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- The return of the 2020 Pac-12 offensive player of the year.
This was going to be the showdown between the best running back in the Pac-12 in Jarek Broussard versus the best running back in the Big Ten in Mo Ibrahim. Broussard was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the year last year with 895 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, and 5 touchdowns. So far this year, he has 145 yards in two games with 2 touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Crazy stat: Trey Potts had more carries against Miami (OH) than Broussard has this season so far (27).
- They are down to their 3rd String Quarterback.
Sam Noyer was their starter last year, was voted 2nd Team All-Conference, and then transferred to Oregon State. Projected starter and Tennessee transfer JT Shrout injured his knee in fall camp and will be out for the 2021 season leaving freshman Brendon Lewis to start this season at QB for the Buffaloes. Lewis was a 3-star recruit out of Texas and is a dual-threat style quarterback. So far, he has thrown 191 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception while rushing for 120 yards.
- Colorado has one of the best linebackers in the nation.
Remember the name, Nate Landman. He will be #53 and will be flying all over the field this Saturday. Landman had impressive numbers last year with 53 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. He was named 1st Team Pac-12 and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award which goes to the best linebacker in the nation. This year, he was one of 90 players nominated for the Chuck Bednarik Award for Best Defensive player in college football and was named second-team Preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
- They might have one of my favorite live mascots.
This year, Colorado anointed its newest live Buffalo mascot: Ralphie VI- and she made her debut against Northern Colorado on September 3rd. Ralphie VI is 15 months old and 500 pounds. She replaced Ralphie V who weighed 1,300 pounds and served Colorado for 12 years. At the beginning of every home game, you can see Ralphie run the field with her handlers and she doesn’t care if they can’t keep up. Being a handler is a coveted position that many try out for.
- Folsom Field is the third highest football stadium in college football.
At 5,345 feet, the elevation of Folsom Field can no doubt can be an advantage for the home team. Not very often do visiting teams contact medical professionals to get advice about when their plane should land in the visiting city, but the elevation of Boulder requires such a thing. Here is what Fleck said this past week regarding the elevation…
“You do a lot of research…but we’ve had numerous doctors and medical members come in and talk to us a little bit about how we should travel. We’re going to be there the shortest amount of time possible. With your body, the longer you’re there, the more it’s going to affect you. So if we can get in and get out, it shouldn’t affect us very much at all.