The bye week comes at a good time for Colorado, because the Buffaloes need bodies back on the field. Their three-game slide hasn’t been caused solely by injuries, but the absences have mattered, especially in Week 5 against then-No. 12 Texas Tech, when Colorado was missing more than 10 players.
With Utah next on the schedule, the Buffs’ biggest task during the break is simple: get healthy. These five players stand out as the ones Colorado needs most on the other side of the bye.
BJ Green’s absence showed up fast against the Red Raiders. Colorado didn’t generate nearly enough pressure on a mostly immobile Will Hammond, and that left the defense short of the disruption it needed. Green leads the Buffaloes with four sacks, and that total also leads the Big 12.
He was listed as doubtful in Week 5, but the bye gives him a chance to come back. If he can’t go, Colorado will have to keep piecing together its pass rush, and that has already been a tough formula.
On offense, Colorado has found a true lead target in Joseph Williams, but the Buffs would still love another major receiving threat to go with him. Omarion Miller has handled that kind of role well enough so far, yet top Big 12 teams such as Utah can focus on two receivers without much trouble. If Colorado gets Miller back at full strength, he could move back into the top spot he was expected to occupy in the spring.
Tight end Charlie Williams has also felt the strain of the injuries around him. He has turned in several solid outings, but he has been battling issues of his own and has basically been carrying the position group. Getting Alexander Atkins back would give Colorado more options in the passing game and add another layer of stress for opposing defenses.
The secondary has taken hits too. RJ Johnson played well against Texas Tech, but Colorado still doesn’t have much depth at corner.
After breaking out against Baylor in Week 4, Isaiah Stokes missed the Texas Tech game. The Buffaloes held up reasonably well against the Red Raiders through the air, but Utah will be a much bigger challenge if Colorado can’t rotate four capable corners.
Stokes wasn’t officially ruled out until the day of the Texas Tech game, which at least leaves some hope he can return against his former team. If he doesn’t, the impact should show up in the box score.
Another defensive back, Preston Ashley, was just starting to make his mark before an injury knocked him out for Week 5. The freshman had begun working at nickel and was performing better than the more experienced Makari Vickers, who opened the season there. If Ashley’s progress stalled during the layoff, Colorado may be back to searching for answers in the nickel spot.
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Colorado Defense Showed Real Progress Before One More Painful Breakdown
Colorados defense gave the Buffaloes something real to build on in a recent matchup with Texas Tech, especially up front. Sanata Hopper was everywhere for stretches of the game, and the unit as a whole kept Texas Tech in check for most of the afternoon, allowing Colorado to stay competitive deep into the contest and limiting the Red Raiders to just 12 points through three quarters.
The encouraging part for Deion Sanders was the overall trend, even if it came with the familiar sting of another late lapse. Colorado showed better structure and energy than it has at other points this season, but the final breakdown erased much of the good will from the earlier effort. The challenge now is turning that improved early resistance into something that lasts through the finish. [Read more 🡒]
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BYU Just Took A Big Hit Before A Crucial Stretch
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The loss puts more pressure on an already shifting offensive plan, with quarterback Bear Bachmeier likely to shoulder a bigger load while the rushing attack waits for Martin to return. For a team trying to navigate a pivotal run of games, the absence of a back who has been central to the ground game changes the feel of everything around it. [Read more 🡒]