Plati-'Tudes Shorts: Top Game 11's - University of Colorado Athletics - CUBuffs.com

Plati-'Tudes Short No. 11 ... The 11th installment of CU's best or most exciting football games in its history as to when they occurred in week 11 of any season.  We're running these since the late spring on our "Throwback Thursdays" -- many are obvious, a few obscure, and no doubt some up for debate.  So here are the best "game eleven" games in our history in my humble opinion:

GAME 11's

#1—2001: Colorado 62, Nebraska 36 in Boulder.
Nebraska came in ranked No. 2 in the major polls, but were atop the BCS Computer standings and may felt it was destined for a Big 12 championship game match against No. 4 Oklahoma the next week.  The Huskers were 7-0 and the Buffaloes 6-1 in the Big 12 North race, but no one was giving CU much of a chance; Nebraska was a 10-point favorite having won 13 straight games coming in and 11-0 in 2001; CU entered 8-2, minus one game (at Washington State) that was not replaced after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the east coast.  CU scored on its first two possessions (in five plays) and then on three of its next four, and lo and behold, 19 minutes into the game, after touchdown runs by Chris Brown (two), Bobby Purify and Bobby Pesavento along with a Pesavento-to-Daniel Graham 21-yard TD pass after an NU fumble had the Buffaloes in full control, up 35-3 (and with a 314-73 edge in total offense).  ABC's Brent Musburger called it "the most shocking first quarter in college football this season," while his analyst, Gary Danielson, said "This is like Colorado is going against its scout team."  Nebraska did close to within 42-30 late in the third quarter, but Brown would score three times in the final stanza to finish the day with 198 yards and a school-record six touchdowns.  Purify finished with 154 yards on 20 carries (with a 78-yard TD run called back due to a holding call).  Graham caught four balls for 112 yards while Pesavento threw for 202 overall.  And in the end, when Oklahoma State knocked off OU the next day, Texas won the Big 12 South opposite the Buffaloes the ensuing Friday night in Irving.

Runner-Up—1994: Colorado 41, Iowa State 20 in Boulder.
Memorable for three things: first, Rashaan Salaam needed 204 yards to reach 2,000 yards for the season; he would gain 259, the last 67 coming on a touchdown run around the right side (he had 123 yards at halftime, more than halfway to two grand at that point).  He went on to win the Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year honor.  Kordell Stewart would become the Big 8 Conference's all-time leader in total offense (7,770 yards), which would hold up as the record until the conference was dissolved two years later.  And of course, coach Bill McCartney announced after the game that he was retiring from coaching to spend more time with his family and Promise Keepers, the organization he co-founded.  The Buffaloes jumped to 17-3 lead after the first quarter, but couldn't put the Cyclones away until the fourth quarter.  CU led 20-13 after ISU's Troy Davis returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown late in the third, but the Buffs came right back to go up again by two scores on a Stewart 23-yard run to open the fourth.  That proceeded Salaam's dramatic touchdown run that brought own the house, 41,000-plus fans waving goldenrod placards with the number 2,000 on them.  The Buffs finished second in the Big Eight Conference and earned an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl, where CU trounced Notre Dame, 41-24, in McCartney's final game at the reins of the program.

Honorable Mention—2016: Colorado 38, Washington State 24 in Boulder.
The Buffs were a surprising (to most) 8-2 entering the game (6-1 in Pac-12 play and ranked No. 12 in the nation), and also in control of their own destiny if they could win the final two games to claim the Pac-12 South Division title.  But Washington State stood in the way, and the Cougars were no slouch, ranked No. 20 after rebounding from two opening losses to win eight straight and were in control of their own fate in the Pac-12 North.  The game featured four lead changes; the Cougars led 14-7 after the first quarter and 17-14 at halftime; WSU had 314 yards on offense at that point.  And with 3:18 left in the third quarter, WSU pulled ahead, 24-21.  But the resilient Buffaloes retook the lead on the next series, Sefo Liufau capping an 8-play, 75-yard drive with an 11-yard TD run.  Chris Graham added a 46-yard field goal and Phillip Lindsay closed the scoring with a 13-yard run to cinch the game for the Buffaloes.  CU's defense stiffened in the second half, allowing WSU just 148 yards and seven points and forcing two turnovers, while the Colorado offense cranked up to put 603 yards on the Cougar defense, including 317 in the second half.  Known for a consistent passing attack, Cougar quarterback Luke Falk completed under 50 percent of his passes for the only time all season, as Buff defenders batted down 11 passes and intercepted another while sacking him twice.

Week 1??1?? may be the hardest yet. ??2??0??0??0??, 6??2??-3??6?? and 2??3?? doing his thing in '1??6??. @DavidPlati's take ?? https://t.co/uLhfSp2IuI

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— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) July 16, 2020

 

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2020-07-16 18:06:04Z
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