Tag: Colorado Buffaloes

Lakeland (7) Cormani McClain runs back an interception against Osceola during first half action in Lakeland Fl Friday December 2,2022.Ernst Peters/The Ledger 120222 Ep Preps 9 News

Colorado, Deion Sanders flip 5-star cornerback from Miami

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Deion Sanders continues to bring in highly-rated prospects to Colorado, on Thursday getting his first five-star recruit to commit to the Buffaloes.

Cormani McClain, a cornerback from Lakeland, Fla., and the No. 4 prospect in ESPN’s rankings, had verbally committed to Miami in October, but on Thursday he announced he had flipped to Colorado. McClain is the highest-rated recruit for Colorado since ESPN began the rankings in 2006.

Miami did not lock in McClain during the early signing period in late December, as he waited when Colorado hired Sanders away from Jackson State. McClain (6-foot-2, 165 pounds) is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Florida.

He won’t be able to sign a national letter of intent until the February signing period. McClain would join Travis Hunter, a five-star cornerback who flipped from Florida State to Jackson State and then-head coach Sanders in the Class of 2022. Hunter transferred to Colorado in the offseason.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) is congratulated for his touchdown by Utah Utes offensive lineman Paul Maile (54) in the second quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Utah wallops Colorado to keep Pac-12 title game hopes alive

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Cameron Rising was 17-for-19 passing for 234 yards and three touchdowns, Ja’Quindon Jackson rushed for 117 yards and three scores, and the No. 14 Utah Utes beat the Colorado Buffaloes 63-21 in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday.

The Utes (9-3, 8-1) can clinch a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game against USC if Washington beats Washington State later Saturday. Utah stayed in the hunt after Oregon State rallied to beat Oregon on Saturday.

Micah Bernard ran for 91 yards and a TD, Dalton Kincaid had five receptions for 102 yards and a score and Thomas Yassmin, Money Parks and Makai Cope had touchdown catches for the Utes.

Alex Fontenot and Anthony Hankerson ran for touchdowns and Maddox Kopp was 14-for-27 passing for 123 yards and a TD to Frank Fillip for the Buffaloes (1-11, 1-8).

Utah took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on TD runs by Bernard and Jackson, and the Utes opened a big lead in the second quarter.

Bernard carried four times for 53 yards on the next drive and three plays later Jackson scored his second TD with a two-yard run early in the second quarter. After forcing another punt, Utah struck again on a 41-yard TD pass from Rising to Yassmin to make the score 28-0.

Rising made the score 35-0 with a nine-yard TD pass to Parks with 52 seconds left in the half. Colorado used 24 seconds before punting again and Rising finished off a big first half with a 29-yard TD pass to Kincaid with three seconds left.

The Buffaloes intercepted Rising on the first drive of the second half and returned it to the Utah 11. Two plays later, Fontenot scored from one yard out. Jackson scored on a 66-yard run 48 seconds later to make it 48-7.

After another Colorado punt, Bryson Barnes connected with Cope for a 21-yard TD pass late in the third quarter. The Buffaloes responded with its longest drive of the game, 79 yards, finished off by Hankerson’s 23-yard TD run.

Jaylon Glover scored the Utes’ ninth touchdown on a five-yard run.

–Field Level Media

Coach Deion Sanders talks about the Southern game and what lies ahead for the Tigers during a news conference at Jackson State University in Jackson on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Tcl Deion Sanders

Report: Deion Sanders offered Colorado head-coaching job

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders has been offered the head-coaching position at Colorado, Fox Sports reported on Saturday.

Sanders, 55, is currently in his third season as the head coach at Jackson State, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Tigers have followed up 4-3 and 11-2 seasons with an 11-0 record in 2022.

The Buffaloes are singing a vastly different tune after posting a 1-10 record this season entering Saturday’s game against No. 14 Utah. Mike Sanford serves as the interim coach for Colorado after Karl Dorrell was fired following an 0-5 start this season.

Colorado has had only two winning seasons since 2006.

Sanders was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and six-time All-Pro during his NFL career. He won two Super Bowl titles and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

He also played parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball and is the only player ever to play in both the Super Bowl and World Series.

–Field Level Media

Nov 19, 2022; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) throws a pass during the first half against Oregon Ducks linebacker Noah Sewell (1) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

No. 14 Utah looking to bounce back at Colorado

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No. 14 Utah will close out the regular season at Colorado on Saturday while keeping an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard.

The Utes (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12) have an outside shot at returning to Las Vegas for the conference championship game next week and a rematch against Southern California, but it will take a group effort.

The 20-17 loss to Oregon last week put the Utes in a position where help is needed to defend their Pac-12 title. If UCLA beats Cal on Friday, Oregon State beats Oregon on Saturday and Washington beats Washington State on Saturday, the Utes, Ducks and Huskies would finish in a tie for second place with a 7-2 record.

After a series of tiebreakers, the Utes could claim the last spot in the title game based on the strength of schedule of common opponents.

To make that scenario even possible, Utah must beat Colorado (1-10, 1-7), which is finishing up a disappointing season under interim head coach Mike Sanford. The Buffaloes could have helped the Utes last week but lost to the Huskies 54-7.

Utah quarterback Cam Rising would love nothing more than to erase the loss to the Ducks. Rising threw three interceptions against Oregon, and although he has a year of eligibility left, he took part in senior night Nov. 12, an indication he could declare for the NFL draft.

His teammates aren’t blaming Rising for the loss to the Ducks.

“Maybe us as receivers could have made more plays and made it easier for him,” receiver Devaughn Vele said. “The running backs could have hit the holes harder or the O-line could have blocked better. It’s a team sport. To put it all on him is kind of unfair. I view it as I need to worry about my 20 square feet. He’s going to do the same. I trust in him that he’ll do his job and I’ll do my job.”

The Buffaloes are a good candidate to restore Rising’s mojo. Colorado has allowed 38 or more points in each of its 10 losses and has given up 109 in the last two weeks. The Buffaloes are last in points allowed in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 42.6 per game.

The news around Boulder, Colo., isn’t so much about the last game of the season but who could be leading the program next year. Sanford took over for the fired Karl Dorrell and has gone 1-5 since, and he is a candidate for the permanent job.

However, a report from 247Sports.com on Monday said that Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders has been linked to talks with the Buffaloes and South Florida.

A few Colorado players expressed support for Sanders on social media, but the NFL Hall of Famer isn’t going to do any campaigning for the job just yet.

“I don’t want anything to do with that, to be honest,” Sanders said. “I’ve kind of seen that deal before where it goes that direction where there’s people that are politicking and working and lobbying and stuff like that. And to me, that’s doing stuff that I don’t think is appropriate.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2022; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) celebrates his touchdown reception in in the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Bo Nix accounts for 5 TDs as No. 8 Oregon routs Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bo Nix ran for two touchdowns, threw two touchdown passes and caught a touchdown pass to lead No. 8 Oregon to a 49-10 Pac-12 win over Colorado on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

The Ducks (8-1, 6-0 Pac-12) remained the Pac-12’s only undefeated team in conference play, scoring more than 40 points for the eighth consecutive time, all in wins.

Nix completed 20 of 24 passes for 274 yards before exiting in the fourth quarter. Bucky Irving rushed for 120 yards on 11 carries, including a 65-yard run, and threw an 18-yard touchdown on a trick play to Nix in the first quarter.

Christian Gonzalez, who transferred from Colorado before this season, had two interceptions against his former team.

The first three touchdowns of the game involved a backup offensive lineman, Nix catching a pass and a star linebacker scoring a rushing touchdown. Oregon scored first on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Nix to Josh Conerly Jr., who’d lined up as an extra offensive lineman and eligible receiver.

After the Ducks stopped the Buffaloes on fourth down, Nix caught a soft toss from Irving and jogged into the end zone for a 14-0 Oregon lead with 2:25 left in the opening quarter.

Five plays into the second quarter, Noah Sewell, one of Oregon’s top defensive players, got a carry from the 1-yard line and powered into the end zone for a 21-0 lead.

Colorado (1-8, 1-5) answered with J.T. Shrout’s deep throw to wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who caught the ball on the run, gained his balance and ran for an 81-yard touchdown. But the Buffaloes wouldn’t get any closer.

Shrout had 247 passing yards and Tyson 137 receiving yards for Colorado. Nix (two) and Noah Whittington (one) ran for the three Oregon touchdowns in the second half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2022; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Ed Woods (10) tackles Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Drew Carter (9) in the first quarter at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Trenton Bourguet leads Arizona State to road win over Colorado

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Trenton Bourguet threw for 435 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, leading Arizona State to a 42-34 win Saturday at Colorado.

Bourguet, a former walk-on who has been a backup to Emory Jones, was declared the starter by Arizona State interim coach Shaun Aguano before the game.

Bourguet completed 32 of 43 pass attempts with three touchdown passes to Jaylin Conyers, who finished with six catches for 108 yards.

Elijhah Badger had eight receptions for 137 yards.

Colorado (1-7, 1-4 Pac-12) trailed 42-20 with 12:40 remaining when Bourguet completed his third touchdown pass to Conyers.

A 1-yard touchdown run by Deion Smith that capped a 14-play, 71-yard drive and an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jordyn Tyson cut Arizona State’s lead to 42-34 with 3:50 left.

Bourguet then engineered two first downs, allowing Arizona State to run out the clock on its final possession.

Xazavian Valladay, who had a 26-yard run in that possession, finished with 118 yards on 23 rushes.

His three touchdown runs in the first half helped Arizona State (3-5, 2-3) take a 28-17 lead at halftime.

Aguano took over the play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas.

He went with Bourguet as the starter after a weeklong competition with Jones.

Aguano stepped into the interim head coaching role after Herm Edwards was fired.

Colorado also has an interim head coach — Mike Sanford — who replaced the fired Karl Dorrell.

Bourguet completed his first nine passes for 161 yards. He connected with six different receivers during that span.

He finished the first half throwing for 251 yards while completing 17 of 23 pass attempts.

Bourguet’s second touchdown pass to Conyers, a 5-yard throw with 8:11 left in the third quarter, gave Arizona State a 35-17 lead.

Colorado cut the lead to 35-20 on Cole Becker’s 27-yard field goal, his second of the game.

The Buffaloes drove for another potential score on their next possession.

Chris Edmonds stopped that possession, intercepting a pass from J.T. Strout at the Arizona State 10.

Strout completed 13 of 34 passes for 222 yards.

Smith finished with 111 yards on 24 carries and Tyson caught five passes for 115 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2022; Boulder, Colorado, USA; California Golden Bears linebacker Jackson Sirmon (8) pulls in an interception in the first quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado stops Cal in OT for first win of season

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Colorado won its first game of the season, outlasting California 20-13 in overtime Saturday at Boulder, Colo., with interim head coach Mike Sanford Jr. leading the Buffaloes in his first game.

Sanford took over for the fired Karl Dorrell at the start of the Golden Bears’ bye week last week.

Colorado scored a touchdown to open overtime on J.T. Shrout’s 22-yard pass to Montana Lemonious-Craig that was reviewed by the replay officials. The catch was first ruled out of bounds but replays showed that Lemonious-Craig’s right foot was on the ground before he fell out of the end zone.

California was stopped on downs in its overtime possession.

On fourth down at the 11-yard line, Jack Plummer’s pass in the end zone intended for Keleki Latu was incomplete.

Colorado (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12) snapped a six-game losing streak dating to last season.

California (3-3, 1-2) is now 0-3 on the road.

Shrout completed 8 of 12 pass attempts for 69 yards in relief of starter Owen McCown, who was 13 of 21 for 104 yards with an interception.

Lemonious-Craig finished with eight catches for 119 yards.

Shrout led a 14-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in Cole Becker’s 24-yard field goal with 4:30 left in regulation that put the Buffaloes ahead 13-10.

California responded with Dario Longhetto’s 34-yard field goal as time expired in regulation after the Golden Bears went 59 yards in 12 plays.

The Buffaloes entered the weekend ranked No. 129 out of 131 FBS teams in total defense, allowing 508.8 yards per game. They were last in rushing defense giving up nearly 300 yards per game.

Colorado led 3-0 at halftime after limiting California to 103 total yards, 23 on the ground. The Buffaloes held the Golden Bears to 35 yards rushing and 297 overall in the game.

Plummer threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to J. Michael Sturdivant with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter to give California a 7-3 lead.

Colorado answered later, driving 58 yards in six plays, culminating with Anthony Hankerson’s 1-yard scoring run with 14:25 remaining.

The teams traded fumbles before the Golden Bears tied the game at 10 with 10:20 left on Longhetto’s 27-yard field goal.

–Field Level Media

Nov 13, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Daniel Arias (6) is tackled by UCLA Bruins defensive back Cameron Johnson (3) in the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado gets shot to spark season with 3-0 UCLA in town

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Teams that have started the season in opposite directions meet when undefeated UCLA visits winless Colorado in the Pac-12 opener for both schools on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

After lopsided wins over Bowling Green and Alabama State to open the season, UCLA (3-0) needed Nicholas Barr-Mira’s 24-yard field goal as time expired to pull out a 32-31 win over visiting South Alabama on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Colorado’s three losses to open the season have been by an average of 32.7 points after the Buffaloes were trounced 49-7 at Minnesota last weekend.

The setback prompted athletic director Rick George to release a statement reiterating his confidence in coach Karl Dorrell, who is 8-13 since taking over the Buffaloes in 2020.

“He’s all-in just like I’m all-in,” said Dorrell, who went 35-27 in five seasons as Bruins head coach from 2003-07. “I know our fans are disappointed. We’re just as disappointed. We’re not trying to do these things. Unfortunately that’s part of the game, that’s part of the pressure and the expectation, particularly of a program like the University of Colorado that I have a lot of respect for.

“I know we can get better, and I know we will be better. … We, as a team, and as a football program, those young players down there, they want to play well for their fans.”

UCLA coach Chip Kelly said he isn’t paying attention to the Buffaloes’ off-the-field drama.

“We look at their scheme and their personnel,” Kelly said. “We are very analytical about what we are doing. We don’t start to delve into what is the psyche and non-psyche of the team and how they feel and all of those other things.”

UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson has completed 72.6 percent of his passes for 662 yards with six touchdowns and an interception while also running for 114 yards and two scores. Zach Charbonnet is the team’s leading rusher with 34 carries for 189 yards and a touchdown.

However, no Bruin has more receiving yards than Jake Bobo’s 168 on 11 receptions, with Kazmeir Allen notching a Bruins-best 16 catches.

Colorado has been unsettled at the quarterback position with J.T. Shrout and Brendon Lewis each struggling to lead an offense that has mustered only 30 points over three games.

Deion Smith has rushed for 159 yards and a score on 28 carries (5.7 yards per carry), while Daniel Arias has 124 receiving yards on nine receptions, which is at least six more than any other Buffaloes player.

UCLA posted a 44-20 home win over the visiting Buffaloes last year and has lost their last three games in Boulder since a 40-37 win in 2014.

–Field Level Media

Sep 1, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) breaks a tackle from New Mexico State Aggies linebacker Chris Ojoh (3) during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota poses major challenge for struggling Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Minnesota Golden Gophers avoided early season pitfalls, winning convincingly over overmatched New Mexico State and Western Illinois, and now they’ll try not to overlook the struggling Colorado Buffaloes.

A year ago, the Gophers had their way with the Pac-12 team, administering a 30-0 thrashing in Boulder, Colo.

On Saturday, Minnesota (2-0) hosts the Buffaloes (0-2) in Minneapolis, where the Gophers have put up 100 points in their first two games — the seventh most productive offense in the nation.

Colorado was overrun last week by Air Force, 41-10, as the Falcons rushed for 435 yards. Slowing down Minnesota’s outstanding running back Mo Ibrahim is the next challenge for Karl Dorrell’s program.

Ibrahim has rushed for 262 yards in his first two games and has been a catalyst for the Minnesota offense.

“He’s special. We always like to have a player like Mo,” Gophers head coach PJ Fleck said. “That’s the goal in recruiting is continue to bring in players like that — that have unique styles that can break tackles.”

The Buffaloes don’t seem to have that bell cow in the backfield — and have yet to show much offensive punch. Colorado is averaging just 3.7 yards a carry while giving up 7.1 on the ground — scoring one touchdown while allowing nine.

Also, questions at quarterback persist for the Buffaloes. Brendon Lewis, last year’s starter, got the nod in the opener but struggled, and transfer J.T. Shrout started against Air Force but was just 5-for-21 for 51 yards.

Before the Air Force debacle, in which the Falcons bothered to pass only five times for 8 yards, the Buffs played a tough first half against TCU and trailed only 7-6 before giving up 31 consecutive points in the second half.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Dorrell said. “We had that discussion with our team, they understand where we are.

“We’re in a hole, but we can get ourselves out of it. We can, if we play better football. We’ve had good practices. We’ve got to make sure what we’re practicing, we actually play that way.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Air Force Falcons running back John Lee Eldridge III (24) is tackled by Colorado Buffaloes safety Trevor Woods (43) in the first quarter at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Brad Roberts, Air Force run wild in rout over Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brad Roberts rushed for 174 yards and three touchdowns, John Eldridge III ran for 88 yards and a score, and the host Air Force Falcons beat the Colorado Buffaloes 41-10 on Saturday in Colorado Springs, Col.

Haaziq Daniels also had a touchdown run for the Falcons (2-0), who rushed for 435 yards against just eight passing yards.

Deion Smith ran for 59 yards and a touchdown but quarterback J.T. Shrout was 5-for-21 passing with 51 yards and an interception for the Buffaloes (0-2).

Shrout fumbled on the second snap of the game and it was recovered by Air Force’s Christopher Herrera at the Colorado 14. Roberts then ran it in to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead.

The Buffaloes went three-and-out on their next drive and Air Force got the ball at its 34-yard line. The Falcons moved to the Colorado 37, and Matthew Dapore kicked a career-long 54-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

After a Buffaloes punt, Air Force drove to the Colorado 30 before settling for anther Dapore field goal, this one from 47 yards, to increase the lead to 13-0.

Camby Goff intercepted Shrout on the next Buffaloes possession, setting up the Falcons at the Colorado 35. Four plays later Roberts scored on a 20-yard run to make it 20-0 early in the second quarter.

The Buffaloes responded quickly, going 71 yards in four plays, capped by Smith’s 25-yard TD run.

Air Force threatened again but Colorado forced a goal-line fumble to thwart the drive. Later in the quarter Colorado forced an Air Force fumble at the Falcons 23. The Buffaloes settled for a 41-yard field goal by Cole Becker to make it 20-10 at halftime.

Colorado had a first-and-goal at the 2 early in the third quarter but Alex Fontenot fumbled as he tried to punch it in and Air Force recovered.

The Buffaloes forced a punt but failed to convert on a fourth-and-2 at the Falcons 32, and nine plays later Daniels scored on a one-yard keeper.

Roberts had a 46-yard TD run with 11:12 left and Eldridge scored on an 11-yard run with 3:03 remaining to complete the scoring.

–Field Level Media