Colorado University Athletics
Buffs at TCU: What You Need To Know
September 02, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
COLORADO BUFFALOES (0-0)
at TEXAS CHRISTIAN HORNED FROGS (0-0)
FORT WORTH, Texas — What might be the most eagerly awaited Colorado season opener in years will finally kick off Saturday when Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Buffaloes face off with No. 17 TCU at the Horned Frogs' home stadium (10 a.m., Fox).
The Buffs have been one of the hot topics of the college football world ever since Sanders was named CU's head coach last December. In roughly nine months, Coach Prime has rebuilt the Buffs from the ground up, bringing in nearly 70 new scholarship players.
Today, the nation will be watching closely to see how Sanders' rebuilding plan is working.
CU's schedule will leave precious little margin for error. The Buffs are set to face three top-25 teams in September — also on the horizon are Oregon and USC — along with traditional rivals Nebraska and Colorado State.
But the Buffs' only focus recently has been the opener. They face college football's surprise team of a year ago, a TCU squad that advanced all the way to the national championship game in Sonny Dykes' first year at the helm before being obliterated by Georgia, 65-7.
The Buffs are heavy underdogs, with the Frogs favored by nearly three touchdowns.
But Sanders and his staff have expressed nothing but confidence since Day One. Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis has installed an up-tempo offense that boasts a plethora of skill position weapons while defensive coordinator Charles Kelly has used a host of transfers to build a unit with plenty of experience and skill, especially in the secondary.
One Buff who will no doubt be prominent is Travis Hunter, who could start at wide receiver and cornerback.
The Frogs, meanwhile, lost a number of key players to graduation, including Heisman Trophy finalist Max Duggan. But the Horned Frogs also hit the portal with gusto and have what they believe is a roster that can match last year's.
Nuts and bolts for today's game:
KICKOFF:Â 10:05 a.m., Amon Carter Stadium (46,000).
TV, RADIO: The game will be televised by Fox with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt in the booth and Jenny Taft on the sidelines. The radio broadcast will be carried by KOA (850 AM, 94.1 FM) with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett in the booth and Bob Pesavento on the sidelines. KOA's coverage begins at 8 a.m.
ON THE INTERNET: The game can be heard on the internet at CUBuffs.com, and www.850koa.com in the Denver-Boulder metro area. Live statistics will also be available at CUBuffs.com.
THE COACHES: Deion Sanders is in his first year as CU's head coach after three seasons at Jackson State, where he compiled a 27-6 record. Sonny Dykes is in his second season as TCU's head coach after last year's 13-2 record. Dykes has also served as the head coach at Louisiana Tech, Cal and SMU, and has an overall 84-65 record.
THE SERIES: The two teams have met just once before, a 38-13 TCU win in Boulder in last year's season opener.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: Quite simply, a victory for the Buffs would send a strong message to the nation: the Buffs are back. A CU win would also match the Buffs' victory total from all of last season … For TCU, the Horned Frogs are anxious to erase the national championship game hangover that has followed them since last January.
TEAM LEADERS: The Buffs have a host of offensive standouts, beginning with Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But CU will also likely lean on running back Dylan Edwards and wide receivers Jimmy Horn Jr., Xavier Weaver and Javon Antonio to make big plays.
Defensively, the Buffs will ask Hunter to take care of business on one corner. Colorado will also lean heavily on inside linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Marvin Ham II, as well as edge rushers Khairi Manns and Derrick McLendon. Up front, Shane Cokes will anchor a defensive line whose job it will be to make sure the Horned Frogs don't earn a living on the ground.
TCU will call on quarterback Chandler Morris — who started the season as QB1 last year in Boulder, only to see an injury send him to the sidelines in that game and he played only sparingly the rest of the season.
Morris will have plenty of weapons, beginning with a backfield one-two punch of Emani Bailey and Trey Sanders. Out side, returnee Savion Washington leads a talented wide receivers group that was bolstered by six additions from the transfer portal.
Defensively, linebacker Johnny Hodges (87 tackles last year) and former Buff safety Mark Perry (84 tackles) anchor the defense, which also includes preseason All-Big 12 defensive lineman Damonic Williams..
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado offensive line vs. TCU defensive line. Coach Prime has made it no secret that the Buffs' hopes will depend greatly upon how well the big fellas up front protect Shedeur Sanders. If Sanders gets time to operate in the pocket — and if the Buffs can produce some holes for their running backs — CU's offense could be potent.
UP NEXT:Â The Buffs play their home opener next Saturday against rival Nebraska (10 a.m., Fox).
