There hasn't been much to celebrate for the Colorado Buffaloes (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) this season. But even amidst adversity, they haven’t stopped fighting.
A 20-10 loss to Arizona State (5-4, 3-3) almost all but ended their chances of making a bowl game, but players aren’t ready to give up yet. Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders recognizes the urgency surrounding his program after their sixth loss.
“Didn’t see quit, didn't see anybody being lethargic. Didn't see them giving up by any means,” Sanders said. “[I’m] not happy; the message was we ain't got time to have no pity party. We play Friday. We don’t have time.”
With a ranked Houston team coming to Boulder on Friday, something drastic will have to change to find a different result for Sanders’ team. Looking back at the loss, here are some key takeaways for the Black and Gold.
Positives:
Colorado’s roster clearly has talent, with two potential future professional players who had a huge impact on Saturday. Wide receiver Joseph Williams has continued his stellar season, hauling in seven catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
Williams has already been placed on the Biletnikoff Award Watclist and now has 853 yards (94.8 yards per game) and six touchdowns. Week in and week out, and with two different starting quarterbacks, his numbers haven’t changed.
On the opposite side of the ball, the defense has the third leading tackler in the nation. Linebacker Gideon Lampron has put scouts on notice, recording 18 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks against ASU.
With 96 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, Lampron leads the Buffs in all categories. Wearing the ‘D’ patch (for “Dog” given by Coach Prime), he has represented the team well through the highs and lows.
Negatives:
Offensively, the Buffs reverted to their old ways, managing only 10 points and 312 yards of offense. Quarterback Isaac Wilson threw an interception, and the ground game mustered just 64 yards. The creativity and inability to make plays hindered them
The Buffs went 0-3 on fourth-down attempts, with offensive coordinator Brennan Marion failing to put his unit in the best position to succeed. Overall, the offense had four 3-and-outs and numerous issues that hurt them on the road.
Defensively, the biggest target Colorado needed to limit was ASU receiver Reed Harris.
Coming into the game, he led the conference in receiving yards and was a player the Buffs knew could have an impact. They completely failed to shut him down, allowing 104 receiving yards and a touchdown, which was another disappointment on the evening.
For Coach Prime, the loss also adds more fuel to the fire for the crowd that believes he should be relieved of his duties. The fourth-year head coach currently holds a 19-27 record, with his last winning season coming in 2024.
Postgame, Sanders acknowledged he has to turn things around quickly.
“Unless we get it together, it's going to be the same ol’ same ol’, and that’s pathetic,” Sanders said. “The fanbase deserves better; they really do.”
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