The Sooners remain at the top spot, despite a No. 3 ranking in the BCS, which was unveiled Sunday. A 13-catch, 217 yard performance gave receiver Ryan Broyles sole possession of the all-time NCAA record for most career receptions. Him and quarterback Landry Jones have synced in for nine touchdowns already this season to lead an offense that averages over 45 points per game. (Next week: Texas Tech)

2. LSU (7-0): beat Tennessee 38-7

Les Miles and his ball club have won three SEC games by an average margin of 30 points. They’ll look to keep that pace rolling in a scrap with last year’s national champions. LSU ran for 260 yards against the Volunteers with backup quarterback Jordan Jefferson contributing 73 and a touchdown. This is bad news for Auburn, who has one of the most porous run defenses in the country. (Next: vs. Auburn)

3. Alabama (7-0): beat Ole Miss 52-7

Really these three teams could all be ranked No. 1. But what’s the fun of that? Alabama’s defense has some beyond ridiculous stats; none more so than the 1.4 yards per carry opposing teams are averaging per rushing attempt against the Tide. On the other side of the ball, their running game is doing pretty well. Bama’s run attack ranks 12th nationally and is led by Heisman candidate Trent Richardson. This run by Richardson is one of the best of the season. (Next: vs. Tennessee)

4. Wisconsin (6-0): beat Indiana 59-7

No team in America is winning with as much comfort as the Badgers. They own the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense, putting up over 50 per game, and also boast the third-ranked scoring defense in the FBS. Granted, their only challenge thus far has come from Nebraska. That will change next week as they take on 5-1 Michigan State. (Next: @ Michigan St.)

5. Stanford (7-0): beat Washington St. 44-14

The Cardinal started off slow against WSU and managed only a 10-7 lead at halftime. Then quarterback Andrew Luck threw four second-half touchdowns to put the game out of reach. The numbers for the leading Heisman candidate look like this: 1,719 yards, 79% completion rate, 18 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. (Next: vs. Washington)

6. Oklahoma State (6-0): beat Texas 38-26

28-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden is showing the maturity necessary to lead his team toward a Big 12 title. He is completing passes at a career high rate of 73% and now has two wins over ranked conference opponents to show for it. As the leader of the nation’s second-ranked passing offense, Weeden is spreading the ball to more than just Biletnikoff award winner Justin Blackmon. Five other Cowboy receivers are in the double digits in receptions. (Next: @ Missouri)

7. Boise State (7-0): beat Colorado St. 63-13

The Broncos came to Ft. Collins and treated the Rams to an old-fashioned whooping in their Mountain West Conference debut. Quarterback Kellen Moore threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns against a downtrodden CSU squad. The remainder of their schedule includes Wyoming, UNLV, and New Mexico, with the only real challenge to an undefeated season coming in the form of a 4-2 TCU team. (Next: vs. Air Force)

8. Clemson (7-0): beat Maryland 56-45

The Tigers jump the Ducks thanks in part to their flashy, speed-oriented offense. Also, undefeated Clemson has topped three ranked opponents, compared to Oregon’s lone win against a ranked team. The MVP for head coach Dabo Swinney’s young group has easily been a freshman receiver from Florida. Sammy Watkins single-handedly willed his team to a come from behind win on the road. (Next: vs. North Carolina)

9. Oregon (5-1): beat Arizona St. 41-27

Both starting tailback LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas are nursing injuries. Their status remains in question for the conference match against the Buffs. But Oregon really might not need their starting backfield in tact after an impressive showing by backup quarterback Bryan Bennett, who engineered four scoring drives in the Ducks victory over ASU. (Next: @ Colorado)

10. Arkansas (5-1): Idle

Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks will need a miracle to win the SEC West, by far the most loaded division in the country. They’ll need Alabama to lose twice and have to beat LSU themselves in the season finale. Still, Arkansas harbors one of the nation’s top passing attacks with quarterback Tyler Wilson and will rely on him to get a BCS bowl birth. (Next: @ Ole Miss)

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Kurmholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu. 

After winning the Rocky Mountain Shootout earlier this month, the No. 8 Buffs took home first place at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. They edged out No. 12, Portland, with a score of 82.

Senior Andy Wacker led the way, finishing second overall with a time of 23:58, only three seconds behind winner Leonard Korir of Iona.

“That was a really nice race for Andy,” coach Mark Wetmore said. “That guy ahead of him (Korir) is an excellent runner.

Andy Wacker at the Rocky Mountain Shootout. (CU Independent file/Jake Fojtik)

Andy had a great summer of training and his work is paying off.”

Richard Medina also finished among the top five, recording a time of 24:04 in the eight-kilometer race.

“I really like our team’s chances this year,” Wacker said. “We are training better than ever. We have a lot of good guys. We are just getting started this year and I’m excited.”

Teams from across the country raced in the pre-nationals, providing the Buffs a true litmus test of their competition. Other top-15 teams that participated included Iowa, Indiana, Florida State and Portland.

“This was basically our first race against any opposition this year,” Wetmore said. “We made a couple of mistakes in this race, so we will look to fix those in the next five weeks.”

The women’s team, which won the pre-nationals in 2009, finished fourth with 160 points. The race was dominated by No. 3 Florida State, who outran second-place Georgetown by an astonishing 53 points.

Sophomore Shalaya Kipp recorded a team-best time of 20:51 and placed ninth in the six-kilometer run.

“They looked a little tired and flat,” Wetmore said. “They weren’t at the top of their game. We had a hard week of practice, so maybe we need to be a little better rested. We will make adjustments and be ready to run again in two weeks.”

Lara Darco, Katie Cumming, and Camille Logan also finished among the top-40 racers for the Buffs.

Next for CU is their first ever Pac-12 Championship in Tempe, Ariz. on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu. 

A 25-23, 25-23, 25-23 loss to Arizona State at Coors Events Center brings the Buffs locked into the last place standing in their new conference.

Arizona St. entered Boulder with a 0-9 mark in the Pac-12, seated half a game above CU.

They have played every team in the conference and the Buffs have yet to win a set in the Pac-12. To put it in some perspective, that means the team is 0-33 in sets during conference play.

“So close yet so far, there’s no real way to describe it for us right now. The difference between just being close… it’s simply not enough,” head coach Liz Kritza said. “Earlier in the season we can take some positives in when we’re closing gaps and playing teams close, but it’s not enough. Not anymore.”

Sophomore Megan Beckwith, 3, and junior Kerra Schroeder, 6, both attempt a dig in the second game of the match against Arizona State University. The Sun Devils defeated the Buffs in three games. (CU Independent/Robert R. Denton)

Junior Kerra Schroeder led the Buffs with a match-best 16 kills. Sophomore Megan Beckwith returned to add 14 digs.

A conference that boasts five of the NCAA’s top seven teams, the new home is providing a rude transition for the Buffs. Going back to last season in the Big 12, the Buffs have lost 22 consecutive league-play matches.

Next weekend the Buffs begin the second cycle of conference play. They hit the road to battle No. 6 UCLA on Oct. 21 and No. 3 USC on Oct. 22.

Kritza said there is no reason for self-pity in the locker room.

“We’ve got some big matches ahead of us,” Kritza said. “But we can’t do anything but correct the things we know we can control. Correct our first contact and prepare ourselves for a really big challenge defensively. We can do it. We have a couple of days to get ready. There’s no feeling sorry for ourselves. We know what we’re in for.”

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu. 

The Sooners’ stomping reverberated a clear message throughout the college football world: We are still unbeaten and we are still deserving of that No. 1 ranking. Not only did Bob Stoops’ offense score at will against the Longhorns, but his defense did too. A fumble return and interception return yielded two scores as the defense held Texas to a season-low 259 yards. (Next week: @ Kansas)

2a. LSU (6-0): beat Florida, 41-11.

As usual, the LSU defense proved too dominant for a ranked foe. The Gators are the fourth Top-25 team to fall prey to Les Miles’ Tigers. Now the offense, which gained 453 yards, is starting to get in on the party. The only downer on the day for LSU: punter Brad Wing’s revoked touchdown run after he “taunted” Florida defenders. Even if it doesn’t count for seven, it should still sting Florida’s pride to know a punter ran away from its defense. Wing should have channeled his inner William Wallace to the refs: “They may take our touchdown, but they will never take…OUR VICTORY!” (Next week: @ Tennessee)

2b. Alabama (6-0): beat Vanderbilt, 34-0.

The tie between SEC West rivals Alabama and LSU continues for a second week. Both these teams look identical, though ‘Bama leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing 7 points per game. Nick Saban’s defense is so loaded that it lead an unnamed offensive coordinator who game-planned against it to tell Sports Illustrated, “I can honestly say they have no weak spots. Their linemen are monsters. Their linebackers look like linemen. Their safeties look like linebackers. Their corners are big. And all of them are incredibly fast—NFL fast.” (Next: @ Ole Miss)

4. Wisconsin (5-0): Idle.

Wisconsin is the only team in the nation to own a top-3 scoring offense and scoring defense, out dueling teams at an average rate of 48-10. There is no secret that the key piece to assisting the Badgers’ great running game is a talented quarterback. Enter Russell Wilson, who’s throwing completions at a 75 percent rate and has 13 touchdowns next to one interception. He has Madison thinking about more than just a Big Ten title this year. A national championship and a Heisman are still realistic dreams. (Next: vs. Indiana)

5. Stanford (6-0): beat Colorado, 48-7.

Our poor Buffs hopped into Stanford on one leg with a banged up secondary to take on the nation’s premiere quarterback. The visit resulted in a much-expected clinic, as Andrew Luck threw for 370 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. CU corner Terrel Smith put at least a blemish on the quarterback’s stat line. Find the victory wherever you can, no matter how small. (Next: @ Washington St.)

6. Oklahoma St. (5-0): beat Kansas, 70-28.

The nation’s top scoring offense padded its stats against the lowly Jayhawks. Quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon are making this pitch-and-catch routine look easier than Pop Warner football. It doesn’t matter who the defender is, no one has been able to stop Blackmon, last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner. According to Sports Science, he’s as big as a two-car garage. Err sort of. (Next: @ Texas)

7. Boise St. (6-0): beat Fresno St., 57-7.

Everyone knows about Heisman hopeful quarterback Kellen Moore. But Boise State’s defense is what could really propel this team to an undefeated season. The Broncos defensive unit is the best in the nation at stopping opposing offenses on third downs. Fresno State, which scored its only touchdown on a punt return, converted on only two of their 14 third downs. (Next: @ Colorado St.)

8. Oregon (4-1): beat Cal, 43-15.

Oregon gave Cal a beat down of the Duck degree, as the nation’s top rushing attack piled up 365 yards. However, tailback LaMichael James went down in the fourth quarter with a dislocated elbow. As of now, his expected return date is unknown and the Ducks host a top-20 team in Arizona St. this weekend. (Next: Arizona St.)

9. Clemson (6-0): beat Boston College, 36-14.

With each week the Tigers become more and more likely to play for the ACC title, which they haven’t won since 1991. Quarterback Tajh Boyd helped lead the offense to 500 total yards, despite being carted off the field with a hip injury. Luckily for the Tigers, he is expected to play next week. (Next: @ Maryland)

10. Arkansas (5-1): beat Auburn, 38-14.

Quarterback Tyler Wilson might be the SEC’s best quarterback. Unfortunately he won’t be on the SEC’s best team, barring an upset to the LSU-Alabama winner. If nothing else, the Hogs get the last place in CU:I’s Top 10 for this fan. (Next: Idle).

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Kurmholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu. 

Sophomore defensive back Ayodeji Olatoye seen walking onto the field Sept. 17, 2011 in the game against CSU. Olatoye is one of five players suspended by head coach Jon Embree. (CU Independent/James Bradbury)

The players, who are suspended indefinitely, are: defensive backs Parker Orms, Ayodeji Olatoye, Paul Vigo, Josh Moten, and linebacker Liloa Nobriga. Orms, who did not play last week because of an injured leg, is the only starter of the group.

Though both Orms and Vigo were not likely to play against the Cardinal because of injuries, the verdict is now definite.

Embree’s battered defense was set to rely on sophomores Oltaoye and Moten for help against Stanford’s Andrew Luck.

“We are disappointed that these student athletes have not lived up to the high expectations we have here at the University of Colorado,” Embree said in a news release.  “While not going into specifics, there are no issues with law enforcement, but they have not met their obligations and responsibilities to be active members of the team.”    

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@cuindependent.com. 

(CU Independent illustration/Kelly Kaoudis & Josh Shettler)

Oklahoma (4-0): beat Ball St., 62-6That’s right – the Sooners remain No. 1, even after falling to third in the associated press poll. The team who started on top will remain there until they lose. Quarterback Landry Jones and the fourth-rated offense in the FBS waltz into the Red River Rivalry with a chance to solidify their ranking. Next week: vs. No. 10 Texas (in Dallas)

2a. LSU (5-0): beat Kentucky, 35-7

LSU is one of two SEC West teams at the No. 2 spot, tied with division rival Alabama.After a mauling of Kentucky, the Tigers take on Florida, otherwise known as Alabama’s scraps. Only one month left until LSU and Alabama meet in Death Valley, where both teams are verylikely to be undefeated heading into the showdown. Don’t look now, but Tyrann Mathieu (akathe Honey Badger) is a Heisman candidate on defense.

Mathieu, only a sophomore has already set a school record with nine forced fumbles. Next week: vs. Florida

2b. Alabama (5-0): beat Florida, 38-10 Nick Saban’s defense allowed a measly 15 rushing yards on 29 Gator carries last week in “The Swamp.” The nation’s top defense looks more complete than it ever has before under Saban, a scary prospect for the SEC. It’s national title or bust now in T’town. Next week: vs. Vanderbilt

4. Wisconsin (5-0): beat Nebraska, 48-17 Quarterback Russell Wilson might just be the Heisman favorite at this point. It’s hard to imagine that Wisconsin offenses of past would ever hang 48 on a Bo Pelini defense. Wilson’s 255 passing yards and three total touchdowns gave warning to the nation that the Big Ten favorites are legitimate. Next week: vs. Indiana

5. Stanford (5-0): beat UCLA, 45-19

Phenom signal caller Andrew Luck does it all. He throws, runs, tackles on occasion (right,USC?), and now he even makes one handed catches look routine.

Now our beloved Buffs enter Palo Alto with a hampered secondary depending on players who started the season on offense. Uh oh.

6. Oklahoma St. (4-0): idle The Cowboys got a chance to rest after that wild, one-point win in Aggieland. As if things weren’t going good enough in Stillwater, the nation’s second-ranked passing offense welcomes Kansas – who ranks 120th out of 120 FBS teams in scoring defense. Over / Under 65 points for OSU? Next: vs. Kansas

7. Boise St. (5-0): beat Nevada, 30-10 Quarterback Kellen Moore looked uncharacteristically mortal on his home blue turf. His mere 142 passing yards and two interceptions, doubling his season total, may not reflect well on Heisman voters. But hey, the Broncos beat up on the team that took away their undefeated 2010 campaign. Now Moore looks to keep 2011′s unblemished record intact. Next: vs. Fresno St.

8. Oregon (3-1): idle

Last season, Cal came within a field goal of upsetting Oregon’s title hopes. That was in Berkeley. This time the Ducks and their top-ranked scoring offense welcome the Bears to the not-so-hospitable Autzen Stadium. Warning: you may want to turn the volume down. Next: vs Cal.

9. Clemson (5-0): beat Virginia Tech, 23-3. Is head coach Dabo Swinney’s team for real? The Tigers have dethroned three ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time in what seems like forever. But can they keep playing under pressure now that they have solidified themselves as the favorites in the ACC? The offensive combination of youngsters Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins is surprisingly good. Their speed should allow them to run through most of ACC schedule. Next: vs. Boston College

10. Texas (5-0): beat Iowa St., 37-14. A quarterback rotation of David Ash and Case McCoy has worked wonders so far for Coach Mack Brown. But a date with Oklahoma’s nasty defense in the Red River Rivalry could expose the inexperience of these two. They’ll rely on help from a run game that has overachieved to this point, lead by freshman back Malcolm Brown. Next: vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Kurmholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu.

(CU Independent illustration/Josh Shettler)

Gone in 70 seconds. That’s how quickly CU vacated a ten-point lead in its Pac-12 opener against Washington State, the conference’s last place team for the last two seasons.

Ahead 27-17 with just under three minutes, the secondary allowed Wazzu a sudden pair of touchdown passes to snatch a 31-27 victory from Folsom Field.

Head Coach Jon Embree is not living comfortably in the losses that surrounds his program.

“We don’t expect to win, we obviously don’t,” Embree said in a passionate postgame conference. “So that is on me, I have to figure out a way to get these guys to believe that they can win. It starts with Jon Embree, no one else.”

A bruised secondary had to line up with Brian Lockridge and Jason Espinoza, who started opposite freshman Greg Henderson. They began nobly against a passing attack that ranks fourth in the FBS. But by the final quarter, the secondary’s reserves were all dried up.

Wazzu’s Marquess Wilson, who entered Boulder leading the nation in receiving yards per game, streaked past Henderson for the 63-yard game-clinching touchdown.

“He’s a great corner, but by the end of the game I noticed his weakness and just attacked that,” Wilson said.

Tyler Hansen and the offense tried to stage one final scoring drive, but star receiver Paul Richardson fumbled the chance away.

“We just got to find a way to make that one play,” Hansen said. “There’s a want to. Guys consistently find a way in critical situations to not make that play – and that’s everyone, that’s me included.”

A 1-4 start currently stains Buff seniors like Hansen with a career record of 14-27, including no postseason trips. As the meat of their conference schedule awaits, the prospect of reaching their first bowl glows dimmer.

“So when is it enough?” Embree asked his team. “When are they going to get tired of losing?”

At season’s beginning, media members picked both Washington State and CU to finish last in the Pac-12’s North and South divisions.

“We were picked to finish (last), so right now we’re proving everyone right,” Embree said.

A battle of Pac-12 bottom feeders was littered with mistakes, personal fouls and turnovers. Washington State had four personal fouls by halftime and both teams ended with 10 penalties each. Now the Buffs, who committed one more turnover than the Cougars, are looking ahead to rise from the sewer of the Pac-12 standings.

“It is a good league, but I don’t see ourselves being the worst team in the league,” Embree said.

If that theory is to solidify into reality, the Buffs will need to build upon the balanced offensive effort they showcased in the conference debut.

Coordinator Eric Bieniemy continues to lean his offense on the churning legs of Rodney Stewart, who surpassed his play-caller in rushing attempts by a Buffalo.

That stability is necessary for CU to hang onto their pro-style identity and avoid becoming a typical, pass-happy Pac-12 team.

Stewart’s 26 carries for 132 yards was nearly enough to wind out time on the two-score advantage. But on third down and six, with less than two minutes remaining, the Buffs threw the ball out of bounds and let WSU save its three timeouts for the fate-sealing drive.

For the second time this season, CU was unable to finish off a fourth quarter lead at Folsom Field.

Leading-tackler Doug Rippy and his defense looked just as worn down as they did in the overtime loss to California three weeks ago.

“I’m tired of losing,” Rippy said. “When you walk around campus you constantly have people bugging you saying ‘Oh, what happened in the game?’”

A team riddled by another heartbreak loss has some issues to mend. Especially in the secondary, as they travel to play undefeated Stanford. Cardinal Quarterback Andrew Luck awaits CU’s hobbled defenders with the motivation of title dreams.

On the opposite side will be senior safety Anthony Perkins, who has experienced tough times in with CU. None may be worse than Saturday’s defensive collapse.

Four years into his CU career, he, along with his fellow seniors, starts back at ground zero.

“We don’t have a choice – we have to come back strong,” Perkins said. “After a game like this, there can only be one place to go, and we have to make sure we go up.”

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu

The third annual Colorado Cup between the golft teams at CSU and CU ended with a 6-4 Ram victory. CSU edged out the Buffs by one in the four-ball matches and won 4-3 in singles matchups.

(CU Independent illustration/Josh Shettler)

“We’re obviously disappointed in the outcome, we came here expecting to win,” CU head coach Roy Edwards said. “This is an incredible opportunity for both programs in this head-to-head format, and CSU was just better today.”

This is the third year the Rams have defeated the Buffs. CU lost 6-4 in 2009 and 5½-4½ in 2010. Prior to the tournament, the Buffs owned a 6-0 record in head-to-head team rounds against CSU at the Mark Simpson Invitational and the AFA Gene Miranda Invitational.

“For whatever reason, we came out just a little bit tight, but ultimately, we’re two really good teams and they just won a few more holes than we did,” Edwards said.  “So they’re happy and we’re upset—but even though we lost today, we definitely got better.”

Next weekend, the Buffs will take part in New Mexico’s William H. Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque.

Four-Ball Matches (CSU 2, CU 1)

Cam Harrell/Steve Sorenson (CSU) def. Derek Fribbs/David Oraee, 2 and 1

Sebastian Heisele/Beau Schoolcraft (CU) def. Zahkai Brown/Mike Wuertz, 3 and 2

Kirby Pettitt/Mike Sorenson (CSU) def. Jason Burstyn/Kevin Kring, 7 and 6

Singles Matches (CSU 4, CU 3)

Kirby Pettitt (CSU) def. Beau Schoolcraft, 6 and 5

Derek Fribbs (CU) def. Mike Sorenson, 5 and 4

David Oraee (CU) def. Steve Sorenson, 4 and 3

Zakhai Brown (CSU) def. Sebastian Heisele, 3 and 2

Cam Harrell (CSU) def. Jason Burstyn, 2 and 1

Parker Edens (CSU) def. Johnny Widmer, 3 and 2

Kevin Kring (CU) def. Mike Wuertz, 2 and 1

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu.

Early in Ohio State’s 37-17 rout of CU, it became apparent that the visiting Buffs had lost all direction.

An OSU program battling the uncertainties of probation and worn down from a summer-long investigation remained stable by playing the same backyard-tough style that earned them seven national championships. A relentless rushing game (the Buckeyes ran 47 times for 226 yards) sped over the Buffs, who dragged behind because of missed tackles and slow reaction.

Before the season, CU’s new head coach Jon Embree printed plans designed for a run priority, throwback offense. They imagined an offensive tribute to what made their championship teams thrive.

Their vision quickly derailed upon reaching Ohio Stadium, where they were under pressure from 105,000 fans. The Buckeyes

(CU Independent illustration/Josh Shettler)

not only ran at will, but also denied the Buff’s offense from reaching a first down until it was already 17-0.

“We have been awful starting games,” Embree said. “We script plays and we go through it and we give them the looks and we practice it. We do everything. But, for whatever reason, when the lights go on whether it’s a drop, whether it’s a missed block, whether it’s a fumble, we continually struggle starting games.”

Already trailing far behind, play caller Eric Bieniemy abandoned the empty frame of a running game in favor of Tyler Hansen’s arm. Hansen’s shiny stat-line of 238 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers couldn’t cover up the busted reality.

CU does not have the speed or the consistent playmakers to keep up with the elite.

Hansen can continue playing shootout football, but with a stumbling run game giving him no reprieve, his offense is bound to drift back into the slow lane of Pac-12 contenders. They won’t have the balance to stay within the same stadium as up-tempo Oregon or unswerving Stanford.

“Everything we want to accomplish is still ahead,” said the senior quarterback. “This game doesn’t count towards our goal of winning the Pac-12. We’re still motivated. It hurts to lose, but we’re going to keep fighting.”

A defense that used to make quarterbacks fear the sight of black jerseys saw Ohio State’s freshman Braxton Miller look wholly composed in his first career start. Missed tackles paved an easy route for Miller and his backs. He shifted his way through tacklers, gaining more yards on the ground (83 yards on 17 carries) than the entire CU offense.

“I felt like our defense did a decent job but we did not tackle him,” Embree said. “He did a good job on eliminating losses where we should have had them for negative gains. We had shots but just couldn’t bring him to behind the line of scrimmage.”

A supposed homecoming party for three Ohio-bred Buffs turned into a bed-wetting nightmare. Stewart looked uncomfortable, even in front of family and friends, as the OSU defense stuffed his runs and stalked his screens. Deji Olatoye, from nearby Dublin, OH, lagged behind receiver Devin Smith all day. Even the usually dependable Doug Rippy had trouble shedding blockers.

At first glance, the post-game stat sheet tells that OSU outrushed CU by 150 yards. This shares something telling: the importance of recruiting for speed – a matter that Embree’s staff will have no control over until future classes sign on.

What he does control is how to adapt a faulty system around the players he does have. If he wants to spread teams on offense, he’ll need more than just a single playmaker like Paul Richardson. Though Richardson went relatively unseen under a cloak of double coverage, his receiving counterpart Toney Clemons caught his second touchdown in consecutive weeks.

Clemons says he understands his offense requires more balance if it expects to outscore future opponents.

“We have to let teams know we have two playmakers and not just one,” he said. “And we have to work on getting into a better rhythm.”

For now, the Buffs return to Boulder in midst of a serious identity crisis. A visit to Ohio Stadium granted them opportunity to look into a mirror, showing them what they’ve turned into. Hopefully this will help them realize what they want to become.

While the Buckeyes rolled by virtue of an old-school approach, Buff players and coaches were left on the ground in dazed wonder. OSU came out with a similar blueprint to CU’s and executed it at a more proficient pace.

Now 1-3, Embree’s group begins conference play bewildered and set back. A question that can’t yet be answered echoes louder, fogging his career’s vision.

How far back can this program go until moving forward?

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu.

CU’s four opening drives ended after three plays.

Quarterback Tyler Hansen threw for 237 yards with two touchdowns going to Toney Clemons and Tyler McCulloch. The passing game continues to be the only way the Buffs can move the ball, as Rodney Stewart never got ryhthm behind his offensive line.

The Buffs ran for only 78 yards, while allowing the Buckeyes to run 44 times for 226. Stewart gained 56 of those yards on 11 carries, but fumbled twice, including once on a punt return. That muff set up the Buckeyes at their own 11-yard line before halftime and they capatilized with a field goal.

(CU Independent illustration/Josh Shettler)

Special teams seemed problematic all day for the Buffs. CU had a kickoff go out of bounds, allowed a 90-yard return, and rarely advanced the ball beyond the 20.

On average, CU began posession at their own 17-yard line. Their poor position and two turnovers proved to slow the offense from establishing any pace.

Ohio State’s freshman quarterback Braxton Miller earned his first career start, piling up a symmetric 83 yards passing and 83 yards rushing. His quickness caused major problems for CU’s front-seven, making them second guess each time he dropped back in the pocket.

Missed tackles and slow-moving coverage doomed the Buffs, who open Pac-12 play next week against Washington State at Folsom Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Michael Krumholtz at Michael.krumholtz@colorado.edu