Surprising players not named Shedeur, Travis Hunter given credit for Colorado football's win streak

CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah gives credit to Colorado football's defense just as much as Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter for the Buffs' current four-game win streak after a 49-24 blowout of Utah in Week 12.

"In the win over Utah, every piece of Colorado was rolling at top capacity. The ferocious Buffaloes defense recorded nine tackles for loss, four sacks, five pass breakups and three interceptions. Punt returner LaJohntay Wester flipped the game on its head with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter. And, of course, Shedeur Sanders connected on a pair of key fourth-down conversions -- one for a touchdown, one to set up a touchdown -- to help put the game away," Jeyarajah wrote.

"While Hunter and Sanders have deservedly received the lion's share of attention, the defense has taken center stage during a four-game winning streak. The Buffaloes are holding opponents to only 20.3 points per game over the run and have only given up 30 points twice in Big 12 play. The Buffs actually rank higher in the Big 12 in total defense (No. 9) than offense (No. 11). That said, Colorado also became the first team since 2014 Oregon to score 49 points against Utah."

Colorado football's defense has separated Buffs from the Big 12's also-rans

Between BJ Green, Nikhai Hill-Green, DJ McKinney, and Preston Hodge, Coach Prime imported several potential future NFL pros on defense. No one associated CU with stingy defense last season, but against Utah, and in general, under first-year defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, the Buffs have held up on that side of the ball.

Several times, Shedeur turned the ball over against the Utes. After an interception and fumble gave Utah great field position, though, the Utes were forced to kick on fourth down.

It's been a transformation for Coach Prime's Buffs but the defense is the true reason why CU is 8-2. Shedeur and the high-powered offense were doing their thing in 2023 too, just behind much worse protection. But those four games were won on the offense.

Now, Colorado is dominating because of defense. Go back to 2022 and tell someone that'd be the future of the program in 2024 and they'd laugh you out of Boulder.