Colorado University Athletics
Coach Prime's No. 21 Buffs Set For Trip To Texas Tech
November 05, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Fresh off a bye week that bumped Colorado up in the national rankings and Big 12 standings, Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Buffaloes are ready for the latest in what seems to be a never-ending stretch of critical games.
This week, it's a 2 p.m. (MT) Saturday matchup with Texas Tech in Lubbock for the 21st-ranked Buffs (6-2 overall, 4-1 in the Big 12).
A win over the Red Raiders (6-3, 4-2) will keep the Buffs squarely in the hunt for a Big 12 championship game berth and the College Football Playoff bid that goes with it.
But a loss would drop the Buffs back in the Big 12 pack and no doubt put a damper on their championship game hopes.
"Every game is a playoff game to us," Coach Prime said at his Tuesday press conference. "It's been that way all season. I think Shedeur (Sanders) made a comment early, that every game we play is like a darned Super Bowl to people — not only to them, but to us — and it is. So that's the way we're going into it. Every game is a playoff. It's a single-elimination tournament, and we plan on approaching all of them with passion, with purpose, with consistency, with focus, and that dog-like attitude."
Now they face a TTU squad that is coming off maybe the biggest win in head coach Joey McGuire's three years in Lubbock — a 23-22 win at previously unbeaten and then-10th ranked Iowa State.
Coach Prime and McGuire have a long history, dating back to their days in the Dallas area, when Coach Prime's son Deion Jr. played for McGuire at Cedar Hill High School.
They then coached against each other in the high school ranks when Coach Prime took a job as a prep coach and the two developed a deep respect for each other.
"Joey, what you see is what you get," Coach Prime said. "He don't mince words. He's straightforward. He keeps it 100 and I consider him a true friend and someone I could call and lean on to understand how this college thing works at some time. Because I'm still new to this, although I'm true to this, I still need him and various coaches at times to lean on. But I'm sure he's going to have those young men ready, and I can't wait to see him."
The Red Raiders have had an up-and-down season, with wins over Arizona State, Cincinnati and Arizona before suffering back-to-back losses to Baylor and TCU. But they bounced back with last weekend's upset at Iowa State and no doubt present a stiff challenge for the Buffs.
McGuire's team boasts a balanced offense, one that averages 282 yards per game in the air and 164 per game on the ground.
But it is the rushing attack led by running back Tahj Brooks that has been the difference maker in critical moments for TTU. Brooks is fifth in the nation in rushing, averaging nearly 131 yards per game on the ground, and he is one of just two players in the nation this year to hit the 100-yard mark in every game he's played (minimum 7 games).
In the air, the Red Raiders turn to quarterback Behren Morton, who has thrown for 2,300 yards, 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Seven different TTU players have double-digit receptions, led by receiver Josh Kelly's 68 catches for 736 yards and five touchdowns and the Red Raiders lead the Big 12 in scoring (36.4 points per game).
Defensively, though, it's another story. TTU is last in the league in scoring defense, giving up nearly 35 points per game and the Red Raiders appear to be particularly vulnerable against the pass. Opponents have thrown for at least 270 yards in seven of TTU's nine games this year.
The Buffs, meanwhile, are playing their best ball of the season. Colorado is sixth in the Big 12 in scoring (31.4 per game) and sixth in defense (22.0 per game).
And, since suffering a 28-10 loss at Nebraska in the second week of the season, the Buffs have been stellar on the road. CU has won its last three away from home, including two Big 12 games by 27-point margins (48-21 at UCF and 34-7 at Arizona).
"It's the way we prepare on the road, the way we kind of concentrate from the time we wake up and go to practice before we leave, and the things that we know we can accomplish," Coach Prime said. "The unity, the focus and the walk throughs, just the overall understanding of being early, not on time, and when you get there, don't even think about bringing a phone in the meeting room. The undaunting focus that we have. It says a lot to the structure in what our coaches are expecting from the young men and what they're delivering. They get it."
And, Sanders and his staff don't have to remind the players about the opportunity that lies ahead.
"They get it," he said. "They understand what's at stake. They understand what's on the table and they're hungry. They're ready to eat."
HEISMAN POLL: Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter was atop the weekly Heisman Trophy straw poll conducted by The Athletic, the first time he's been in the lead this year.
Hunter logged 57 points in the weekly voting, ahead of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (51) and Miami quarterback Cam Ward (41).
CONFERENCE LEADERS: Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is second in the Big 12 in passing yards per game (323.9) and tied for the league lead in touchdown passes (21) … Hunter is third in the league in receiving yards per game (94.6) and second in touchdown receptions (8) … Safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig (7.5 tackles per game) and linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (7.4) are eighth and ninth in the league … Hunter is second in passes defended, with seven pass breakups and two interceptions.
