Colorado University Athletics
Confident Buffs Ready For Ducks
October 03, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — For the last week, two separate narratives have surrounded Saturday night's Colorado-Oregon game at Folsom Field (8 p.m., ESPN).
One involves the Buffaloes and their battle to regain respectability. From the very first day of fall camp, the Buffs have spoken openly about their goal to earn a bowl berth this year, a task that will require at least seven victories. After a 3-1 nonconference showing, they haven't changed that tune. They've set their sights on a win over the Ducks and ending an 11-game Pac-12 Conference losing streak in the process.
Oregon's storyline, however, has changed dramatically in the last seven days. The Ducks, defending conference champs and last year's national runners-up, began the season in the conversation as a team with a chance of earning another College Football Playoff berth. But after last weekend's 62-20 loss to Utah, the narrative has changed dramatically. Now, the college football world is wondering whether the 2-2 Ducks' run as a Pac-12 power is in danger of ending, and the Ducks are determined to prove last week was an aberration, not the beginning of a trend.
One of those story lines will have another chapter added Saturday night.
Either the Buffs will collect their fourth straight victory — something the program hasn't accomplished since 2002 — and their first conference victory since late in the 2013 season; or the Ducks will at least temporarily right their ship and keep themselves in the hunt for a Pac-12 North title.
One thing, though, is already certain: the Buffs aren't buying any of the "demise of the Ducks" talk.
"Oregon is still an excellent football team," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "They have speed, ability everywhere. They ran into a very good Utah team that I thought would be an excellent team in our conference this year. .. They're still one of the top scoring offenses in America and that's what they do very, very well. It is going to be a tough battle for us."
Indeed, while the Ducks were caught in an avalanche of big plays against Utah, they are still the same team that came within a fourth-quarter possession and three points of defeating No. 2 Michigan State earlier this season in East Lansing.
There are also plenty of players on the Oregon team that have played in past games against Colorado, giving them good reason to be confident against the Buffs. In the last four games between the two schools, Oregon has outscored Colorado 54-10.
"I think we'll face a mad, hungry Oregon football team coming in here thinking they can beat Colorado like they have beat us in the past," MacIntyre said. "I definitely believe our guys will be ready for the test."
Oregon coach Mark Helfrich spent much of his week trying to get his Ducks back in a row. But the former CU offensive coordinator also took the time to note that he's seen an improvement in the Buffs program under MacIntyre.
"They've built and improved gradually, and now the wins have shown up," Helfrich said. "They're a complete, confident team right now."
One question mark for both teams will be quarterback play. Buffs QB Sefo Liufau has been playing with a banged-up shoulder; the Ducks still haven't announced whether they'll go with Vernon Adams or Jeff Lockie. Adams has a broken finger on his throwing hand and was ineffective against the Utes. Lockie experienced little more success when he replaced Adams, and the Ducks have been mum this week on who will trot out onto the Folsom Field turf in charge of the Oregon offense Saturday.
But while the Buffs respect the Ducks, they have still expressed confidence that they're ready to compete with a program that's been the benchmark of Pac-12 success in recent years.
CU safety Jered Bell, a sixth-year senior, has been around the program for all four of the most recent losses to the Ducks. He says this year is different than any of the past seasons.
"We have more experience on the defensive side now," Bell said. "We have athletes to compete with these teams in the Pac-12. We're getting a better feel for the defense, so we can make more plays."
While a win over the Ducks would be a big feather for the Buffs' cap, a win over any Pac-12 team would be a step forward. CU hasn't won a conference game since late in the 2013 season.
"To get off on the right foot against Oregon and in the Pac-12 Conference would be a big step in the right direction for us," Liufau said. "We have big aspirations and you always want to start off on the right foot, so this week it starts with Oregon. We just want to go out there and get the win."
The Ducks, though, see this as a crossroads in their season.
"This next game is going to define our season, I believe," Oregon senior outside linebacker Tyson Coleman said. "If we come out and dominate, I feel like we have a chance to get back to the top. If we come out and play like we did last game, it's not going to be good."
Yes, two separate narratives will collide on the Folsom Field turf.
One will continue for another week.
