Who says it’s too early to start thinking about the 2022 season? Just 271 days from now, the TCU Horned Frogs will make their way into Folsom Field on Sept. 3 for the season opener.
If the current state of the transfer portal is any indication, college rosters are likely going to look drastically different than they do here in December. Regardless, the final USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll until the conclusion of the CFP was released on Sunday, and a number of Colorado’s 2022 opponents were featured.
The newly-crowned Pac-12 champion Utah was ranked the highest at No. 10 in the poll. That number could change, however, following their date with Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Colorado will host Utah next season.
Oregon, which Colorado also welcomes to Boulder in 2022, dropped five spots to No. 15. With Mario Cristobal house hunting in Miami and Lincoln Riley doing the same in Los Angeles, the Ducks and Oklahoma Sooners will meet in the Alamo Bowl.
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Three other 2022 CU opponents missed the top-25 but received votes in the poll. We all sadly remember Minnesota silencing the Buffs’ offense this season and these programs will meet again in Minneapolis on Sept. 17. The Gophers finished their regular season 8-4 and received 17 points in the poll. They’ll see West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
The 9-3 Air Force Falcons, another nonconference opponent that recently upset the Buffs at home, snagged 15 votes and will face Louisville in the First Responder Bowl to wrap up this season. While it could end in another loss, I’m looking forward to the Buffs playing at Air Force in Colorado Springs on Sept. 10.
Finally, the UCLA Bruins received three votes in the poll after winning their final three games of the regular season. Chip Kelly’s squad will face North Carolina State in the Holiday Bowl before coming to Boulder in 2022.
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