Colorado
Utah
Buffs At Utah: What You Need To Know
November 25, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
COLORADO BUFFALOES (4-7, 1-7)
at UTAH UTESÂ (7-4, 4-4)
 SALT LAKE CITY — It was 12 years ago to the day — Nov. 25, 2011 — that the Colorado Buffaloes recorded their first Pac-12 road win, a 17-14 upset victory at Utah.
Saturday, the CU football program plays its final Pac-12 game, a 1 p.m. matchup against the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Buffs enter the game in the throes of a five-game losing streak and will be looking to end their season on a positive note.
The Utes have lost two in a row but no matter what happens Saturday, will have a bowl game in their future.
The biggest question of the day will be answered in a hurry. The status of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders — one of the nation's leaders in passing completions, yards and touchdown passes — has been up in the air since last week's 56-14 loss at Washington State. Sanders left the game in the first half with an injury and has been day-to-day this week.
If Sanders can't go, the Buffs will turn to either Ryan Staub or Gavin Kuld, both of whom saw action last week at WSU.
The nuts and bolts from Friday's game:
KICKOFF:Â 1 p.m. (MT), Rice-Eccles Stadium (51,444).
TV, RADIO: The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network with Roxy Bernstein and Lincoln Kennedy. The radio broadcast will be carried by KOA (850 AM) with Voice of the Buffs Mark Johnson and Gary Barnett upstairs and Bobby Pesavento on the sidelines. KOA's coverage begins at 11 a.m.
ON THE INTERNET: The game can be heard on the internet at CUBuffs.com. Live statistics will also be available at CUBuffs.com.
THE COACHES: Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders has a 4-7 record at Colorado in his first year as CU's head coach after three seasons at Jackson State, where he compiled a 27-6 record. Kyle Whittingham is in his 19th year as the head coach at Utah, where he has compiled a 161-78 record.
THE SERIES: The Utes hold a narrow 34-32-3 overall lead in the series, but have won the last six. The Buffs' last win over the Utes came in 2016 and their last win in Salt Lake City came in that previously mentioned 2011 game.Â
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The Buffs need a win to put an end to their losing streak and take some positive vibes into the offseason.
TEAM LEADERS: Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders has 3,230 passing yards this season (CU's all-time single season record) and 27 touchdown passes (one short of CU's record).Â
Three Buffs have at least 49 receptions, led by Xavier Weaver (68-for-908, 4 TDs). Jimmy Horn Jr. has caught 56 passes for 549 yards and six scores while Travis Hunter has 49-for-614 and four touchdowns.
Defensively, Hunter — who has played more than 900 snaps this season despite missing more than three games with injuries — has 21 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups.
Linebacker LaVonta Bentley leads Colorado with 60 tackles, including four sacks. Safety Shilo Sanders has 59 stops, one interception and four forced fumbles while safety/linebacker Trevor Woods has 56 tackles and two interceptions.Â
The Utes are sixth in the nation in third down defense and sixth in the nation against the run. Utah has recorded 67 tackles for loss, including 31 sacks, with defensive lineman Jonah Elliss accounting for 12 sacks.
Offensively, quarterback Bryson Barnes has thrown for 1,517 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he's also thrown nine interceptions. The Utes are averaging nearly 180 yards per game on the ground, led by Ja'Quinden Jackson (674 yards, four touchdowns).
KEY MATCHUP: Colorado's offensive line against Utah front seven. The Buffs have to give their quarterback — whoever it may be — some time to operate Saturday, and they have to present at least the threat of a running game. Â
UP NEXT:Â The Buffs are scheduled to open the 2024 season Aug. 31 against North Dakota State in Boulder.
