Colorado football is at its bye week. How much are Buffs exceeding expectations?
Colorado football is currently on the first of two bye weeks this season. Better yet, the Buffs are 4-1 and 2-0 in Big 12 play after two straight statement wins over Baylor and UCF.
CU is exceeding expectations early, but the 2023 team also started off hot and sputtered quickly. 4-1 likely doesn't extrapolate to a 9-3 record. The Buffs need to survive the switch from relatively warm at season's start to frigid in November.
The cart is out in front of the horse here, though. We can speculate on the future or address what we know now.
To properly understand this team, let's examine the Buffs' progression thus far from Week 1 until now.
Colorado football's defense is much better under Robert Livingston
One consistent aspect of CU's ascendance in the standings is their defense's play when the team needs it most.
The best way to describe why the Buffs' defense has been resilient is their ability to limit their opponents from scoring in the second half. On average, the unit allowed 17.5 points per game in the first thirty minutes. But in the second half, they conceded only 5.2 points per game (one touchdown giving up in the third quarter, only two overall).
Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig has been a revelation for the defense, leading the team with 30 solo and 36 total tackles.
With the addition of Nikhai Hill-Green into the starting linebacker role alongside LaVonta Bentley earlier this season, the former has provided consistency for the team's front seven. Hill-Green recorded 32 tackles, leads the team in 11 assisted tackles, and has a sack.
Two-way superstar Travis Hunter and Preston Hodge lead the team with two interceptions each. Carter Stoutmire has been a steady presence in the starting safety position after Shilo Sanders's injury in week two, tallying 19 total tackles (fifth on the team) and two knockdowns.
Colorado football's offense is exceeding expectations under Pat Shurmur
Shedeur Sanders and the Buffs' offense have been exceptional this season. The senior has been one of the top quarterbacks in the country and has been in the Heisman conversation.
Through five weeks, Sanders is ranked in the top ten in pass yards, passing touchdowns, and per-game yards average.
Speaking of being exceptional, Hunter is a dark horse for the nation's most significant individual player honor. Hunter is fifth in the country with 561 receiving yards and tied for third with six touchdowns. In addition, Hunter has received individual accolades in four out of the five weeks.
The offensive line has shown signs of improvement so far, but it has shown identical tendencies from last season based on discipline and pass protection (18 sacks allowed). For the Buffs to remain in contention, this core needs to be more stable and avoid getting caught in the moment and making sloppy decisions.
From week three onward, the running game has progressed significantly. The primary committee of Micah Welch, Dallen Hayden, and Isiah Augustive have shown steady support for a more balanced approach to the already lethal passing game.
Colorado football is showing their team media respect
The Buffs' in-house social media team coverage should be given proper credit.
Channels such as Thee Pregame Show, Well Off Media, and DNVR have provided essential content for the Buffs fans on YouTube daily. It is worth watching if you want to see the unique experience the team endures each day.
Deion Sanders reeks of accountability, and the results have shown
Coach Prime should be in good spirits after the team has performed over the last several weeks. Despite the mishandling of the press at times early in the season, Sanders has kept the ship afloat through the troubled waters and has thrived in expressing and instilling accountability and respect to the players daily during practices and games.
With that said, if the Buffs want to reach their goal, they should heed their philosophy and continue gaining ground every week.