Sometimes in college football it isn’t so much about how good you are, but the caliber of the competition that determines the result. After CU’s 35 – 7 victory versus Northern Colorado last week, the Buffs were ready to test their mettle Saturday, September 11, against Texas A&M – the fifth-ranked team in the nation. Having also won handily the week before over Kent State, the Aggies entered the contest at Empower Field at Mile High a 17.5 point favorite.

A day defined by defense, there were merely 17 points scored the entire afternoon. A punt, interception, missed field goal, punt, and a punt had the teams at a standstill until 2:24 left in the first quarter following a 69-yard drive and 2-yard plunge into the endzone by 2020 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Jarek Broussard to take a 7–0 Buffs lead. CU missed a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Another opportunity slipped away after a 12-play 66-yard drive died a yard short on Texas A&M’s 5-yard line. The decision to go for it on fourth down instead of attempting a field goal wasn’t second-guessed by the coaches. They felt that their conversion chances were good and against a strong team such as Texas A&M, touchdowns would be needed to win the game. In retrospect, three points would have been nice to have. A 41-yard field goal by the Aggies left the score 7 – 3 at half.

Under sweltering 96-degree conditions with mist fans set to high behind the benches, the defensive stalemate continued for the next quarter and a half. Seven punts and an Aggie fumble only led to a Buffalo’s punt. In one of the only stingy CU defense’s lapses of the game, quarterback Zach Calzada connected to running back Isaiah Spiller for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 5:09 remaining in the contest, giving Texas A&M a 10 – 7 edge.

CU would have a chance to at least tie the game with 2:41 left on the clock. On a 4th-and-13 play from their own 22-yard line, they came up 3 yards short of the first down. Final score: Texas A&M 10, Colorado Buffaloes 7.

Top performers for the Buffs included star inside linebacker Nate Landman with 10 tackles, freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis with 76 yards rushing on nine carries for an 8.4-yard average, and running back Jarek Broussard with 51 yards on 12 carries and one TD.

Said Colorado’s second-year coach Karl Dorrell while addressing the press after the game, “A lot of people thought we wouldn’t even be close. There are definitely some encouraging signs that this team is better than people think.”

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Colorado Buffaloes 

2021 football schedule 

September 3 vs. Northern Colorado, W 35 – 7

September 11 vs. Texas A&M, L 10 – 7

September 18 vs. Minnesota

September 25 at Arizona State

October 2 vs. USC

October 16 vs. Arizona

October 23 at California

October 30 at Oregon

November 6 vs. Oregon State

November 13 at UCLA

November 20 vs. Washington

November 26 at Utah

Above, right; A diehard fan celebrates Colorado’s lone touchdown. Middle,[/caption]