Through three weeks, Shedeur Sanders has continued to rank at the upper tier of quarterbacks in college football. Sanders is ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 333 passing yards, thus elevating the Buffaloes to be ranked ninth-best passing offense in the FBS.
Moreover, Sanders is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns with nine and sixth in the conference with a passing rating of 160.8. According to PFF College, Sanders had the sixth-best grade (90.6) among Power Four conference quarterbacks through three weeks.
Superstar two-way ace Travis Hunter continued to reek the honors. With another quality performance last week against CSU, Hunter received Big-12 Defensive Player of the Week and his second Paul Hornung Award Player of the Week this Season.
PFF College ranks Hunter eleventh-best wide receiver with a grade percentage of 82.5 and the eighth-best cornerback with an 84.3.
Colorado's offense and defense are improving every week
Despite the discipline miscues, Colorado is showing weekly signs of improvement that are sustainable for a run at the conference. The biggest improvement is the running game, as the team went over the century mark for the first time in the Coach Prime era during their 28-9 win over CSU. Despite the strong running game performance last week, the Buffs have been nonexistent, averaging just over 61 yards per game, dead last in the Big 12.
The offensive line has done a commendable job protecting Shedeur and allowing running back Micha Welch et al. to plow down the CSU line. The team would like to sustain both of these against a very formidable Baylor defense (more to come).
Defensively, the Buffs' pass defense has been the biggest plus so far this season. Cornerback DJ McKinney has been a steady hand, leading the team with 21 total tackles, good for the top 100 in the country and tied for 12th in the Big-12 conference. Safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig has also been reliable, leading the team with 15 solo tackles.
Rush defense has been the kryptonite allowing 145.7 yards per game (ninth in the conference), highlighted by two of the three games (NDSU and CSU) in which the squad allowed well over 100 yards. In total defense, the Buffs rank in the bottom five of the conference with 21.0 points per game and 374.3 yards allowed per game, but ranked tenth in pass and rush defense.
Let's talk about Baylor
The Baylor Bears come into Boulder with a 2-1 record, their only blemish coming against Utah in week two.
Baylor's offense has the ninth-best total offense in the Big 12 with 381 yards per game and rushing with 167.3., but tenth in passing with 213.7. The Bears will likely go with Sawyer Robertson as quarterback with Dequan Finn injured. Their running game consists of a healthy dose of Dawson Pendergrass, Richard Reese, and Bryson Washington.
The Baylor defense is the best in the Big 12 and the FBS. Led by Keaton Thomas and Matt Jones, the Bears are allowed 9.7 points per game, total defense with 230.3, pass defense, and a noteworthy 75.7 passing yards allowed. Their only setback is the inability to stop the run. Baylor ranks sixth last in the conference by allowing 154.7 yards per game.