Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Move Up In Polls To Set Stage For Folsom Showdown With WSU
November 13, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's rise up the national polls ladder continued Sunday, as the Buffaloes moved up four spots to No. 12 in the Associated Press poll and three spots to No. 12 in the USA Today/Coaches poll.
The move was certainly not unexpected. Colorado won its fourth straight game Saturday, a 49-24 win at Arizona, while several teams previously ranked ahead of the Buffs, including Auburn and Texas A&M, suffered losses.
Now 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Pac-12, Colorado will play host to Washington State next Saturday in a nationally televised 1:30 p.m. battle (Fox) between Pac-12 division leaders. Washington State, which defeated Cal on Saturday to improve to 8-2 overall and 7-0 in the Pac-12, also moved up, improving to No. 20 in both polls.
Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre said he expected a full house at Folsom Field, even though Saturday is the first day of CU's Thanksgiving break.
"I'm so excited for our fans," MacIntyre said in his post-game press conference Saturday night. "I said that on the radio. You all need to be there this Saturday and next Saturday (Nov. 26, when CU plays host to Utah in the regular season finale)."
MacIntyre's Buffs were picked to finish last in the Pac-12 South in the preseason media poll, but could win the South title outright and earn a spot in the Pac-12 championship game with two more wins.
"This is a special time in Colorado football," MacIntyre said. "Our young men have taken us to good, to really good, and we can move to great next weekend. We need everybody there. I said it at the beginning of the year at the kickoff luncheon and I'm pretty sure everybody smirked and said he's crazy.
"Buy your tickets now because you're not going to get in the building. There should be 53,000-plus standing room only."
Along with CU and WSU, three other Pac-12 teams were in Sunday's rankings. Washington dropped to No. 7 in both polls after its loss to USC, while the Trojans emerged at No. 15 (No. 19 coaches). Utah checked in at No. 11 in both polls.
"Giving people something to believe in has always been a part of this season," said CU wide receiver Shay Fields, who had a pair of touchdown catches against Arizona. "Folsom the last couple of years hasn't been that packed. But since we won those first three, the fans have been outstanding. They've gotten the feeling that CU is back and that's exciting."
The Buffs will also likely move up in the College Football Playoffs rankings, which will be released Tuesday. CU was No. 12 in last week's CFP rankings, but is expected move ahead of Auburn and Texas A&M.
Saturday's game will be the first contest between two ranked teams at Folsom Field since the Buffs played USC in Boulder early in the 2002 season.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
