After a loss that was called “an absolute disgrace,” Coach Prime and the Buffs face the most adversity they have encountered to start his tenure at Colorado. Leading 29-0 at halftime vs 1-5 Stanford, Sanders and CU looked to be on their way to a fifth win, one away from bowl eligibility.
So, what happened? It starts with a defense that has been porous for Colorado all season long. The Buffs have given up over 35 points per game to start Coach Prime’s career at Colorado, and this starts in the trenches. CU has struggled to generate a pass rush all season long, and Sanders will look to hit the portal hard again this offseason, in search of some help in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Elic Ayomanor was a nightmare for Colorado, hauling in 13 catches for 294 yards, including a ridiculous touchdown catch over superstar Travis Hunter in overtime. The defense looked strong in the first half, but as the game went on, Ashton Daniels and Aymoanor started to heat up and the Buffs had no answers.
Coach Prime has been able to heavily rely on his two guys to start the season, his son Shedeur, and possibly the best player in the nation, Travis Hunter. These two played incredible Friday, with Sanders throwing for 400 yards and five touchdowns, while Hunter hauled in 13 catches for 140 yards and two scores.
The main issue for the Colorado offense once again falls in the trenches. The Buffs have not been able to generate a rushing attack all season, with Sanders being the leading rusher in the game with 37 yards. The O-Line has struggled to protect Shedeur, and when put in situations where they want to kill clock, they are essentially unable to do that.
Coach Prime and the Buffs need to move on from the crushing meltdown Friday, and Sanders will get them moving in that direction heading into the bye week. While they reset, they will need to prepare for a road game at UCLA on October 28th. UCLA is excellent in the trenches, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, which could be a major issue for the Buffs.
Prime will rely on the arm of his eldest son, as well as the incredible skillset of Travis Hunter to get them a big road win against the Bruins and back on track. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Sanders knows his Buffs have already made major improvements from last season and will look to continue to build.
