Initial observations from the CU Buffs’ 41-27 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Big 12 play at Jones AT&T Stadium on Saturday.
It’s the defense: The biggest difference between 4-8 and this year’s Big 12 title contender (other than the schedule)? Robert Livingston’s defense, hands down. A year ago, an offensive start like the Buffs had on Saturday would’ve doomed them to chasing the score the rest of the day. Instead, Livingston’s crew gave Shedeur Sanders & Co. time to figure things out, bottling up TTU’s run game and keeping the Red Raiders out of the end zone for six straight possessions after their opening drive. The shallow crossing routes that hurt CU early got taken away (adjustments!), the sacks began to pile up (six, capped by a strip-sack to clinch it), and soon enough, the CU offense found its footing.
Running on empty: It generally takes two possessions to know whether or not the opposing Big 12 defense has a chance against the Buffs. The big tell: Can they stop the CU run game? If the Buffs are ripping off 4-5 yards a pop, the opponent is cooked. If it’s 2-3 yards on the first few carries, however, CU is in for a dogfight. The latter was the case in the first quarter Saturday when CU’s running backs had 6 yards on three carries and play-caller Pat Shurmur immediately leaned into a pass-heavy attack. Even with an NFL QB like Shedeur Sanders, some semblance of balance is critical. When the Buffs stray from that, they become mortal.
So … many … weapons: Of course, being mortal doesn’t mean being easy to stop. The Buffs simply have too many weapons for that sort of nonsense. Take Will Sheppard, a receiver who would be the top option on a majority of FBS teams … and is No. 3 or 4 for CU’s stacked wide receiver corps. The 6-foot-3 Vanderbilt transfer was bear-hugged on a jump ball in the end zone and still reeled it in with one hand while getting two feet down (for funsies). He was one of three pass catchers to grab a TD pass from Shedeur Sanders (Travis Hunter was, of course, one of them). That’s how the Buffs can sputter for a quarter, spot the home team a 13-0 lead and still cruise to a “W.”
Tortilla take: Nobody is here to bash tradition. If someone was unfamiliar with CU football and you told them a live buffalo runs onto the field before the start of every home game, they’d think you’re crazy. So, in that sense, we understand Deion Sanders’ initial reaction when asked about the tortilla throwing in Lubbock (“Is that legal?“). Then we got a glimpse of it Saturday … and we sorta agree with Coach Prime. Especially since it essentially gives the fans free license to throw ANYTHING at ANY TIME. Which predictably became an issue when the Buffs began to pull away in the second half. One more beef: It’s really easy to confuse those things for penalty flags. That’s just annoying.
Extra points
Heisman Hunter watch: Can we take a moment to marvel at Travis Hunter’s best play of the game … which didn’t even count? It came on a “free play” after Texas Tech drew the Buffs defensive front offside. With a chance to take a shot, TTU quarterback Behren Morton let one fly down the sideline — only for Hunter to casually sky above the receiver for a pick, then immediately toss the ball back to an official like it was August two-a-days. Of course, he did some pretty good things that counted, too. His 99th snap resulted in a 24-yard touchdown and 31-20 CU lead on a bubble screen. He finished the game with nine catches for 99 yards, and Morton didn’t bother looking his way much after the Pick The Wasn’t.
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Complete control: The scoreboard in Lubbock wasn’t the only one that went CU’s way on Saturday. With Kansas upsetting No. 17 Iowa State 45-36 in Kansas City, the Buffs’ path to the Big 12 championship game is now this simple: Win out and CU will be playing for a conference championship and likely a College Football Playoff berth on Dec. 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Who would’ve seen that coming before Shedeur Sanders’ Hail Mary against Baylor?
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