CU Football 2023 – The Stroke of Midnight

Buff Nation –

This past Saturday, in front of a sell-out crowd at Folsom Field, our Golden Buffaloes came through with a dominant 36-14 beatdown of Nebraska (the largest margin of victory since the 62-36 win at Folsom on 11/23/01 – The greatest CU game ever played on home turf). The victory afforded those Buff Nation faithful willing to rush the field, a chance to capture that coveted 50-yard line selfie for their Shutterfly album (always good, always memorable). 

With a three-game winning streak over the Cornhuskers (the first such streak since 1956-58), The Buffs can now put that storied rivalry on a shelf, as it’s time to move on to the next for Coach Prime and his resurgent Buffaloes team.

The Colorado football program is the Cinderella story of college football, if not of all sports, and the eyes of the nation are waiting to see what the program does next.  For CU, next up is Colorado State (CSU). This is yet another rivalry steeped in tradition (kudos to the CU administration for setting up such an epic non-conference schedule).

ESPN College GameDay will be on-site (the first time since 9/14/96), when our #18 ranked CU Buffs take on the Rams from Fort Collins. This is the first time their rivalry game has been hosted at Folsom since 2009.  The prior 10 meetings have been hosted in Denver, as part of the Rocky Mountain Showdown rivalry series.   An 8 PM kickoff bodes well for an all-day (drinking) tailgate (inside voice). 

In this crazy train season, CSU represents a different kind of test of CU.  Coming off big-time victories over big time programs, CU has its first opportunity to secure a convincing victory over a team that all pundits expect CU to beat.  CSU doesn’t have a single player that could start for CU (fact), let alone secure a second-string position (speculation). CSU on the other hand will be looking to shock the world in the same manner CU did two weeks earlier at TCU.  Sitting between an emotional “it’s personal” game against Nebraska and a “prove it to the world” road game against #13 Oregon, lowly CSU presents a perfect trap game for CU. 

I doubt Coach Prime will let that happen though.  Coach Prime has proven that he doesn’t allow the moment to get too big (or too small) for him.  CU is favored by 23 points, and my DraftKings beat says they will cover.  No disrespect to CSU, but the Rams are going to have a real tough time stopping CU’s offense (even with Fairview High School alum Henry Blackburn manning the CSU secondary (Let’s Go Henry!)).  CU may score on every offensive series.

Come the stroke of midnight on Saturday, CU should be 3-0, and will continue with their magical season.   Here’s to Cinderella getting home safely and well rested for the upcoming king’s ball at Oregon.  Given three of my four kids are girls, I know my Cinderella references, and I’m a big fan. 

Go Buffs!  Who’s got it better than us?  Nobody!

Doug