:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15264011/gyi0061492234.0.jpg)
Fresno State heads out on the road to face Colorado on Saturday Sept. 14. This game kicks off at 2 p.m. ET and can be seen on the Pac-12 Network -- well, if one is lucky enough to get the channel.
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre - first year as Colorado head coach, 16-21 in three years at San Jose State
2012 Record: 1-11 overall, 1-8 in Pac-12 Conference play (last in Pac-12 South division)
Returning Offensive Starters: 7
Returning Defensive Starters: 9
Key Returning Starters: CB Kenneth Crawley, CB Greg Henderson, P Darragh O’Neill, RB Christian Powell, WR Paul Richardson, DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe, LB Derrick Webb
2013 Strengths: Finding a strength in the wreckage of a one-win team is not an easy task. The Buffaloes were 116th in total offense and 117th in total defense among all FBS teams, as well as 117th in scoring offense and 120th (last, in other words) in scoring defense. Connor Wood is the likely starter at quarterback, but it does appear as if he’ll have a few quality targets at his disposal.
Richardson missed all of 2012 because of injuries, but he hauled in 39 catches in nine games for Colorado in 2011 and figures to be the primary receiver. Powell had a solid freshman campaign in the midst of a bad situation. If the offense is slow to improve, the Buffaloes can count on O’Neill, a former Freshman All-American who averaged 43.5 yards per punt in 2012.
2013 Weaknesses: It can be argued that nearly every facet of this Colorado squad is a weakness, but the defense has the greatest number of question marks. The secondary returns three of four starters, but the team had only three interceptions in 2012 and finished near the bottom of the FBS ranks with 27 passes defended. The Buffaloes did manage 19 sacks, but Uzo-Diribe accounted for seven on his own. He will need help generating a pass rush for CU to put up a fight.