Colorado’s defense has been getting a weekly workout in Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense, and the early signs are encouraging. That same kind of daily stress test once helped spark one of the biggest turnarounds in Buffaloes history, when a switch to the wishbone in 1985 set off a decade of dominance. The opener offered a taste of that kind of payoff: Georgia Tech was held to 51 rushing yards and 288 total yards, and managed only two field goals.
The parallel goes back to Bill McCartney’s bold reset in 1985. After CU hosted the NCAA West Regional in Denver, McCartney used the next day’s national media presence to unveil a new offense, introduce four assistant coaches, and announce the Buffs would return to black jerseys after four seasons in blue. The program was abandoning a pro-style, pass-heavy approach for the wishbone option, a system McCartney pointed to because of its success at Oklahoma and at the service academies.
Not everyone bought in. A Denver Post columnist wrote that, “The wishbone was no miracle cure.”
And Colorado had given plenty of reason for doubt. The Buffs went 1-10 in 1984, ranking last in the nation in rushing offense at 59.9 yards per game and 87th in total offense at 293.6.
The defense wasn’t any sturdier, sitting 102nd against the run in ’84 at 257.1 yards allowed per game and 88th in total defense at 395.2.
What changed that spring was simple: the offense and defense went head-to-head every day, and the offense had no real familiarity with the new system, especially at quarterback. The first practices were messy, with fumbles piling up.
But the defense was also working through its own rebuild, with only five starters back, two of them part-time players, plus an entirely new starting secondary. Over time, both sides settled in, and the defense became one of the best in the school’s modern history, especially against the run.
The spring game hinted at what was coming, with Colorado rolling up 334 rushing yards in a 24-0 win over the Alumni. The real measuring stick arrived four months later against Colorado State.
In a 23-10 win, the Buffs ran the ball 73 times for 358 yards. It was the first of five games in which CU’s backs topped 300 rushing yards.
The next week, Colorado beat Oregon 21-17 while rushing 58 times for 342 yards.
By season’s end, the offense had flipped from the bottom of the national rankings to ninth in rushing at 259.8 yards per game, while also climbing from last to 79th in total offense at 302.3. The passing numbers dropped, but the bigger story was what happened on the other side of the ball.
Colorado surged from 88th nationally in total defense to 17th, cutting almost 100 yards per game off its allowance, down to 296.8. Against the run, the Buffs jumped from 102nd to 37th, giving up 153.5 per game.
The time of possession numbers told part of the story too. Colorado averaged just under 32 minutes per game, more than three and a half minutes better than the year before.
And when it came to scoring defense, the difference was even starker: after allowing 33.1 points per game in 1984, the Buffs gave up just 14 in 1985, a mark that was also their lowest since 1967. Nine opponents were held to 17 points or fewer, four were kept in single digits, and one was shut out.
Colorado finished 7-5, became the most improved team in the country and earned its first bowl berth since 1976. The joke about the wishbone not being a miracle cure didn’t age well.
Now CU is hoping a different offensive shift can deliver a similar defensive edge. Rush-heavy attacks were far more common 40 years ago, but with today’s RPO-driven schemes, the Buffs may find that the best way to sharpen the defense is to keep forcing it to solve a new problem every day.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Got Early Proof Two Newcomers Can Change Everything
Colorado got an immediate return on two of its most intriguing newcomers in the season opener at Georgia Tech, and the Big 12 took notice. Lamont Lester Jr. was named co-winner of Defensive Player of the Week after piling up three sacks in his Colorado debut, while Boo Carter shared Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making two of the games defining plays in the 14-13 win.
The early hardware is a reminder that Colorados roster makeover is not just about headlines, it is about impact. The defensive lines recognition as the leagues unit of the week only deepens that view, with the Buffaloes already seeing fresh pieces tilt a tight road game their way and hint at how quickly this defense can become a problem for opponents. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Defense Just Made That Georgia Tech Win Look Even Bigger
Colorados opening win at Georgia Tech already carried plenty of weight for a program trying to set a tone early, and the defense made sure it kept getting louder in the days that followed. The Buffaloes picked up three Big 12 weekly honors for their work on that night, with defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. earning co-Defensive Player of the Week and defensive back Boo Carter taking co-Special Teams Player of the Week, while the unit also was recognized as the conferences Defensive Line of the Week.
Lesters debut included three sacks, the kind of disruptive start that can quickly change how an opponent prepares for Colorado going forward. Carters impact was even more dramatic in the final moments, when he blocked a game-winning field goal as time expired, a play that helped turn a season opener into something the Buffaloes can point to for a while as evidence their defense can swing a game in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Toby Anene Could Change What Colorado's Pass Rush Becomes
Toby Anene is settling into Colorados rotation at defensive end at a time when the Buffaloes are still sorting out what their pass rush can become. The fifth-year defender has already been through Folsom Field once before, when he played there for North Dakota State in 2024, but this time the setting carries a different kind of weight as he works to carve out a bigger role in Boulder. His growth has been less about raw athleticism than about sharpening the details, especially play recognition and a better grasp of offensive schemes.
That development showed up in Colorados recent win over Georgia Tech, where Anene made a notable contribution and gave a glimpse of why he fits into this edge group. He has also benefited from the competition around him, crediting the depth at defensive end for pushing him forward. For a defense looking to define itself, Anene is one of the players who could help determine how disruptive the Buffaloes become off the edge. [Read more 🡒]