Colorado Buffaloes fans must be careful about speaking in hyperbole these days. After all, younger fans have never seen the kind of success the Buffs are having this season. Colorado has a long tradition of excellence, but Saturday’s game against Utah feels like one of the biggest in program history. It’s certainly the biggest since joining the Pac-12.
“Never has a game meant as much,” Pac-12 Network’s Yogi Roth says in his preview of the game. “For [No. 9] Colorado, there’s an outside chance for the College Football Playoff and obviously a Pac-12 title. For [No. 22] Utah, if they win maybe they’re in a position to go to the Rose Bowl if [Washington] can take care of business [in the Pac-12 North and the Pac-12 Championship].
For Roth, it’s one of his most highly anticipated games of the year. “This is going to be a fun one,” he says.
But for all the excitement surrounding the game, there’s still the Xs and Os to consider.
“Now, when you look at the film,” Roth says, “one thing is glaringly obvious for Colorado: The run-pass option game that they utilize is run better than any team in the entire country and a huge reason is [quarterback] Sefo Liufau, but also these wide receivers.”
Devin Ross runs a “clinic-worthy route,” Roth says, and “This run-pass option sucks up those linebackers and creates a ton of space for the most improved group in the Pac-12, the wide receiver corps of Colorado.”
Colorado averages nearly 269 yards per game through the air, and last week Liufau threw for 345 in a win over Washington State, but it’s their balanced attack that makes the so dangerous. Colorado also averages 209 yards on the ground.
“You can’t just worry about the wideouts,” Roth says “because [the Buffs] will run the ball. And it’s not just about handing it to [running back] Phillip Lindsay.”
Lindsay has 1081 yards on the season, but Liufau is a huge threat on the ground, as well. He rushed for three touchdowns against Washington State last week, thanks in large part to Lindsay and the deception the run-pass option creates.
“This is a huge area of expertise for Colorado and is one of the more difficult things to defend. Utah has struggled at their linebacker position against this type of scheme.”
On defense, Colorado will face a Utah squad that runs a similar offense with quarterback Troy Williams and running back Joe Williams. Together, the two have combined for 1,315 yards on the ground and 14 rushing touchdowns. All that will have to set up the passing game, though, says Roth.
“Now, when the Utes get the ball – to me – they’ve got to scheme their way into some explosive plays, trying to do it with their tight end Harrison Handley. Again, they have the run-pass option with Joe Williams, one of the more entertaining players – probably the best story in the entire country this year after he came out of retirement.
“Harrison Handley bluffs like he’s going to block, [then gets into] man coverage. Colorado will play a lot of man coverage, meaning the receivers can run off those corners – if they can do that, look for Handley to have a game.”
Colorado’s stout defense, ranked 14th in the country, will need to do it’s part to keep one of Utah’s biggest strengths from becoming a factor.
“[Utah punter] Mitch Wishnowsky is a game changer. He can completely flip the field. I think a big advantage in this game is the special teams of Utah.”
Colorado has dodged some special teams bullets over the last month. They got a big punt return touchdown from Isaiah Oliver against UCLA to give the Buffs a little confidence in that unit, but Utah is among the best in the country in that area.
“Colorado, they’re still trying to find a kicker. [They] played two kickers a week ago in their game [against Washington State], so if it does come down to a field goal or a long drive, this is an advantage to Utah.”
The biggest advantage on Sunday could be the home-field advantage for the Buffs.
“It’s going to be sold out. It’s senior day,” Roth says. And the Buffs haven’t played a game this big in a long, long time.
Colorado and Utah kick off at 5:30 p.m. in Boulder. The game will be televised on FOX.