Five plays that cost Coach Prime and Colorado the game against Utah
It sure would have been nice to end the season with a victory, as opposed to another moral victory.
This season had four wins, two of which the coach classified as “hot garbage.” There were also moral victories over USC and Arizona. Impressive losses against Utah, UCLA, and Oregon. Absolute disasters facing Washington State and Oregon. And one complete abomination against Stanford.
As for Saturday, the opportunity was there for Deion Sanders and the Buffs to secure the victory, but these particular plays really derailed things.
#1 Ryan Staub sacked and fumbles on opening drive.
This one hurt. After playing from behind for much of the year, the Buffs had something cooking on the first drive. Nine plays in, Colorado had driven down to Utah’s 35 yard line. But then, regrettably, the wheels came off in a hurry. The Utes scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession.
#2 Travis Hunter robbed of touchdown reception.
On third and seven from the Utes 29 yard line, Staub threw a beautiful pass to a diving Travis Hunter. It was called a touchdown on the field, and the announcers didn’t think there was enough to overturn. It didn’t matter. After replay reviewed the catch, the referee said Hunter did not maintain possession. I’d love to see one angle that clearly showed the ball hit the ground. That didn’t happen.
#3 Luke Bottari pass complete to Luca Caldarella for 16 yds to the Colorado 22 yard line.
This was a real back-breaker for the Buffs. Utah was facing fourth and four from Colorado’s 38 yard line. Four plays later Bottari ran it in from the 1 yard line for the first of two rushing touchdowns on the day. With the score, Utah took a 20-10 lead midway through the 3rd quarter.
#4 Luke Bottari pass complete to Mikey Matthews to the Colorado 28 yard line.
A second fourth down conversion on consecutive drives. This time, the Utes faced a fourth and three from the Colorado 33 and elected to not attempt the long field goal. Ultimately, the drive ended on a much shorter field goal. Nonetheless, this was a big play that could have ended the drive with a stop and kept the points off the board.
#5 Utah’s final drive
Utah took possession with 7:25 to go in the game and the Buffs never got the ball back. Considering how the Utes were running the ball, they likely could have burned 10 minutes or more. Three big third down runs moved the sticks and kept the clock running. In the end it was Bottari, in his first ever FBS start, kneeling out the clock at the 30 yard line.
