This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Colorado has won five conference football games in five years of Pac-12 membership. Entering his fourth season, coach Mike MacIntyre is convinced that number will increase significantly in 2016, because of some other numbers. The Buffaloes now have 43 scholarship upperclassmen – 22 juniors and 21 seniors – in a contrast to previous seasons, and MacIntyre believes that level of experience will make a difference in close games. Colorado went 1-8 in Pac-12 play in 2015, but four of those eight losses were by seven points or fewer. The advantage of having older players is "you don't have to tell 'em things over and over. They understand what they need to do," MacIntyre said last week, during the Pac-12 coaches' spring media teleconference. Colorado returns quarterback Sefo Liufau, but MacIntyre also is expecting Davis Webb to transfer from Texas Tech and provide depth and competition at the position. The Buffs open the season Sept. 2 (a Friday) against Colorado State in Denver. For the sixth year in a row, they will end the regular season against Utah, Nov. 26 in Boulder. All five games between those teams in the Pac-12 era have been decided by seven points or fewer, with Utah winning the last four contests. – Kurt Kragthorpe