Takeaways From Buffs' Win Over Texas Tech
November 10, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — As Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' 18th-ranked Colorado Buffaloes continue their march through the Big 12, the nation is paying close attention.
Coach Prime's rebuilding philosophy at CU is no longer a curiosity, no longer a novelty attracting attention in the wake of celebrity.
Rather, it is becoming a blueprint that other programs are almost certain to try to emulate in the coming years.
What Coach Prime has done is bring an NFL approach to college football at the exact moment that college football became more like the NFL than ever before. From free agency (transfer portal) to salary structure (NIL) to an expanded playoff field that opens the door for many more teams, the environment has changed dramatically in the last couple of years — and his plan has taken advantage of every one of those areas.
He has built a coaching staff that leans heavily on NFL experience. He has utilized the transfer portal to address areas of need while still carefully making good use of high school recruiting (the college version of a draft).
And, he has helped CU navigate the waters of NIL agreements to make Colorado an appealing destination.
Now the Buffs are a team that has blown past preseason expectations. Picked to finish 11th in the Big 12, they are 7-2 overall, 5-1 in conference play and can guarantee themselves a berth in the conference title game by winning their last three contests.
They have reached this point by steadily improving in all areas. Since halftime of their 28-10 loss at Nebraska (a game Buffs fans no doubt would love to play again), CU has played well in all phases.
Saturday's 41-27 win at Texas Tech was simply the latest example. The Buffs made winning plays on both sides of the ball when necessary. Thus, our weekly takeaways:
1. CU's defense has become a force. Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston's crew produced six sacks and three takeaways Saturday against the Red Raiders.
Every one of them was a big play. CU has recorded 24 sacks in the last five games and leads the Big 12 with 29 this season. The Buffs also lead the league in fumbles recovered (nine) and have scored 41 points off opponents' turnovers.
Livingston has turned the Buffs into an attacking, opportunistic group that can change a game's momentum at any time. He's leaned on an outstanding secondary that in turn creates opportunities for his front seven while creating havoc for opposing offenses.
And, he's shown a terrific ability to make in-game adjustments. Saturday, the Red Raiders jumped out to a 13-0 lead against CU's mostly man-to-man coverage. He switched to more zone, which shut TTU down and allowed Colorado's offense time to get back in the game.
2. The Buffs' depth is paying off. With the Buffs missing some key pieces on the defensive line Saturday, Amari McNeill made his first start of the year. He played a season-high 65 snaps and finished with nine tackles, including three for loss and 1.5 sacks.
He also had one of the biggest stops of the game when he and linebacker LaVonta Bentley threw Tahj Brooks for a 3-yard loss on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter.
Then there was the play of freshman walkon center Cash Cleveland, who stepped in on CU's second series. Cleveland finished with a solid 69.5 grade from Pro Football Focus and might have earned himself a starting job in the process.
And, there was the continuing outstanding play from reserve edge rusher Arden Walker, who played a season-high 39 snaps and finished with seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Walker hasn't started a game this year but he's produced big moments just about every time he's had the chance.
Those are just a few examples of players who have stepped up in critical moments. A year ago, Colorado didn't have the depth to compete down the stretch.
This year, Coach Prime's plan has made sure the scenario wouldn't repeat itself.
3. Yes, Travis Hunter is still the best player in college football. Hunter's outstanding weekly production has become so consistent that it has become expected.
Saturday, CU's two-way star had nine catches for 99 yards and one touchdown, his ninth of the season. It was his seventh game this season with at least 90 yards receiving and his fifth game with at least nine catches.
Defensively, he was targeted zero times on 46 pass plays.
He finished playing 86 snaps on defense, 70 on offense and six on special teams, a CU-record 162 snaps.
Nobody in the nation impacts a game more than Hunter.
4. Buffs excelling in the red zone. Colorado was 5-for-5 in red zone scoring opportunities against TTU, with three touchdowns and two field goals. Defensively, the Buffs held the Raiders to 3-for-5 in red zone opportunities (two touchdowns and a field goal).
Colorado is now eighth in the league in red zone offense and first in red zone defense. Those are the areas that make a big difference in close games and the Buffs are excelling in both.
5. Umm, about those penalties … The Buffs were hit with 14 penalties for 106 yards at TTU, including an unsportsmanlike conduct flag that very nearly opened the door for a Red Raiders touchdown late in the game.
Those are unforced errors that the Buffs need to eliminate.
6. Shedeur Sanders continues to work magic under pressure. While Colorado's quarterback was sacked "just" three times, he was under pressure on a regular basis. More often than not, he produced big plays or at least avoided disaster.
His numbers for the day were outstanding: 30-of-43 for 291 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and one rushing touchdown for four total scores. He now leads CU this year with five rushing touchdowns and he had a huge scramble for a first down in the first half when he converted a fourth-and-6.
Simply, Sanders gives CU the opportunity to succeed in almost any situation. He is a terrific leader on the field and brings a calming presence in chaotic moments. He's the kind of player who can make a difference in every big game, which brings us to:
7. The Buffs are the type of team nobody wants to see in a playoff situation. Yes, CU needs to take care of business and earn that Big 12 championship game berth.
But if they can do that, they will be a serious threat to win a title and advance to the CFP bracket.
The Buffs have a scary offense that can score from anywhere on the field — or grind out long, sustained drives. They have a defense that creates momentum-shifting plays at critical moments.
And they now have the confidence of a team that believes it belongs in the playoff conversation.
That's something that hasn't been seen in Boulder in a while.
