Heading into bye, Coach Prime’s CU Buffs on upward trajectory
ORLANDO, Fla. – A little more than a year ago, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders took his team on the road for a conference game for the first time.
Undefeated and ranked No. 19 in the country going into a game at Oregon's Autzen Stadium, the Buffs were riding high until a 42-6 beatdown by the No. 10 Ducks.
"One thing that I can say, honestly and candidly, you better get me right now," Sanders said after that humbling defeat. "This is the worst we're gonna be."
A 56-14 loss at Washington State two months later may have been worse. Either way, the loss to Oregon showed many cracks for a team that would go 1-8 after its hot start.
Fast forward to Saturday night and CU's first conference road game of 2024. The Buffaloes' 48-21 dismantling of Central Florida signaled a much brighter future than a year ago in Oregon.
"It's one of the first times that we came out and played a collective game: offensively, defensively, as well as special teams," Coach Prime said.
The victory at UCF was the best performance of the Coach Prime era and a sign the Buffs (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) are becoming a better football team. And, they are off to a 4-1 start for just the fifth time in the last 23 seasons.
"I think it just instills confidence; that confidence that we can do it," said receiver Will Sheppard, who caught four passes for 99 yards and a touchdown on Saturday. "Everything that we've been working on from (the offseason) ... it's falling into place, and I think we're excited to get to work this week and then face Kansas State next week."
CU goes into this week's bye riding a three-game win streak and it will carry momentum into an Oct. 12 matchup against No. 20 Kansas State in Boulder.
While the 2023 Buffs stumbled after a hot start, the 2024 Buffs are doing the opposite. They slugged past North Dakota State 31-26 in the opener and got rolled at Nebraska, 28-10, in Week 2.
Since then, the Buffs have routed rival Colorado State 28-9 on the road, rallied past Baylor for a miraculous 38-31 overtime win on Sept. 21 and then completely dominated a heavily-favored UCF squad on a rainy, humid Orlando afternoon.
"I feel like we're trending in the right direction," Coach Prime said. "I feel like you guys are seeing the fruit of a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication, great hires ... bringing the right guys in with the right attitude, the right work ethic. I love where we are as a program. I really do. Could we be better? Of course, I think everyone can, but I know we're trending in the right direction."
The shift began at halftime in Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 7. After a horrible first half, the Buffs went into the locker room down 28-0 to the Cornhuskers. In the second half, CU outscored the Huskers 10-0 and held them to 121 yards in offense.
That night, Coach Prime said he didn't remember what he said to the team at the half, but added, "I just try to really get in their minds, get in their hearts, and just try to propel us to the next level."
Whatever was said worked and CU has been impressive since, for the most part.
At Colorado State on Sept. 14, the Buffs faced a significant challenge against a bitter in-state rival in its backyard. CU answered the challenge and smacked the Rams.
On Sept. 21, the Buffs were backed into a corner, down 31-24 in the final seconds. They answered that challenge, too, with a last second prayer to tie the game before winning it in overtime.
Saturday, they faced a hyped up UCF squad that was favored by 14 points. Again, the Buffs met the challenge head-on and dominated.
"I challenged a multitude of young men in different ways; ways that they were capable of handling the challenge," Coach Prime said after Saturday's game. "And they stepped up, they stepped out and they did the doggone thing. And I'm proud of each and every one of them. ... I'm so darn proud of where we are. We could be in a whole different place right now, but we're going into the break, what's the record? Because I'm one game at a time."
The group of reporters in the room collectively said, "4-1."
"Say it again. I just wanted to hear y'all say it collectively and you all fell for it," he said with a laugh. "We're 4-1 right now going into the break, and I'm so excited. You have no idea. It's gonna be really good plane ride tonight."
