Colorado-San Diego State Notes
vs
Wyoming
Sep 20 (Sat)
8:15 p.m.
Series. CU takes a 2-0 lead in the series with SDSU, the other game a 34-14 win in 2002 … Colorado has now started 3-0 for the third time in four seasons (2017, 2018, 2020) … That 3-0 start makes Karl Dorrell the seventh coach in CU history to win his first three games; the only other coach to do so since 1905 of was Rick Neuheisel in 1995 (with Dorrell the offensive coordinator on that staff) … CU is now 68-24 against unranked teams in November dating back to 1985 … The opponents did not start a drive in CU territory until the 11th possession tonight (SDSU at the CU43), or the 39th opponent drive of the year … This was the first time CU opened with three opponents from the same state since 1924 (Western State, Regis, Colorado College) and first time ever with three from a state other than Colorado … The Buffaloes have now led for 158:37 (tied for 14:08 and have trailed for just 3:15 this season … CU has also scored in all 12 quarters to open a season for the first time since 1998, when the Buffs scored in the first 16.
First Fumble. CU’s first fumble of the season (fumbled center snap) occurred with 5:29 left in the second quarter, or 144 minutes and 31 second into the season; that’s the second longest in school history, behind 1:46:06 in 2014 (the longest time without a fumble lost is 1:88:01 in 2011).
DEFENSE. Several good defensive notes today:
- 10. The fewest points CU allowed in a game since the first two games of the 2017 season, when CSU and Texas State were each held to a field goal—also the last two times that CU did not allow an offensive TD. It was CU’s 75th straight win when holding the opponent under 13 points (since a 7-0 loss at Nebraska in 1988).
- 100/100. Colorado improved to 47-1 all-time when holding an opponent under 100 yards in both rushing yards (79 by SSU) and passing yards (76). CU is now 105-15-1 since the start of the 1985 season when holding an opponent under 100 yards rushing and 300 yards total offense.
- 155. The 155 yards by SDSU was the first time an opponent was held under 200 since 2016 (Arizona State, 199), and the fewest since earlier that same year when Idaho State had 96.
- 2.63. SDSU’s average per play (59-155) was the smallest since that Idaho State game (when the Vandals averaged 1.75 per).
- 1-of-19. SDSU’s second down efficiency (thus when combined with 4-of-17 on third and 0-of-1 on fourth, added to 5-of-37).
- 18-22. SDSU ran 18 plays in plus territory for a net yards, and never penetrated CU’s 20 (red zone).
- 30/59. Of SDSU’s 59 plays, 19 went for zero gains and 11 for minus yardage (CU had 13 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage).
RED ZONE. CU is now 13-of-13 when penetrating the 20 this year (11 TD, 2 FG).
FIRST CAREER STARTS Two made their first career starts:SECOND-YEAR FRESHMEN (1): WR La’Vontae Shenault.
SOPHOMORES (1): TE C.J. Schmanski.
Note: Schmanski (a walk-on from Monarch High School in Louisville, Colo. – six miles outside of Boulder – became the 10th player dating back to at least 1992 to start a game as a walk-on. The previous nine: OG Jack Shutack, who made five starts at right guard last year. The others: FS Ryan Moeller (2014); FB Jordan Murphy (2013); WR Dusty Ebner and C Keenan Stevens (2009); WR Steve Melton (2008); ILB Jake Duren and SS D.J. Dykes (2007) and WR Cody Crawford (2006). Schmanski also made his first career receptions.
FIRST CAREER ACTION Redshirt freshman PK Mac Willis (Cherry Creek HS) appeared in his first career game (kickoff man).THIRD COLORADO PREP FIRST Junior S Curtis Appleton (Cherry Creek) had his first career interception, joining Schmanski and Willis with firsts tonight by Colorado prep products.INDIVIDUAL LINER NOTES
ILB Nate Landman (9,2—11 TT; 3 QBS, 4 TFL, 5 3DS)
- He is just the third player since 2010 to have three quarterback sacks in a game for the Buffaloes; DL Mustafa Johnson had three against Nebraska last year and DT Leo Jackson three against Texas State in 2017. All three of Landman’s sacks came on third downs; we’ll check the last time an ILB had three in a game; Landman had four in 2018; Addison Gilliam had 3½ in 2014, as did Michael Sipili in 2010).
TB Jarek Broussard (32-124, 0 TD, 6 FD rushing)
He topped 100 yards for the third straight game and has now rushed for the third-most yards three games into a season in school history:
MOST RUSHING YARDS / FIRST THREE CU GAMES IN ANY SEASON
Player, Class Season Att. Yards Avg. TD 100-yd Gm
Eric Bieniemy, Soph. 1988 67 482 7.19 4 3
Kayo Lam, Sr. 1935 49 468 9.55 4 2
Jarek Broussard, Soph. 2020 90 432 4.80 3 3
Charlie Davis, Soph. 1971 55 418 7.60 2 3
Rashaan Salaam, Jr. 1994 72 410 5.69 9 2
Byron White, Sr. 1937 96 380 3.96 2 1
Phillip Lindsay, Sr. 2017 71 378 5.32 3 2
Charlie Davis, Jr. 1972 60 372 6.20 5 3
Terry Kunz, Sr. 1975 65 372 5.72 4 2
Eric Bieniemy, Jr. 1989 56 322 5.75 6 2
FIRST THREE GAMES PLAYED IN A SEASON (Bieniemy did not play in the opener):
Eric Bieniemy, Sr. 1990 81 375 4.63 6 2
- He joins Davis as the only Buffalo to rush for 100 or more in the first three games of a CU career.
QB Sam Noyer (29-17-1, 138, 1 TD, 103.1 rating; 11-12 rushing, 1 TD; 1,7—8 FDE)
- He is the seventh quarterback to win his first three games as the starter since 1959 (51 different players have started at the position).
- He has now scored a touchdown in three straight games, the first QB to do since Sego Liufau scored in three in a row late in the 2016 season .