McMillian, Buffs Aim To Get CU Ground Game Back On Track

BOULDER — When it comes to Colorado's rushing game, the math is relatively simple: the Buffs have rushed for at least 160 yards in five games this year, and have a 4-1 record in those contests. The only outlier is a 217-yard effort against Oregon State, when a 31-3 lead turned into a 41-34 overtime loss.

Conversely, in the other four games, Colorado has rushed for less than 120 yards and has a 1-3 mark in those contests. The only outlier in that case is a 44-yard effort against Nebraska, when CU's rushing totals were skewed dramatically by seven quarterback sacks in a CU win.

Bottom line? The 5-4 Buffs (2-4 Pac-12) would love to crank that ground game back up this week when No. 10 Washington State pays a 1:30 p.m. visit to Folsom Field in a nationally televised contest (ESPN).

The Cougars will bring with them one of the Pac-12's better defenses. Ranked fourth in the league in total defense, they have been particularly stingy against the run, yielding just 131 yards per game, third-best in the league.

They do it with a relatively small defensive line — only one of WSU's starting linemen is listed at more than 250 pounds — and an active group of linebackers led by Peyton Pelluer, who leads the Cougars with 71 tackles.

"They're different," said Buffs running back Travon McMillian. "They have some pretty good 'backers, they have some speed. They're a little bit undersized, but they're really good. They shoot the gap a lot. I'm looking forward to the challenge for sure."

McMillian, a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, has enjoyed a solid senior season. He leads CU with 837 yards and five touchdowns on 158 carries, with two 75-yard touchdown runs to his credit as well as a 57-yard touchdown reception. With three games to go, he is easily within range of becoming the 15th player in CU history to hit the 1,000-yard mark (Phillip Lindsay and Eric Bieniemy did it twice).

It is a goal McMillian would obviously love to hit, as it would be the second 1,000-yard season in his career. As a freshman at Virginia Tech, he rushed 200 times for 1,043 yards.

But it's also a goal secondary to the primary objective — ending Colorado's four-game losing streak and getting the Buffs to bowl eligibility. To do that, they will have to contain Washington's stunting defensive front, one that tries to confuse offenses with a variety of movement prior to the snap.

"With the movements and stuff they do, you can gash them off the running game," said McMillian, who was held to just 59 yards last week at Arizona. "That can be a benefit for us, but it's also tough for us as well. It gives up negative yards as well. You have to reduce those negative plays. With the preparation this week, Coach (Klayton) Adams has been doing a great job with the offensive linemen handling all those movements. If we can handle those things, we can have an awesome day against Washington State."

CONCUSSION PROTOCOL: The Buffs have suffered a number of concussions this year, and each time, players are required to undergo concussion protocol before they get the OK to return to the field.

CU head coach Mike MacIntyre — who has no say in the process — said the protocol basically consists of three stages. The first includes baseline testing for such things as headaches and other symptoms. Once the player has passed that phase, he moves on to stage 2, which has the player run and perform other physical activities. If there are no concussion symptoms there, the player can go to the third stage, which involved limited practice (but no contact).

After clearing that stage with no symptoms, players are allowed to return to playing.

"I don't know every detail of it because I do not get involved in it at all," MacIntyre said. "I can't have any influence on that as a head coach. I let (team medical personnel) handle every bit of it."

YOUNG LINEUP: Colorado had six freshmen in the starting lineup last week against Arizona: LE Israel Antwine, OT Frank Fillip, OL Jake Moretti (as a sixth lineman in the wildcat formation), C Colby Pursell, TE Brady Russell and LT William Sherman (Antwine and Fillip are true freshmen). It was the second straight game the Buffs started three freshmen on the offensive line. The previous week was the first time in CU history that the O-line starters included three freshmen. Also making a "starting" appearance against Arizona was freshman placekicker Tyler Francis.

Antwine, by the way, has played 352 defensive snaps this year, the most by a freshman defensive lineman in CU history.

BROADCAST TEAM: Saturday's ESPN crew will consist of Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Brock Huard (color) and Allison Williams (sideline reporter). The KOA radio crew will include Mark Johnson (play-by-play), Gary Barnett (color) and Andy Lindahl (sidelines).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu