No. 12 Buffs Wary Of Cougars' Run Game

BOULDER — While Colorado fans are busily attempting to figure out all scenarios possible that would put the Buffaloes in the Pac-12 championship game — as well as a possible berth in the College Football Playoffs — CU coaches and players have no time to study "what ifs."

The 12th-ranked Buffs (8-2 overall, 6-1 Pac-12) are concerned solely with what's next — namely, Saturday's 1:30 p.m. matchup with No. 20 Washington State at Folsom Field.

(But if you are studying all the possible scenarios, the easiest one to remember is this: if USC beats UCLA in Saturday's matchup in Los Angeles, the Buffs must win their last two games to win the Pac-12 South.)

Of course, that is the Buffs' goal anyway — win out and leave nothing to chance. Beat WSU on Saturday and follow that with a home win over Utah a week later (5:30 p.m.), and the Buffs will be packing for a trip to Santa Clara, Calif., and Levi's Stadium for the Dec. 2 conference title game.

But it all starts with Saturday's game against Mike Leach's Cougars (8-2, 7-0), a team that has bounced back from its 0-2 start to win eight straight games and take command of the Pac-12 North.

"We win out, we go to the Pac-12 championship," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said after Monday's practice. "It's exciting, it's a lot of fun. Basically, when you start Pac-12 play, it's a playoff. Everything matters."

After collecting a 49-24 win over Arizona on Saturday, the Buffs wasted no time in beginning preparations for the Cougars, who boast the nation's 10th-leading offense (517.5 yards per game), second-leading pass offense (385.5), eighth-leading scoring offense (44.3 points per game) and second-leading quarterback (Luke Falk).

Those are the types of numbers that will CU defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt burning the midnight oil this week — a process he started as soon as the Buffs returned to Boulder from Tucson early Sunday morning.

"At this point right now, I don't think of anything else other than Washington State," Leavitt said late Saturday night as he waited to board a bus outside of Arizona Stadium. "I'll go back tonight and grade this (Arizona) film, go home for two or three hours, and then get on Washington State."

What MacIntyre and Leavitt know is that Leach has added a rushing dimension to his offense this year to supplement what has always been a big-time passing attack.

Two years ago, the Cougars averaged less than 40 yards per game on the ground — a good series for some good running backs.

Last year, they bumped that total to 80 yards per game.

But this season, they are no longer last in the Pac-12 in rushing, averaging a (relatively) respectable 132 yards per game on the ground.

"Mike (Leach) will always run the ball if you give it to him," Leavitt said. "That's something we have to shore up, no question about it. We're going to have to play extremely well to beat them."

CU's run defense did not have a banner day against the Wildcats, giving up 262 yards on the ground, including 113 to running back Samajie Grant. But the real thorn in the Buffs' side was UA quarterback Brandon Dawkins, who ran for 81 yards in an attack that spread CU's defense out and attacked the edges.

The Buffs don't expect a similar attack from WSU, as Falk is not a running quarterback. In 49 carries this year, he's gained 116 yards — and lost 164 when figuring in sacks.

But the Cougars do have a productive back in James Williams (82-522, six touchdowns) and they have beaten teams with their run game. In a 27-21 win over UCLA, all three WSU touchdowns came on the ground, the first time in Falk's career he did not throw a touchdown pass. In last weekend's 56-21 win over Cal, the Cougars ran for 254 yards.

Not that the Cougars have to pile up huge numbers on the ground to win. Since Leach's arrival, the Cougars are 14-4 when rushing for 90 yards or more, including 6-1 this season (WSU rushed for 97 yards in the season-opening 45-42 loss to Eastern Washington).

The Buffs have seen a good WSU run game. Last year, the Cougars ran for 149 yards and threw for 332 in a 27-3 win in Pullman.

"Their running game has improved this year," MacIntyre said. "Mike is running the ball more, so that gives them another dimension."

O-LINE UPDATE: The Buffs should have at least one if not two of their regulars back on the offensive line this week.

Against Arizona, CU was without the services of both starting tackles, as Jeromy Irwin was recovering from an illness and Sam Kronshage was nursing a sore shoulder. Both were back at practice Monday morning.

Guard Gerrad Kough, however, did not practice after suffering a sprained ankle early in the Arizona game. MacIntyre said Kough will be monitored this week and, "We'll see as the week goes on. Hopefully he can do some more later in the week."

UTAH GAME TIME: The Pac-12 announced Monday that the Nov. 26 home game with Utah will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised by Fox.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu