For much of the Coach Prime era, the Colorado defense couldn’t stop a runny nose. 

Now, Buffs DC Chris Marve has this unit playing out of their minds, and their record is 2-4, with zero wins in the Big 12. 

Colorado has 53 tackles for loss through six games. That’s the most in the Big 12 and fourth in the entire country!

They aren’t just doing it against the lower-level schools either. They have shown up and shown out against the best talent in the country. 

Against #8 Texas Tech, they had 12 TFLs. Defense lineman Santana Hopper recorded 7 alone when the Red Raiders game to Folsom. Last weekend when facing the 10th-ranked Utah Utes, they had 9 more TFLs to go along with 3 sacks on Devon Dampier, one of the best and most illusive quarterbacks in the country. 

All this to say: this defense is good. Like, really really good. But don’t just take my word for it. Oklahoma State’s Eric Morris, who the Buffs will play this weekend in Stillwater, deemed Colorado possibly the best two-win team in the country.

“The crazy thing about this team and watching this team [Colorado] right now is they might be the best two win team in the country,” said Morris. “You look at their stats defensively. I’ve been watching these games and how well they played against Texas Tech on defense, how well they played against Utah on defense. The teams that [Colorado’s] lost to I think have a combined record of 21-3 right now.”

Morris is correct. The opponents the Buffs have lost to do indeed have a combined record of 21-3.

After escaping Boulder with a win last Saturday night, Utah’s HC Morgan Scalley said, “You look at all metrics that matter, and I don’t know that we should’ve won this game.” In that game, Colorado held Utah to their lowest point total of the year and snapped the Utes’ 11-game streak of scoring 30+ points. 

On X, Colorado fan @skobuffs put together some more insane stats that highlight CU’s defensive prowess so far:

  • No opposing running back has rushed for over 100 yards
  • CU has only allowed 10 rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks
  • 4 CU players are in the top 10 in total tackles in the Big 12 
  • Lamont Lester Jr. is first in sacks in the Big 12, and Toby Anene is 7th
  • No opposing receiver in a Power 4 conference has gone over the 100-yard mark
  • Colorado has allowed 3 rushing touchdowns all season. 

So, where are the wins?

Let’s start with the offense. Colorado ranks 123rd in the country in points scored per game with 19.5. The most points scored against a P4 opponent was the 24 points against Utah. Against P4 opponents in total, the team is averaging 13 points per game. 

The turnovers are ugly as well. CU has a minus-six margin, which ranks 126th nationally. The penalties haven’t helped either, with the Buffs ranking 136th nationally in penalty yards, out of 138 teams in FBS. 

And then there’s special teams. Outside of the Utah game, it’s been a noticeably debilitating feature of Colorado football. Prior to Utah, it felt like CU was starting every other drive inside their own ten-yard line, while also constantly providing short fields for opposing offenses to score points. 

Where do we go from here?

I can appreciate that the offense – and special teams – took a major step in the right direction against a solid opponent in Utah last week. If this team wants any chance of going bowling, or at least to finish on a high note, they’ll need to play more complementary football and support their defense.