Tag: Arizona Wildcats football

Five takeaways from Colorado’s heartbreaking loss to Arizona

Following their loss to Arizona, the Buffs must absorb another round of learning lessons

That one hurt for the Colorado Buffaloes and their fans.

Despite not trailing once for the entire game on Saturday, Arizona kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to leave Folsom Field with a 34-31 win.

CU got a much better performance from its offense and special teams, but past issues resurfaced on the defensive side of the ball. While it’s hard to see it through after such a deflating loss, this team is much improved from where it sat last season. However, Colorado players and coaches alike are still learning how to win at this level.

Here are my takeaways from Colorado’s senior day loss:

Social media reacts to Colorado’s fourth straight loss

How are you feeling after another heartbreaker at home?

While the past month-plus has certainly been frustrating for all involved, it’s important to look big picture when examining the 2023 Buffs. They’re now 4-6 following Saturday’s 34-31 loss to Arizona, but head coach Deion Sanders sees his Colorado football program moving in the right direction.

Still, the negatives must also be mentioned. Colorado was again plagued by careless penalties, missed tackles and a few questionable play calls in another one-score loss at home.

With bowl eligibility still up for grabs, the Buffaloes close their regular season with two final road games in a pair of tough environments.

Here’s how social media reacted to Colorado’s fourth straight loss:

WATCH: Shedeur Sanders scrambles for 16-yard touchdown vs. Arizona

WATCH: Shedeur Sanders took off for his fourth rushing TD of the season

When necessary, Shedeur Sanders isn’t afraid to make things happen with his legs.

Early in the first quarter of Colorado’s home finale against Arizona, the junior quarterback took advantage of some open grass and rushed in a 16-yard touchdown. The score, Sanders’ fourth on the ground this season, put Colorado up 7-0 following the PAT.

Arizona, however, answered on the ensuing drive with an 11-yard rushing TD by DJ Williams to tie the game. Former Buff Montana Lemonious-Craig also hauled in a 31-yard pass that brought the Wildcats into CU territory

Check out Sanders’ TD run below followed by some of the best social media reactions:

LOOK: Colorado wearing special helmets for Military Appreciation Day

LOOK: Colorado is wearing special helmets for Military Appreciation Day

In honor of Military Appreciation Day, the CU Buffs are wearing special helmets for their home finale against Arizona on Saturday. It may not be noticeable on television, but the black helmets feature a silver and dark gray American flag inside the CU logo.

Colorado will be sporting gray pants, gray jerseys and white socks, similar to what was worn earlier this season against USC.

It’s also senior day at Folsom Field. The Buffs are expected to honor 14 seniors prior to the game, per Adam Munsterteiger.

Kickoff between the 4-5 Buffs and the 6-3 Wildcats is set for noon MT on the Pac-12 Network. You can also stream the game on fuboTV.

Check out the unique American flag helmets below, courtesy of Malaina Humphreys:

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Tony’s Take: Predicting the final score of Colorado-Arizona

Will the Buffaloes get it done on senior day?

It’s time for Colorado to return to the win column. Since starting the season 4-2, the Buffs have dropped three consecutive games and three straight at home as well. CU hasn’t lost four straight in Boulder since 2015, but I predict the losing streak will stop at three.

Entering the game at 6-3 with nothing but single-score losses to its name, Arizona is a good football team. The Wildcats are led by freshman quarterback Noah Fifita, who has burst onto the scene in his second year with the team. However, it’s now personal for Colorado after Wildcats defensive lineman Taylor Upshaw talked some smack to Shedeur Sanders via Instagram.

We have seen glimpses of a dominant football team this year and I believe Colorado will put forth another strong effort on senior day.

Final score prediction: Colorado 28, Arizona 24.

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Arizona at Colorado: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday

Where will you be watching Colorado’s home finale?

No team wants to close its home slate on a four-game losing streak.

Mainly due to playing inconsistent football, Colorado hasn’t won at Folsom Field since Week 3, but the 4-5 Buffs will get one final chance to right ship in Boulder this year with Arizona on tap for Saturday.

Arizona, like Colorado, has been one of the Pac-12’s better stories this season. Entering Week 11, the Wildcats are 6-3 and bowl-eligible for the first time since 2017. Head coach Jedd Fisch’s squad excels up front defensively and is coming off three straight wins over Washington State, Oregon State and UCLA.

Keep reading for information on how to watch Colorado’s home finale.

Colorado football: Five keys to taming the Wildcats

Here’s how Colorado can close its home slate with a victory:

After starting the season with two straight home wins, the Colorado Buffaloes have since dropped their last three at Folsom ahead of Saturday’s home finale against Arizona.

For as good of a season as the Wildcats have had, they’ve flown under the radar. With a record of 6-3, Arizona has turned the corner in the last season of the Pac-12 and could be a thorn in the side of the Buffaloes in the new-look Big 12. Still, I am confident that the Buffs can steal one from the Cats.

Here are five keys to Colorado closing its 2023 home slate with a senior day victory:

Five storylines to follow ahead of Colorado’s home finale against Arizona

We’ll be watching these five storylines heading into Colorado’s final home game of the year

Hope for a bowl bid is quickly fading for head coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes football team after their tough home loss to the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday night.

With just three games remaining in the 2023 regular season, the Buffs need to find two victories to gain bowl eligibility in Coach Prime’s first season in Boulder.

This week’s matchup against the Arizona Wildcats will be Colorado’s final chance to impress the fans at Folsom Field this season, and putting an end to the Buffs’ current three-game losing streak would be a great way to do so.

As we await kickoff, here are five storylines to follow:

Arizona’s foremost key to victory against UCLA

The Wildcats and Bruins play a big game, and it’s not on a basketball court.

Arizona versus UCLA is the Pac-12’s top basketball rivalry. This weekend, however — just before the college basketball season begins — the Wildcats and Bruins will play an important football game.

Usually, Arizona-UCLA football games are afterthoughts. They don’t usually carry much meaning or significance. This season’s game is an exception to that larger pattern. Both teams have a chance to win nine or more games this season. That’s not a typical backdrop for a U of A-UCLA game.

We asked our Pac-12 football panel for Arizona’s main key to victory versus UCLA.

Matt Zemek: No blown coverages or massive defensive mistakes. If Arizona avoids 15-yard penalties or coverage busts or anything like that, and it makes the game hard for a mediocre UCLA offense, the Wildcats should have more than enough to win on Saturday.

Zachary Neel: More Noah Fifita and a potent offense. I think Arizona’s defense should be good enough to keep things tight and turn the Bruins over a few times. As long as Fifita can find success against UCLA’s defense, the Wildcats have a real shot.

Matt Wadleigh: Flip the script. Roll with Noah Fifta, he’s a superstar in the making.

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UCLA’s key to victory against Arizona in Pac-12 showdown

This is a sneaky-good game in the Pac-12.

Washington-USC is the featured attraction in the Pac-12 this week, but the other big game is UCLA at Arizona. Both teams are trying to get good bowl bids and prove they are top-tier Pac-12 programs. Neither team is likely to make the Pac-12 Championship Game, but neither team has been eliminated from the conference race. It’s a game worth tracking once the Washington-USC game ends on Saturday night.

We asked our Pac-12 panel about UCLA’s foremost key to victory versus Arizona.

Matt Zemek: Frustrate Noah Fifita. The Arizona QB is resilient, tough and smart. Getting him to play like a freshman, instead of the wise leader he has become for U of A football, is the Bruins’ most direct path to victory.

Zachary Neel: If UCLA wants to beat Arizona then they need to do what nobody has done successfully yet and that’s slow down Noah Fifita. I trust the Bruins’ defense to be able to do that, though. So far, they’ve been really solid.

Matt Wadleigh: Noah Fifita has been a monster for the Wildcats. The Bruins frustrated Shedeur Sanders and sacked him seven times. If they put pressure like that on Fifita, they can get the win.

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