Running back Phillip Lindsay rushed for 119 yards and found the end zone three times to help propel the No. 12 Colorado Buffaloes to a 49-24 victory over the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday night. Quarterback Sefo Liufau passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for a fourth, to have the Buffs knocking on the door of college football’s top 10.
The win gives Colorado a legitimate case for becoming a top-10 team when the next round of College Football Playoff Rankings are released on Tuesday. Five teams inside the top 10 lost this week, including three of the top four teams in the rankings; only Alabama remains unbeaten in the Power 5 conferences. No. 8 Texas A&M dropped their second game in a row and No. 9 Auburn scored just seven points in a loss to Georgia, which could open the door for the Buffs to slide into the top 10.
Colorado’s victory was a welcome rebound from their sloppy effort last week against UCLA. In that game the Buffs committed eight personal foul penalties and hardly looked like a team still in the running for the College Football Playoff. Mike MacIntyre had his team refocused in Tucson, though, where they had not won a game since 1985.
Shay Fields led the Buffs receiving corps, finding the end zone twice on six receptions for 108 yards. Jimmie Gilbert starred for the defense, logging two sacks, including a back-breaker in the fourth quarter.
Not all was perfect for the Buffaloes. They had several drives extended due to Arizona penalties and Samajie Grant rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns against the No. 1 defense in the Pac-12. Arizona actually outgained Colorado 412-388 in the game.
The Buffs will use the momentum from the win as they face a pair of top-25 conference opponents to close out the season. No. 23 Washington State travels to Boulder next week, fresh off taking control of the Pac-12 North with Washington’s loss to USC on Saturday. Then, Colorado hosts No. 15 Utah to close out the season on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Wins over the Cougars and Utes would put Colorado into the Pac-12 Championship and very much in the running for a berth in the playoff. The win in Arizona was a step in the right direction.