BOULDER — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes know what they will see Saturday in Fort Collins when they square off with in-state rival Colorado State (5:30 p.m., CBS).
The contest will mark the first time the two programs have met in Fort Collins since 1996 and Canvas Stadium (capacity 36,500) will be sold out. CSU fans have been waiting for this game since last year’s double-overtime loss in Boulder and the environment will be at a fever pitch.
Even though many of the players on CU’s roster are new to the program this year, they know the importance of the rivalry. They’ve been made aware of what the game means to the school and Buff Nation.
But after the loss last week at Nebraska, Coach Prime made it clear the 1-1 Buffs shouldn’t need any extra motivation this week.
They need a win.
“We shouldn’t have to rah, rah and fire them up to go out there and do what they’re gifted to do,” Sanders said. “We just got to make sure they’re prepared and they’ve studied and they’re ready.”
The atmosphere certainly won’t be any more hostile than the one the Buffs experienced last weekend in Lincoln, where they dropped a 28-10 decision to Nebraska in front of 87,000 folks.
“Every game is a huge game for us,” Coach Prime said at his weekly press conference. “Every week is a huge game for us.”
The Rams also bring a 1-1 mark into the game. After absorbing a 52-0 pounding at the hands of Texas in the season opener, they rebounded last week to collect a 38-17 win over Northern Colorado at home.
The Buffs’ goals Saturday are no secret: protect quarterback Shedeur Sanders and give him time to work in the pocket, establish at least a semblance of a run game — and don’t wait until the second half to put forth their best effort.
Protecting Sanders will be critical. The Buffs gave up six sacks last week (five on Sanders) and as a result, finished with just 244 yards passing. But, this might be the week to heal that pass rush. Colorado State has recorded just one sack in the first two games.
As for the run game, CU is averaging barely 37 yards per game on the ground. The Buffs have also come up short on three of four fourth-and-short conversion tries. But CSU’s run defense hasn’t exactly been salty thus far. Colorado State gave up 190 yards on the ground to Texas, then 107 last week to Northern Colorado.
But what might be most critical for the Buffs is coming out of the gate with a fast start. CU has trailed at the break in both of its games thus far — 20-17 to North Dakota State and 28-0 to Nebraska — before putting together good second halves.
Last week’s second half in Lincoln was one of the bright spots of the game for CU. Colorado’s defense rose up to blank the Huskers in the final two quarters while the offense put together two scoring drives for 10 points.
“You got to come out ready to play from the first snap on,” Coach Prime said. “You got to be ready to play in all positions, all phases, coaching included. We got to be ready to coach. We got to be ready to play. We got to be ready to execute. You don’t have time to wait until the second half and try to hit the engine and turn on the car.”
This will be the Buffs’ second look at Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who last year threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns in CU’s 43-35 double-OT win — along with three interceptions, one of which was returned by Shilo Sanders 80 yards for a touchdown.
Thus far this year, Fowler-Nicolosi hasn’t put up those kinds of numbers. In two games, he is 28-for-45 for 261 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
CSU has also yielded just one quarterback sack thus far — and the Buffs have just two this season, both coming against NDSU.
That’s a number Colorado’s BJ Green II wants to change. Green last year had 11.5 tackles for loss, including six sacks, at Arizona State. This year, he has just one tackle for loss and no sacks.
“Sacks come in splashes, they come in waves,” Green said Tuesday. “I feel like the dam is about to break. There’s just little things I have to do better.”
BUFFS INJURY UPDATE: Coach Prime said safety Shilo Sanders, who underwent surgery Sunday on a broken arm, will likely be out two to three weeks … Defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo could be back for the game, running back Dallan Hayden is out and cornerback Isaiah Hardge is questionable … LB LaVonta Bentleydid practice Tuesday and will be available.
CBS BROADCAST CREW: Rich Waltz will handle the play-by-play for CBS with Ross Tucker as analyst and Tiffany Blackmon from the sidelines.
BEEN A WHILE FOR RAMS: The last time Colorado State beat CU in Fort Collins was 1955, when CSU was still Colorado A&M. The Buffs have a 68-22-2 edge in the overall series, including victories in the last six games.
HUNTER HONORED AGAIN: CU two-way star Travis Hunter was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for the second straight week. Hunter last week had 10 catches for 122 yards on offense and made three tackles, including one for loss, and had a pass breakup on defense. He played 120 snaps.
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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.