Athlon Sports had the Buffs at No. 61. While midseason rankings do not carry any sort of weight come bowl time, it’s clear that Colorado has proven their play out of the field and going into this weekend game against USC, more heads will turning to see just how far Colorado as come under MacIntyre.
Two Questions
1. Who will start at quarterback this weekend against USC? Sefo Liufau the senior starter for Colorado played in the first 2 and 1/2 games of the season and was wonderful. He was 54 of 76 passing for 768-yards with 6 Touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Against No. 4 Michigan, the game where he hurt his ankle in the early 3rd quarter he was unreal: throwing for 16 of 25 passing for 246-yards and 3 touchdowns.
He did not finish the game and has not played since. RS-Freshman Steven Montez would get the start in the following game against Oregon, he was incredible: Threw for 23 of 32 passing for 333-yards and 3 touchdowns, also rushing for well over 100-yards earning the PAC 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
This past Saturday against Oregon State, Montez shined again throwing for 19 of 27 for 293-yards and 3 touchdowns with zero interceptions. Entering Week 6 Liufau has a passing rating of 182.0, Montez right behind him with a rating of 174.7, the only quarterback above both of them in the PAC 12 is Washington’s Jake Browning who has a rating of 196.3. Everyone will be asking this question this week: Who’s going to start at Quarterback against USC Coach?
2. Just how good is this Colorado Defense? While the offense is scoring over 40 points per game, the defense has contributed to a lot of short-yardage drives which has set up Colorado’s offense is great field position.
That’s been the set up for the Buffs this season: Big defensive stop, get the offense the ball, put points on the board. Colorado’s first half play this year has been as good as anyone’s in the entire country. The defense led by Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt is allowing 20.6 points per game and has helped three opponents to a touchdown or less.
If you’ve watched Colorado play this year this is what you recognize from the defense: They get pressure on the quarterback, against Oregon State Defensive Linemen Jordan Carrell and Outside Linebacker Jimmie Gilbert where sending a message often. They get hats to the football: Linebackers Kenneth Olugbode and Rick Gamboa seem to be in on every tackle, and third their defensive secondary is in the hip of every receiver playing A+ man coverage. Coach Gary Anderson from Oregon State commented that Colorado’s secondary is among the best in the PAC 12.
One Prediction
Bowl Game In 2016 for the Buffs: Is it way too early to starting talking a Bowl Game for Colorado? Likely, but we’re going to run with it. ESPN’s runs weekly bowl projections each week and they have just listed Colorado reaching the Holiday Bowl, playing Michigan State. The last time Colorado reached a Bowl game was in 2007 under Dan Hawkins when the Buffs lost in the Independence Bowl to Alabama 30-24. The last time Colorado won a Bowl Game: 2004 beating Utep 33-28 in the Houston Bowl under Head Coach Gary Barnett.
Related
READ: Colorado moves to 2-0 in Conference Play in 47-6 rout over Oregon State
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READ: Colorado ranked 23rd in Coaches Poll, 21st in AP Top 25
For the first time since 2005 Colorado Football is nationally ranked (No. 23 in the Amway Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the AP Top 25 Rankings) after an impressive 41 point victory over Oregon State to move to 4-1 and 2-0 in PAC 12 Conference play through the first five weeks of the college football season.
READ: Recruits love visit to Boulder
Colorado hosted plenty of big time talent this weekend for their 47-6 victory over Oregon State. We caught up with several Class of 2017 commits following the game.
