GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Khalil Tate might not be the man that the Colorado defense needs to key on. Arizona tailback J.J. Taylor is averaging 114.3 yards per game, for the Pac-12’s top-ranked rushing offense (205.3 yards per game). The Colorado defense had held Southern California and Washington each to fewer than 120 rushing yards, but reverted against Oregon State, yielding 217 yards on the ground to the Beavers. All told, the Buffs give up an average of 142 yards per game.
DRAFT SLANT
–QB Steven Montez eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark (2,053 yards) for the season with 319 yards through the air versus Oregon State. It was the fourth 300-yard effort for the junior on the year and ninth career in 28 games. Montez ranks among the more accurate passers in the Pac-12 with a 68.2 completion percentage and just four interceptions to 14 touchdowns.
ROSTER REPORT:
–SS Evan Worthington finds himself going through concussion protocol this week after sustaining a head injury against Oregon State. The senior has started all eight games at strong safety, tallying 37 tackles, an interception and three broken-up passes.
–PK James Stefanou remains day-to-day while recovering from an ailing hip that’s caused the FBS’s oldest player to miss the Buffs’ last two games. Evan Price has filled in for Stefanou, hitting on four of five field goals with his lone miss coming from 53 yards out as time expired on regulation against Oregon State.
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