Takeaways From Buffs Vs. Arizona State

Football
October 30, 2022

Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor

BOULDER — When the season began, the Colorado Buffaloes knew they had one of the nation’s tougher schedules ahead of them.

But not even the experts could have predicted what awaited the Buffs.

Already, Colorado has faced two teams currently ranked in the nation’s top 10 (TCU and UCLA) and another in the top 25 (Oregon State). 

But the slate only becomes more difficult over the final four weeks. Still ahead are three games against top 25 teams, beginning with next Saturday’s home matchup against No. 8 Oregon, followed by a Nov. 11 trip (Friday night) to No. 9 USC. Then comes a trip to Washington before the season finale against No. 12 Utah.

“We know the challenges get even more significant,” CU coach Mike Sanford said after Saturday night’s 42-34 loss to Arizona State. “But we’re up for the challenge.”

Saturday’s loss — the seventh time in eight games the Buffs have yielded at least 38 points — dropped Colorado to 1-7 overall and 1-4 in Pac-12 play. While CU’s offense put together its best game of the season, the Buffs’ defense couldn’t come up with enough stops to keep Colorado in the game.

Our takeaways:

1. Buffs haven’t quit. Give interim head coach Sanford and the CU staff credit for keeping this team motivated in the face of very difficult circumstances.

This bunch could have checked it in after the fifth week, when their head coach and defensive coordinator were shown…