No. 19 Colorado puts perfect record on line at USC
Colorado will try to put some distance between the Buffaloes and the rest of the Pac-12 South on Saturday evening, but will have to do so in the hostile environment of the Los Angeles Coliseum against a USC team looking to claim its stake of the division lead.
The No. 19 Buffs (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) will try to stay undefeated when they go on the road for the first time since downing Nebraska on Sept. 8 in Lincoln. USC (3-2, 2-1 Pac-12) offers a significantly more difficult challenge for Colorado, who jumped two spots in the AP Top 25 after dropping Arizona State a week ago.
“It makes it even a little bit bigger game,” Colorado head coach MacIntyre said of facing USC, who have never lost in 18 games in the Coliseum under head coach Clay Helton. “They’re all big. But if you can beat a Pac-12 South opponent, that puts them a notch behind you.”
The Trojans are adjusting to life without Sam Darnold under center as freshman quarterback JT Daniels makes his case to be the next great Trojans signal-caller. Through his first five games, Daniels is averaging 251.4 yard per contest along with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
It’s been Colorado quarterback Steven Montez who looks like the seasoned pro this year.
The redshirt junior leads the Pac-12 with a 75.2 completion percentage and sits second in the conference with an average of 284 yards per game via the air. His 1,420 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions have fueled a Buffs offense that has yet to score fewer than 28 points in a game this year.
“I think that they do have a lot of confidence because historically, they have been good,” Montez said. “They are good year in and year out. I think they should be confident because they win games and they do well. We are a confident team this year as well. It’s going to be a good game between us.”