(CU Independent illustration/Kelly Kaoudis & Josh Shettler)

1. LSU (10-0): beat Western Kentucky, 42-9

The AP’s first unanimous No. 1 since Texas in 2008 look to be the next SEC team in line to hoist a national championship trophy. LSU, who only led the Hilltoppers by 7 at the half, cruised to an easy victory after last week’s monumental win over Alabama. Les Miles and company have a tune-up against Ole Miss before hosting No. 6 Arkansas for the season finale. The Tigers aren’t a sure thing for the BCS National Championship game yet, but the road is clearing up. (Next: @ Ole Miss)

2. Oklahoma St.: (10-0): beat Texas Tech, 66-6

A 60-point win wasn’t even as close as the scoreboard would indicate. The Cowboys were up 49-0 at halftime against the Red Raiders in a game that was as close as the Roosevelt – Landon election. Quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 423 yards and five touchdowns as he continues to move up Heisman voters’ lists. The No. 2 BCS ranking is the highest in school history for Okie State, who holds its own destiny in reaching the national championship. (Next: @ Iowa State)

3. Alabama (9-1): beat Mississippi St., 24-7

Nick Saban’s defense only allowed 59 yards of total offense in the first half, muzzling the Bulldogs offense to average a ridiculously low .4 yards per rushing attempt. The nation’s top defense has never allowed more than 14 points, and that was to Arkansas – the SEC’s best offense. A rematch with No. 1 LSU is very realistic at this point. One thing is for sure: the BCS is about to get messy. (Next: vs. Georgia Southern)

4. Oregon (9-1): beat Stanford, 53-30

Tailback LaMichael James had 146 yards with three touchdowns and quarterback Darron Thomas threw for three more scores without an interception. Oregon’s offense strikes in a sudden, leaving opponents to look for their cleats. James and his cohorts made Stanford miss a ton of tackles. The Cardinal secondary seemed like a group of guys who Coach David Shaw had just picked up off the street, as seen from this run and catch by Ducks receiver Josh Huff. (Next: vs. USC)

5. Oklahoma (9-1): Idle

Even after that disappointing home loss to Texas Tech in October, the Sooners’ national title aspirations are still alive. But as Tech continues to get romped (see: the 60-point loss), that defeat looks more discouraging to the voters. They have two more conference games before the all important showdown in the Bedlam Series against their state rival. The Sooners’ offense still must recover from the loss of record-setting wideout Ryan Broyles. (Next @ Baylor)

6. Arkansas (9-1): beat Tennessee, 49-7

After all this talk about LSU and Alabama, what if Arkansas won the SEC? Now bare with me, because obviously it’s a long shot. The Razorbacks would have to beat top-ranked LSU in Baton Rouge and need Alabama to lose to Auburn, which would be a bigger upset considering how the defending national champs have looked this season. But hey, it could happen. At the very least, the Razorbacks could sneak another at-large BCS bid with a good showing against the No. 1 Tigers in two weeks. They certainly have the playmakers on offense to compete. (Next: @ Mississippi State)

7. Clemson (9-1): beat Wake Forest, 31-28

Clemson nearly lost in Death Valley to the Deamon Deacons, who missed a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Instead, the Tigers won by a last second field goal from 43 yards out. Tahj Boyd threw for another 300 yard game, while getting some help from his running game. Coach Dabo Swinney’s team clinched a berth in the ACC Championship game, where a rematch with Virginia Tech seems likely.  (Next: @ North Carolina State)

8. Stanford (9-1): lost to No. 4 Oregon, 30-53

Andrew Luck’s Heisman run may be over. A shot at a big-time, signature victory went fumbled away as the Oregon defense swarmed him all night. His offensive line that features two All-Americans looked pedestrian in facing a quicker defensive front. Luck and company won’t win the inaugural Pac-12 title, but a Boise State loss opens up room for an at-large spot in a BCS game. (Next: vs. Cal)

9. Houston (10-0): beat Tulane, 73-17

Houston scores 70 like its playing a video game. The Cougars lead the nation at 54.7 points per game. And no, they really haven’t played anyone, as their best win remains the 38-34 victory over inconsistent UCLA. Quarterback Case Keenum has already set all the major records for his position, now he is looking for a shot under the national spotlight in the postseason. (Next: vs. SMU)

10. Virginia Tech (9-1): beat Georgia Tech, 37-26

Quarterback Logan Thomas keeps improving, as shown by his five touchdown performance on the road against the Yellow Jackets. And as he goes, so do the Hokies, who have been on fire since an Oct. 1 loss to No. 7 Clemson. Frank Beamer’s squad has won five straight and have to battle Virginia for a chance at Clemson again in the conference championship. Recent history says they will, as the Hokies have appeared in four of the six ACC Championship games. (Next: vs. North Carolina)

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

Freshman Lexy Kresl is already turning heads on the basketball court, while senior Toney Clemons is making the most out of his

Lexy Kresl (Courtesy of CUBuffs.com)

final games at Folsom Field.

Kresl tied a team-best 14 points in the Buff’s 78-40 exhibition win against Regis University. After the game, she said that nerves were a factor but she’s excited for the season to kick into full gear.

“I was definitely a little nervous in the beginning, but I got used to it as the game went on … and it was just finally realizing that all the work is coming together and it’s finally starting,” Kresl said after the game. “I have a good feeling about this season.”

That positive attitude paid off in her collegiate debut. On Friday night against Northern Arizona, Kresl tied a school record. The 5-foot-11-inch guard made five 3-pointers in the first half, only the sixth time in program history that feat has been accomplished.

In the 84-60 win, Kresl recorded 15 points and five rebounds.

“I was definitely feeling my shot,” Kresl said about her first official game as a Buff. “I knew we needed a pick-up so I used my energy to try and get the team going.”

Head coach Linda Lappe isn’t surprised by the Arizona prep’s success.

“I thought she came out with a lot of confidence,” Lappe said. “I somehow knew she was going to play well against Northern Arizona, she knows a lot of those players,” Lappe said after the NAU game. “I wasn’t surprised that she had a great game at all. What I like about Lexy is her game doesn’t change from practice to the actual game.”

Kresl is following in her mother’s footsteps — Julie Kresl played basketball at TCU — but also has big plans for herself beyond basketball. Lexy is an integrative physiology major who says she wants to be an orthodontist.

Toney Clemons, 7, makes the catch for a 45 yard reception against the USC Trojans. (CU Independent file/Robert R. Denton)

Toney Clemons is also no stranger to sports-driven families. He has two sisters who run track at the University of Pittsburgh, a cousin in the NFL and another cousin in the WNBA.

Toney, a 6-foot-2-inch wide receiver, made his last two home games as a Buffalo memorable ones.

In CU’s 42-17 loss to Southern California, Clemons recorded his first career 100-yard game. He had 112 receiving yards on five catches and earned the Buffs’ two touchdowns.

Clemons said he felt well prepared going into the game, but wished the outcome had been different. Despite the loss, Clemons held out hope for the remaining games.

“Coach Embree is behind us,” Clemons said after the USC game. “We are determined as a senior class to go out there and leave our legacy … I have faith in what’s going to transpire. I am proud of my teammates, staff, regardless.”

Clemons and the senior class finally got to feel the best kind of positive — a win — Saturday against Arizona.

Clemons once again recorded a 100-yard receiving game, tallying up 115 yards and one touchdown. In the last three games, the Michigan transfer has caught 18 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns.

In his post-game press conference, head coach Jon Embree gushed about how important the win was for the seniors.

“Great win for our program,” Embree said. “First Pac-12 win. These seniors, they did it. That is why I brought them in [to the press conference] with me, because it is for them, it is about them. I’m proud of these guys, I love them.”

As one athlete’s journey as a Buffalo is coming to an end, another’s is just beginning.

Clemons suits up in Buff gold for the penultimate time against UCLA at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19. Kresl takes the court Wednesday, Nov. 16 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Statistics and quotes courtesy of CUBuffs.com.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Marlee Horn at Marlee.horn@colorado.edu.

Rodney Stewart gains a few yards late in the 4th quarter Friday night at Folsom Field when Colorado lost to USC 42-17. The Arizona Wildcats will visit Boulder this Saturday in the Buff's last home game of the season. (CU Independent/Andrew Kaczmarek)

After a losing streak against some of the best the FBS has to offer, Colorado will be getting a breather against Arizona (2-7, 1-6) who, like CU, has also been struggling in the win department.

Despite Arizona’s record, CU defensive back Travis Sandersfeld isn’t taking the Buffs’ opposition lightly.

“They got two premier receivers out there,” Sandersfeld said. “Great guys, probably going to the NFL I’m guessing, great quarterback. He’s an athlete out there. It’s going to be another week in the Pac-12. It’s going to be hard and it comes down to who’s the best team on that day and who makes the least mistakes.”

The Buffaloes will be taking on Arizona quarterback Nick Foles. Foles has 3260 yards this season with 22 touchdowns. Colorado head coach Jon Embree said he feels that he’s one of the best they’ve faced this year.

“Nick, one thing that jumps out to me is how accurate he is throwing the deep ball,” Embree said. “He throws the deep ball really well. He is a big kid. I’ve heard stuff about him. Brownie (defensive coordinator Greg Brown) and Tui (defensive line coach Mike Tuiasosopo) have validated a lot of stuff.”

Luckily for CU, a few previously injured players may be returning to a defense that’s been weakened this season as a result.

“It’s good to have them back,” Sandersfeld said of his previously injured teammates. “They fought hard when they were not out there with us. They’re on their way back to help us out.”

The Colorado offense may have a chance to return to form.

With both Paul Richardson and Rodney Stewart back, the Buffs offense hopes that the two can get everything going against Arizona.

Even with two strong players back in the lineup, wide receiver Toney Clemons knows going up against Arizona’s defense will be no easy feat.

“Pac-12 defense: fast, athletic, physical, sound,” Clemons said. “They’re going to come to play. They’re on scholarships too. They earn their scholarships every week. We’ve got to come prepared. I haven’t seen them make too many mistakes, especially in the back half. They’re real energetic—they play with a lot of passion, energy and confidence. They’re the prototypical Pac-12 defense.”

The Buffs hope to be prepared in order to secure their first win in the Pac-12. CU faces the Arizona Wildcats at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Shay Knolle at shay.knolle@colorado.edu.

“I’m smiling because you have to smile to keep from crying,” said head coach Jon Embree summarizing the feelings of Buff Nation after a 45-2 blowout.

The Ducks came out soaring by taking an 8-0 lead with a 6 play, 80 yard drive which lasted only a minute and 36 seconds. The Ducks had no trouble picking apart an ailing Buffs defense that has seen a fair share of significant injuries over these past weeks.

Colorado didn’t play well on their opening drive. Without star tailback Rodney Stewart in the backfield, the offense failed to produce any results on three tries.

On its second drive, Oregon showed again why its offense is one of the most explosive in the country. Oregon scored another quick touchdown, extending their early lead to 15.

Kenjon Barner, who replaced an injured LaMichael James, broke to the outside on a run and sprinted up the sideline for an 84-yard touchdown to make it 22-0. Barner’s run was the third longest rushing touchdown against CU in the school’s history.

Even with James on the sideline, Oregon still ran through the Buffaloes defense. Barner finished with 115 yards as he eclipsed the century mark for the second straight week. As a team, the Ducks had five players rush for 50 or more yards to bring their total to 371.

For a brief moment, it looked as if things finally began to mesh offensively at the start of the second quarter as CU finally moved the ball down field for the first time. But once it seemed like the offense had finally shown up, the spark disappeared as soon as it came.

The offensive woes went on for Colorado as quarterback Tyler Hansen threw an interception to Oregon’s Michael Clay, who returned it for a Ducks touchdown.

Tyler Hansen gets sacked during the first half of Saturday's 45-2 drubbing by Oregon. Hansen later exited the game with a concussion. (CU Independent/James Bradbury)

Towards the end of the half, Hansen was taken out of the game due to an apparent concussion. Freshman Nick Hirschman stepped in to take his place behind center. This game served as Hirschman first time on the field getting live reps at quarterback.

“It’s a great experience every time you get to go out and play,” Hirschman said. “Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. We’re going to keep working. I know my play needs to elevate. In football it all starts and ends with this position. So I know I need to play better. I think that will help the team a lot.”

As for Hansen, Embree said his starter should be well enough in time to face ASU.

“I think he will be ready next week,” Embree said. “We’ll see what the protocol is on everything, but we hope he will be ready next week.”

Colorado had an abysmal first half on both sides of the ball, and could never overcome the slow start. CU netted 144 yards total offense without scoring. The defense allowed 35 points, 29 of which came in the first quarter alone.

A safety at the end of the third quarter gave Colorado their only points on the day.

Oregon’s victory came without starting tailback LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas. The Buffs mustered 231 yards of total offense, a total Oregon eclipsed in the first quarter alone.

Hansen went seven of 15 for 62 yards and no touchdowns. His replacement, Hirschman, went 8 of 18 and finished the day with 71 yards.

Backup Tony Jones rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries. Jones spent the majority of his day getting ransacked by Oregon’s large defensive line.

Colorado suffered more injuries on what is already a long list and exhaustive list. Along with Hansen, senior safety Anthony Perkins left with an ankle injury.

However, there is a bright side for future contributors. Given the slew of injuries the team has faced, freshmen have been asked to step up and take on larger roles. For a new coach trying to build a successful team, having a group of young players with hands on experienced definitely helps in the long run.

Coach Embree had a message for his young players. “Don’t worry about mistakes, just go out there and play hard and understand that we may be playing these guys three or four years from now and it is your senior year and you have to understand that every time you go through this, it is a learning experience and focusing on what we want to be, not about where we are.”

Despite the crushing loss, the team, along with Embree, remains as strong-willed as ever.

“I don’t think there has been a separation factor at all,” said junior linebacker Jon Major. “We’re all staying together pretty well. It’s difficult on guys. Seeing guys get hurt. That’s the cards we’ve been dealt. You’ve got to move on, and you go to roll.”

The Buffs will face off against the Arizona State Sun Devils October 29, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. in Tempe, Arizona, hoping to end their 21 game road-losing streak.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Shay Knolle at shay.knolle@colorado.edu

Las Vegas betting odds hold Oregon as 32 point favorites against CU for the two schools first meeting since the 2002 Fiesta Bowl.

The high-flying Ducks’ offense is ranked third in the nation, scoring a staggering 48.7 points per game. They have a running game that yields over 315 rushing yards per game — good enough for fifth in the nation.

Oregon’s LaMichael James leads the FBS in rushing average with over 170 yards a game. Luckily for Colorado, James status is currently listed as questionable after he suffered a dislocated elbow against Cal.

However, with the loss of leading tackler Doug Rippy for the season, the already banged up defense may have trouble containing Oregon backups Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas, who have proven more than capable of shredding defenses.

With James out last week, Oregon was still able to do a lot of damage on the ground  as Barner racked up 171 yards alone last week against ASU and Thomas had two rushing touchdowns. Coach Jon Embree took notice.

“No, and no disrespect to LaMichael, he’s a great back, but Oregon is at the point where they put in some guys like that and they keep the production up,” Embree said. “I believe they had almost the same amount of yardage [last week] as their average was.”

The Ducks’ Darron Thomas, who is also listed as questionable for this game, can throw as well as any quarterback, but what makes him special is his ability to run the ball as well. He’s thrown for 17 touchdowns and rushed for two more.

Unlike James, Darron Thomas expects to play against the Buffs.

Embree, who’s had his hands full trying to put together an adequate defense with key players missing, knows how large of a task it will be to stop whoever steps onto the field for Oregon.

“Oregon, it is not just their offense, it is their whole team,” Embree said. “The thing that jumps out about them is their speed. They run, essentially, option football, so you have to be assignment conscience and we have to be very disciplined on defense to limit big plays and try to force them into situations where we can have the upper hand on the defensive side.”

Given how loaded Oregon is offensively and the way that Colorado’s defense has limped through games these past few weeks, the Buffaloes’ injury problems may outweigh their opponents. Not only are several key starters missing on defense, but the offense is reeling too.

The Buffs offense is missing several key players, like receiver Paul Richardson, who would add some much needed ammo for CU.

Rodney Stewart, 5, dives for extra yards in the Oct. 1 game against Washington State University. Stewart was injured last week in a game against the University of Washington and will be out this week against the University of Oregon. (CU Independent/Jake Fojtik)

Last week, tailback Rodney Stewart went down with a dislocated knee in the opening quarter against Washington. Without him on the field, a large part of the offense is missing. Quarterback Tyler Hansen knows this and will have to adjust to playing without his favorite target.

“I’ll miss him a lot,” Hansen said at a press conference. “You can do a lot of different thing with ‘Speedy.’ He’s going to hurt your offense. I don’t know the percentages, but he’s a big part of our offense. We use him in a lot of ways. When he’s out it’s going to limit you, it’s going to change the ways you use certain people. It changes your mentality on offense.”

To replace Stewart is freshman running back Tony Jones. So far this season, Jones has rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in five games. While he may not be Stewart, Jones should prove to be an effective weapon against Oregon.

“He’s a good back, a real good back,” complimented Hansen. “He’s a different player than Rodney is. He’s more of a downhill guy. He’ll get north and south real quick, which is a nice change-up from what we’ve had. Also, he’s a good receiver, a lot like Rodney.”

Jones said he has been preparing all week for his role by getting to know the system better and working on the little things in his game.

“There’s always stuff you need to improve on, especially the game of football in college,” Jones said at a press conference. “I need to focus on my blocks, and just really focus on my key points that I really need to get me through this game.”

According to the freshman, the team has to come together to have any chance at the upset.

“You always have to have pride,” Jones said. “You need to have pride in your team. I pretty much have pride in all my players and we all pretty much stick together. We’re all a family.”

Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, October 22 at 1:30 p.m. on Folsom Field.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Shay Knolle at shay.knolle@colorado.edu. 

Zero wins.

It has been over three months since Colorado officially joined the Pac-12 and three major programs are shooting blanks in the conference win column.

Midway through autumn and the football teams rebuilding project is in need of a demolition. Volleyball has lost all 33 sets in its new conference. Not to be outdone in lousiness, the women’s soccer team is suffering a long losing streak of its own.

Chip acts as a target for children to bombard with a volleyball in between sets at one of the CU volleyball team's past matches. (CU Independent file/Amy Leder)

Most times when editing sports pieces I feel like I’m the head of the obituary section, where depressing news is as certain as mortality.

This isn’t one of those articles where I say the Buffs will get ‘em next time or the teams are trying their best. Leave the participation medals at home and the orange slices in the cooler because sympathy is running low.

Here is a run-through of the wounded fall sports, halfway into their inaugural Pac-12 season:

Football (1-6, 0-3)

A lot of talk surrounded CU football, which entered the season with a new coaching staff and rejuvenated outlook. Since that rackety preseason, the team has taken a punch in the mouth from just about everybody.

If the recent past is a scary thought, then hide your head, because it might be a long time before this program gets on a winning track when pared against surging Pac-12 competition.

Programs like Washington, Stanford, and Oregon are only getting better. USC won’t be down for long after it finishes up life on probation. CU faces a serious threat of becoming the permanent conference doormat. An Oct. 1 loss to Washington State, who previously held that title, only reaffirms the nightmares.

A pile of losses is clearly starting to get to head coach Jon Embree, whose frustration mounts after each defeat.

“One of the things I told the team when I first got hired is, ‘What we are going to ask from you is going to be hard, but it will be worth it,’” Embree said at his weekly luncheon after a 52-24 loss to Washington. “I have to remember that that is for me too, not just the team.”

The road loss counter has ticked its way up to 21 straight. Even less encouraging is how they lost those games. Of the true road games thus far (discounting a trip to Invesco Field in Denver), the Buffs lost by an average of 26 points.

Volleyball (5-14, 0-11)

No Buffs team has faced tougher competition than the volleyball team. Coach Liz Kritza and her ladies already faced five different Pac-12 teams that were ranked in the top-5 when they played.

Currently the conference holds all but two of the top seven spots in the AVCA Coaches Poll.

Following eleven straight losses in conference play, volleyball looks overmatched in its new home. Though they’ve been close on numerous occasions, they have yet to win a single set.

“There’s no real way to describe it for us right now,” Kritza said during the post-game interview after the loss to Arizona State. “The difference between just being close; it’s simply not enough. 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.”

Kritza has exhausted any excuses over her team’s underwhelming play. Eleven matches remain on the schedule, as they play every Pac-12 team for a second go-around.

Now begins the time to think small, even against bigger and better opponents. Take it set by set.

Women’s Soccer (3-9-2, 0-5-1)

Bill Hempen’s soccer team is experiencing an identity crisis. It hasn’t seen itself win in seven games and the lineup is undergoing steady shuffling.

A string of four goals in six Pac-12 games isn’t exactly helping confidence either. The team has more yellow cards than goals during the losing streak.

Highlighting their first Pac-12 campaign was a 2-2 tie against Arizona, who stands at a measly 1-11-2.

Senior Kate Russell, who scored the lone goal in the most recent loss (a 3-1 defeat to Oregon), has three goals and one assist on the season.

“It is discouraging when we’re missing those opportunities to come out on top,” Russell said in a post-game interview after the loss to Oregon. “Everyone on the team is working hard, doing the best we can. Every game we’re right there in it. Everyone’s just working hard, and you can’t be mad at that.”

Now for the bad news; the toughest competitors still remain. Dates with No. 1 Stanford and No. 7 UCLA linger at the end of the month. Faith in the faltering soccer team, like numerous other fall programs, is becoming harder to keep.

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

At this point, it’s hard for anyone to deny the season is essentially a wrap. A conference schedule includes upcoming dates with USC, Oregon, Arizona St, and this week’s opponent—No. 7 Stanford.

Senior Tyler Hansen looks downfield during the first half of Colorado's 28-14 win over Colorado State. The Buffs travel to California this Saturday to battle undefeated Stanford. (CU Independent/James Bradbury)

After the defense got a bit too relaxed with a ten point lead against Washington State, the Buffaloes find themselves sitting at a dismal 1-4 record. In these past weeks, inconsistency, injuries, and more recently, suspensions have beaten Colorado into submission. And to make matters worse, they’ll be facing Stanford’s Heisman candidate quarterback, Andrew Luck, next.

Luck is regarded as one of, if not, the best player in college football. He is a likely candidate for first pick in April’s NFL draft. If you’ve watched any sports highlights this past year, you’ve seen what Luck can do to defenses with his arm via his sheer power and precision.

“He’s kind of like the Peyton Manning of college football,” said CU quarterback Tyler Hansen.

So far this season, Luck has thrown for 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns. At the rate he’s going, he’s on pace to surpass the numbers he put up last year. Luck leads an offense that racks up 45.8 points per game behind 471 yards total offense.

“He has all of the things you look for and then if you talk about the intangibles,” said Coach Jon Embree. “Being at a school like Stanford, and what he does academically and then the overall grasp of the offense and what they ask him to do makes him a pretty complete package.”

There’s no doubt that the locker room has seen the hype that surrounds Luck, and it’s impossible to say if it hasn’t affected them in some way mentally, while preparing this week. Embree knows this, and he says he’s been upfront about it.

“I’ve been honest the whole time with these guys,” Embree said. “I believe it, he is, but that also doesn’t mean that he can’t be beat, he has been beat. I think it is important to understand who you are going against and everything that I’ve said about the kid is true and it is validated over time anytime you watch him play. He is a very good player.”

Beyond Luck and Stanford’s potent offense, Colorado will be taking on one of the best defense in the conference.

CU, which is a run-oriented team at its core, will find themselves running into a brick wall against the Cardinals, who rank fourth nationally by allowing only 62 rushing yards a game.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge. We’ve played against a lot of other great teams and quarterbacks in my career,” said wideout-turned-cornerback Jason Espinoza.

“They’re more of a balanced team than WSU was,” Espinoza said. “They run and throw the ball. They’re very sound; they execute everything. The big thing for us is that we get in the film room, know ours plays, and execute what our calls are.”

For CU to have a chance at winning, everything will have to click. Hansen will need to have the game of his career, Rodney Stewart will have to channel his inner Chris Johnson (circa 2009), and the defense will have to step up to levels they’ve never dreamed of.

If the Buffs manage to pull off a win and shock the world, perhaps one can say all isn’t lost for the team and Embree’s expectations. Rumor has it that his most recent speech was his most passionate yet.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Espinoza said. “He came here to win and he’s very passionate about that. That just shows he’s sick of losing and I am too. I’ve been here a long time. There’s been a lot of ups and downs. I think it’s a good thing. He’s so passionate, and him showing that will help our players be more passionate and want to win.”

Hopefully the team can channel that passion into a win.

The Buffaloes will face the Stanford Cardinals in their first Pac-12 road game Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on Versus.

Contact CU Independent Writer Shay Knolle at shay.knolle@colorado.edu.

(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.

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.

(Courtesy of cubuffs.com)

“I did picture myself playing against them,” Stewart said. “So I don’t know how that’s going to transfer on the field. I’ll take a couple of deep breaths, get it out of my head, and focus on the game.”

Saturday’s game in Columbus marks a homecoming for key parts Stewart and Doug Rippy, as well as reserve corner Deji Olatoye. The Buckeyes overlooked all three as high school recruits. Now, Stewart says, the rest of his teammates return with an eye on getting the Ohioans a win.

“We all want to win for each other,” Stewart said.

Rippy, the junior linebacker who is second among Buffs in tackles and sacks realizes the importance of coming home, and not just because he had to manage over 50 tickets for friends and family. His team has dropped 18 straight road games, with the last win coming in 2007. Rippy still played Ohio high school ball back then.

Ohio Stadium, known far along the Olentangy River as “The Horseshoe,” possesses capacity for over 102,000, topping even football’s sanctified Rose Bowl as the largest venue the Buffs will encounter in 2011.

“Obviously it’s going to be an advantage for them,” said Rippy. “But we have to end this losing road streak.”

A much-needed win against CSU reassures Jon Embree that his young team’s potential is progressing into concrete results. His emphasized run game cracked a season-high 145 yards on the Rams.

“We are starting to get into a groove of running the football,” Embree said. “We still have a ways to go, but again, it was another step forward in the right direction. That is the one thing that I am encouraged about of this team, is that each week we have improved.”

Embree and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy are also counting screen passes into their pro-style set. Halfback screens and receiver bubbles help to act in place of the run when CU’s offensive line gets clogged.

Stewart nabbed a team-high seven catches last week and ranks tops with Richardson for most receptions on the season.

The former NFL coaches are sure to lean again on designed screens, allowing Stewart and the rest of the backs to launch from open space.

“To me, that is the most underused play in college football because unlike in the NFL, you can be down the field blocking,” Embree said. “It is an extension of the run game to me. I think as long as you have that rule in college football, that you should be using it to your advantage.”

Can CU run at will against a truck stop, nose bleeding Big Ten defense?

Though CU is riding on a first-win high, the Buckeyes return home after a 24-6 loss at Miami (FL). The road-cursed Buffs could be wandering straight into an angry bully who’s coming home after an even bigger bully beat on him.

Ohio State’s pass offense is statistically muddied among the bottom of the FBS pond. But its 14^th-ranked defense will provide for a rugby-type battle of grit.

“They are a physical, line up and run it down your throat team, which is something that we are aspiring to be,” Embree said. “It will be, and I hate to date myself, an old school Big Eight football game.”

In 1986, when these two programs last met, the Buffs were still a part of the Big Eight Conference and had a senior tight end by the name of Jon Embree. As he revisits Ohio Stadium’s sidelines, he’ll bypass the helmet for the headset, trying to script the signature victory for his rookie season.

He knows they cannot start out slow nor can they afford frequent penalties. Both are subjects where his learning players continue to show problems after three games.

“Missed opportunities are magnified a little bit, especially when you go to a place like Columbus,” Embree said. “When you are playing in the ‘Shoe’ (102,000) people are trying to will their team to victory. So when you miss an opportunity it can create a momentum shift, when you do a play on the road at a place like this, it is magnified.”

A few familiar eyes glaring down upon the Buffs’ hometown trio may stir butterflies in three stomachs. But a few thousand eyes screaming open at every inch of field will test a team.

For Embree’s group, Saturday is all in the details. Or as they say in the Buckeye state, dot that “i”.

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