Written by Chris Johnson at SI.com
A week after slaying Pac-12 North contender Washington State at Folsom Field, Colorado defeated another talented conference opponent on its home turf. The Buffaloes beat Utah 27–22 on Saturday to secure their first double-digit-win season since 2001, clinch the Pac-12 South Division and earn a ticket to the conference championship game, where they will face No. 5 Washington.
Here are three thoughts on what unfolded in Boulder:
1. Colorado turned it on in the second half again
The Buffaloes probably went into halftime feeling like the scoreboard didn’t reflect their advantage on the field. Over the first two quarters their average yards per play was over two yards higher than the Utes’ and they recorded six more first downs. Yet Colorado couldn’t take advantage of its scoring opportunities, settling for a pair of short field goals in the second quarter that left it with only a three-point lead heading into the break. Buffaloes coach Mike MacIntyre justifiably suggested in a halftime interview that his team should be leading by double digits. That was be the case a short while later, after Colorado marched 75 yards for a passing touchdown to wide receiver Shay Fields at the end of the third quarter and then recovered a fumble from Utes star tailback Joe Williams for another score early in the fourth. Colorado forced yet another turnover later in the quarter, and the Buffaloes ran out the clock after a Utah touchdown narrowed their lead to five.
The second-half surge recalled their strong push after the break in another crucial conference collision last week against Washington State, when Colorado turned a 17–14 halftime deficit into a 14-point victory. The two wins quash any doubts over whether the Buffaloes could handle such a big stage after spending years in the conference cellar and being picked to finish last in the division this season. If anything, MacIntyre’s team seems built for crunch time, feeding off pressure to keep opponents at bay. Colorado’s ability to elevate its play as the game progresses will serve it well in the conference title game and possibly the College Football Playoff, but it will need to clean up its redzone execution to have a chance against Washington. Leaving points on the board is a minor error against an offensively limited team like Utah. Against the Huskies, it could be a fatal mistake.
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