2023 Colorado Buffaloes Season Review
Following a 3-0 start, the Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders were the hottest brand on the college football board and with the TV networks. But the Buffs won only one more game the rest of the year to finish 4-8 and nowhere near sniffing a bowl game. Despite the poor results on the field, gamblers were happy with a solid Colorado profit on the year. Now comes the hard part for coach Prime and Buffs. In one year, Sanders has to transform Colorado into a more physical team instead of all skill with no brawn.
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2023 Colorado Buffaloes Season Review
Last game, the Colorado Buffaloes lost 23-17 against the Utah Utes as 22.5-point road dogs. The game went under the total of 51. Colorado has a record of 4-8 straight up, 7-4-1 against the spread, and 6-6 over/under the total. Colorado ranks 82nd for total offense, 15th for passing, 133rd for rushing, and 61st for scoring. Defensively, they rank 129th overall, 127th against the pass, 110th against the rush, and 122nd for points allowed. Also, Colorado ranks 82nd for fewest turnovers lost and 86th for takeaways.
Luke Bottari, a senior walk-on who began the season fifth on the quarterback depth chart, rushed for two touchdowns to spark Utah to a victory over Colorado.
Jaylon Glover rushed for 107 yards on 17 carries and former Colorado kicker Cole Becker booted three field goals as the Utes won n after back-to-back losses.
Ryan Staub started at QB for Colorado, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown on 17-for-24 passing in the Buffaloes' sixth consecutive defeat.
Colorado mustered only 262 yards in the final game of a season that started with great promise in Deion Sanders' first season as head coach.
While Bottari completed 6 of 10 passes for 61 yards, the Utes rushing attack and defense chipped in. Utah rushed for 268 yards and made several key first downs on a late drive to clinch the win after the Buffaloes pulled within a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
It was the final Pac-12 game for the two programs that will join the Big 12 next season.
Both teams had to rely on backup quarterbacks, with Utah's Bryson Barnes and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders being sidelined due to health issues.
Staub connected with Travis Hunter for an 18-yard scoring strike with 7:31 remaining to keep the Buffaloes within striking distance.
Bottari and the Utes retained possession for the rest of the time on a 12-play, 44-yard drive that included a fourth-down conversion.
A slobbering media will not be able to provide cover for Prime in 2024.
2023 Colorado Buffaloes Football Schedule
| DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCORE |
RECORD |
| Sep 2 |
at TCU |
W 45-42 |
1-0 |
| Sep 9 |
vs. Nebraska |
W 36-14 |
2-0 |
| Sep 16 |
vs. Colorado State |
W 43-35 |
3-0 |
| Sep 23 |
at Oregon |
L 6-41 |
3-1 |
| Sep 30 |
vs. USC |
L 41-48 |
3-2 |
| Oct 7 |
at Arizona State |
W 27-24 |
4-2 |
| Oct 13 |
vs. Stanford |
L 43-46 |
4-3 |
| Oct 28 |
at UCLA |
L 16-28 |
4-4 |
| Nov 4 |
vs. Oregon State |
L 19-26 |
4-5 |
| Nov 11 |
vs. Arizona |
L 31-34 |
4-6 |
| Nov 17 |
at. Washington State |
L 14-56 |
5-6 |
| Nov 25 |
at Utah |
L 17-23 |
5-7 |
Believe it or not, the Colorado Buffaloes were once a national power. Colorado was a regular national contender in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Head coach Bill McCartney led the Buffs to the 1990 national championship. And through the early 2000s, the Buffs were usually in the hunt for conference championships. From 1989 through 1996, the Buffs finished in the national top 20 each season. And they were top-8 or better five times.
In recent years, Colorado has suffered from a lack of financial commitment. Also, the Buffs have not gotten the big-money donor support necessary to be a national championship threat. And because they are unable to sustain success, the Buffs have a small season ticket base and poor attendance. Starting with the 2008 season, Colorado has only two bowl appearances in an era where bowl berths are handed out like participation trophies.
But Deion Sanders immediately ignited fan interest and passion. If Prime Time can deliver a winner, the stands will be full at Folsom Field, one of the most picturesque venues in the sport.
2023 College Football Schedule
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