Woelk: 'Too-Early' Projections Say Buffs' New Era Will Continue In 2017

BOULDER — To no one's surprise, Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffaloes officially wrapped up the season early Tuesday with a No. 15 ranking in the final USA Today/Coaches poll and a No. 17 spot in the Associated Press rankings.

Those rankings were a nice follow-up to a Monday announcement from CU officials that MacIntyre, who orchestrated the Buffs' 2016 turnaround in his fourth year in Boulder, had agreed to a new five-year deal.

Good news on both counts, but by no means unexpected. The Buffs had risen as high as No. 8 in the nation in the AP and College Football Playoffs rankings before the Pac-12 title game and bowl season; and CU officials had made it clear they were working on a contract that would keep MacIntyre — a consensus pick for national coach of the year — in Boulder to continue building what he has started.

But maybe the most interesting "news" to filter out Tuesday morning?

The national media seem convinced that Colorado's return to relevance in the college football world will not be a one-year wonder.

Rather, they believe the Buffs are back to stay. It is indeed a new era for Colorado, as evidenced by a host of "way-too-early top 25" rankings — a signal that the program picked to finish last just a year ago in the Pac-12 South could very well enter next season as a top 25 team.

At least three national too-early top 25 rankings included the Buffs. CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd, a long-time college football writer, pegged the Buffs at No. 25 in his 2017 rankings Tuesday morning.

"National coach of the year Mike MacIntrye loses quarterback Sefo Liufau, but essentially the rest of the offense is back," Dodd wrote. "The Buffs aren't going anywhere in the Pac-12."

The Sporting News' Bill Bender put the Buffs at No. 22 in his opening 2017 prediction while Alex Martin Smith of SECCountry.com penciled the Buffs in at No. 18.

"Departing senior quarterback Sefo Liufau did an excellent job this season, but redshirt freshman Steven Montez was solid enough (1,078 yards, 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions) to give Buffs fans hope for another run at the Pac-12 title," Smith wrote. "He'll return to a loaded offense that will attempt to offset an inexperienced 'D.'"

Two other early top 25s — Mark Schlabach of ESPN and Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel — didn't include the Buffs in their top 25, but Mandel did include CU in his "just missed" group.

The takeaway?

It is, obviously, far too early to make anything more than an educated guesstimate as to how teams will be ranked next August. We also know that even when those rankings appear, they are guaranteed to change — again and again and again — as the season progresses.

But what can't be disputed is that MacIntyre's Buffs have put themselves squarely back in the national picture. The new era that began with CU's rise back to the top 25 in 2016 is expected to continue in 2017, and for good reason.

For starters, as Dodd and Smith mentioned, a CU offense that took significant strides in 2016 returns should be even more potent in 2017. The Buffs return virtually their entire offensive line and all their skill players save the quarterback — and that position will likely be filled by Montez, who is already battle-tested and proven.

Meanwhile, the Buffs are on their way to landing a recruiting class that will not only be ranked among the nation's top 25, but will include players who will be immediate-impact performers, especially on defense.

While replacing eight graduated starters on defense will no doubt be a priority, the Buffs will have three incoming junior college transfers — nose tackle Javier Edwards, defensive end Chris Mulumba and defensive back Dante Wigley — who could step into contributing roles immediately. There are also other potential signees who could come in and compete immediately on both sides of the ball.

Along with recruiting, there are other areas MacIntyre will be addressing soon, beginning with two vacancies on the defensive staff. With the final push for recruiting scheduled to resume this week, national signing day set for Feb. 1 and the opening of spring ball set for late February, it means a full plate for the CU coaching staff.

But instead of building toward a turnaround this year, the Buffs will be aiming to build on what they started in 2016 — and it is clear is that people who play close attention to college football on a national scale believe the Buffs are ready to do exactly that.

That's good news for people who can't wait for next year.

2017 SCHEDULE: While the Pac-12 schedule won't be released until later this month, the Buffs do know their conference home and away lineup, along with their nonconference games.

The nonconference lineup is scheduled to open Sept. 2 (subject to change) against Colorado State in Denver. That will be followed by back-to-back home games against Texas State (Sept. 9) and Northern Colorado (Sept. 16).

CU's Pac-12 schedule changes this year, with Oregon and Stanford dropping off the list and Cal and Washington added to the mix.

Colorado's home conference games will be against Arizona, Cal, USC and Washington. The away games will be Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah and Washington State.

Those same teams will be on the 2018 schedule, with home and away flipped.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu