Colorado Buffaloes football prepare for game one against the Northern Colorado Bears
BOULDER, Colo. — The Colorado Buffaloes open up their 2021 football season September 3rd in Boulder at Folsom Field at 7pm vs in-state opponent Northern Colorado.聽 The Buffs come into the season led by 2nd year head coach Karl Dorrell. In Dorell鈥檚 first season with the Buffs he took them to a 4-2 record in a shortened covid season.聽 Colorado was off to a phenomenal season in 2020, starting 4-0 before losing their final two games against Pac-12 rival Utah and eventually Texas in the Alamo Bowl, who finished the year ranked #20 in the country.
The season opener should serve as a good tune up game to see how this team meshes against a Northern Colorado team that did not play a game last season due to covid.聽 Northern Colorado is somewhat of an unknown due to this however, they were picked to finish 12th out of 13 Big Sky Conference teams.聽 The Buffaloes come in as heavy favorites in this game as they look to solidify their starting quarterback position.聽 Freshman Brandon Lewis is slated to start the opening game as last season鈥檚 starter, Sam Noyer, transferred to in-conference school, Oregon State.聽 Lewis was a highly recruited prospect out of high school, ranking as the 12th overall dual threat quarterback by ESPN and the Buffs have high hopes for him.聽 Colorado鈥檚 pass game was less than spectacular last season, while the running game more than made up for it led by Jarek Broussard who went for 895 yards and 5 touchdowns in a short 6 game season in 2020.聽 The Buffaloes also return 2019 leading rusher Alex Fontenot coming back from injury.
Other Buffaloes looking to make a big impact in the home opener and 2021 are defensive standouts Nate Landman and Terrance Lang.聽 Landman and Lang are also Colorado鈥檚 top NFL draft prospects for the 2022 draft.聽 Landman was looking like he would be a sure bet to be drafted in the mid to late rounds in 2020 but a season ending injury allowed the inside linebacker to return for one more year in Boulder.聽 Lang stands at 6 foot 7 and weighs 285 pounds making him the prototypical size of an NFL defensive end and as just a junior this year, he will look to provide the Buffs with a pass rush coming off the end.
The defense will look to continue where they left off last year vs. Northern Colorado as they return 9 starters in 2021.聽 The offense is also deep with two standout running backs and four returning offensive lineman.聽 The biggest question is how the freshman quarterback Brandon Lewis will perform.聽 He will be the key to the offense and how far the Buffaloes will go in a strong Pac-12 conference.聽 After their opener, Colorado welcomes in the 6th ranked team in the country, Texas A&M.聽 Colorado will need to have it all figured out by then and the game vs. Northern Colorado should give us a good indication if they have what it takes to compete against the nation鈥檚 top teams.聽 The Colorado Buffaloes take on Northern Colorado September 3rd at 7pm on the Pac-12 Network.
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