# 2018 Colorado Buffaloes football team

The 2018 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Mike MacIntyre, the Buffaloes played their home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder and finished at 5–7 (2–7 in Pac-12, last in South Division).
Despite a promising 5–0 start and a top twenty ranking, the Buffaloes lost their final seven games. The low point came during homecoming on October 27, when Colorado blew a 31–3 third-quarter lead to struggling Oregon State and lost by seven in overtime. MacIntyre was fired on November 18, the day after the sixth consecutive setback, a 30–7 home loss to rival Utah.
Mel Tucker, the defensive coordinator at Georgia, was hired as head coach in early December.

## Recruiting
### Position Key

| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB |
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E |
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K |
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB |
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB |
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |

### Recruits

The Buffaloes signed a total of 21 recruits.
College recruiting information (2018) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Davion Taylor #3 OLB | Clarksdale, MS | Coahoma Community College | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Jun 22, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Dylan Thomas #73 WR | Santa Fe Springs, CA | Santa Fe High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jul 23, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Blake Stenstrom #30 QB | Highlands Ranch, CO | Valor Christian High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 199 lb (90 kg) | Dec 17, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Delrick Abrams #5 CB | Angie, LA | Independence Community College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jul 15, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Israel Antwine #41 DT | Oklahoma City, OK | Millwood High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 286 lb (130 kg) | Dec 19, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Dimitri Stanley #108 WR | Englewood, CO | Cherry Creek High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jul 15, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Aaron Maddox #6 S | North Augusta, SC | Pima Community College | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Dec 11, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Joshka Gustav #67 DE | San Bernardino, CA | Aquinas High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 223 lb (101 kg) | Mar 24, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Daniel Arias #156 WR | Mill Creek, WA | Henry M. Jackson High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jul 3, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Darrion Jones #3 TE | Wilmington, CA | Los Angeles Harbor College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | Dec 11, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jarek Broussard #165 WR | Dallas, TX | Bishop Lynch High School | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | Jun 23, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Lavon Wallace #55 S | Atwater, CA | Buhach High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jul 29, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Clyde Moore #32 ILB | Newport Beach, CA | Corona Del Mar High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jun 17, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Deion Smith #56 RB | Houston, TX | Second Baptist School | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 169 lb (77 kg) | Jun 25, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Tava Finau #101 DE | Burbank, CA | Burbank High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Sep 20, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Frank Fillip #98 OT | Houston, TX | Clear Lake High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 263 lb (119 kg) | Jun 9, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Mustafa Johnson #23 DT | Modesto, CA | Modesto Junior College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Alex Tchangam #14 DE | Alpharetta, GA | De Anza College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Feb 2, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Hasaan Hypolite #82 S | Missouri City, TX | Hightower High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Feb 2, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Josh Jynes #94 OG | DeSoto, TX | DeSoto High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 312 lb (142 kg) | Apr 18, 2017 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Ray Robinson #89 S | Highlands Ranch, CO | Highlands Ranch High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Oct 23, 2016 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Colorado Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018. |||||||

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Maxwell Award | Steven Montez | QB | JR |
| Lou Groza Award | James Stefanou | K | SO |
| Ray Guy Award | Alex Kinney | P | SR |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Nick Fisher | DB | SR |
| Walter Camp Award | Steven Montez | QB | JR |
| Ted Hendricks Award | Chris Mulumba | DE | SR |
| Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award | Steven Montez | QB | JR |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Steven Montez | QB | JR |

### Pac-12 Media Days

The 2018 Pac-12 media days are set for July 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Mike MacIntyre (HC), Rick Gamboa (LB) & Steven Montez (QB) at Pac-12 Media Days. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Buffaloes predicted to finish in fifth place at Pac-12 South division.
Media poll (South) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | USC | 225 (22) |
| 2 | Utah | 209 (14) |
| 3 | Arizona | 178 (3) |
| 4 | UCLA | 116 (2) |
| 5 | Colorado | 80 (1) |
| 6 | Arizona State | 72 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. Colorado State* | | Broncos Stadium at Mile HighDenver, CO (Rocky Mountain Showdown) | CBSSN | W 45–13 | 70,158 |
| September 8 | 1:30 p.m. | at Nebraska* | | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE (rivalry) | ABC | W 33–28 | 89,853 |
| September 15 | 3:00 p.m. | New Hampshire* | | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | P12N | W 45–14 | 42,360 |
| September 28 | 7:00 p.m. | UCLA | | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | FS1 | W 38–16 | 46,814 |
| October 6 | 2:00 p.m. | Arizona State | No. 21 | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | P12N | W 28–21 | 52,681 |
| October 13 | 8:30 p.m. | at USC | No. 19 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | FS1 | L 20–31 | 57,615 |
| October 20 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 15 Washington | | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | FOX | L 13–27 | 68,798 |
| October 27 | 1:00 p.m. | Oregon State | | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | P12N | L 34–41 $^{OT}$ | 48,050 |
| November 2 | 8:30 p.m. | at Arizona | | Arizona StadiumTucson, AZ | FS1 | L 34–42 | 43,080 |
| November 10 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 10 Washington State | | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | ESPN | L 7–31 | 45,587 |
| November 17 | 11:30 a.m. | No. 21 Utah | | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO (Rumble in the Rockies) | P12N | L 7–30 | 39,360 |
| November 24 | 5:00 p.m. | at California | | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | P12N | L 21–33 | 34,457 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Mountain time ||||||||
    Source:

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Title |
| Mike MacIntyre | Head coach |
| Darrin Chiaverini | Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator |
| D. J. Eliot | Defensive coordinator/outside linebackers Coach |
| Kurt Roper | Quarterbacks coach |
| Klayton Adams | Co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach |
| Gary Bernardi | Tight ends & H-Backs coach |
| Shadon Brown | Secondary coach & Defensive Passing Game Coordinator |
| Ashley Ambrose | Cornerbacks coach |
| Ross Els | Inside linebackers/special teams coach |
| Darian Hagan | Running backs coach |
| Kwahn Drake | Defensive line coach |
| Chidera Uzo-Diribe | Graduate assistant |

### Roster

    Source:

## Game summaries
### Vs. Colorado State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 21 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 45 |
| Rams | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |

### At Nebraska

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 14 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 33 |
| Cornhuskers | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |

### New Hampshire

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 45 |

### UCLA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bruins | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 38 |

### Arizona State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sun Devils | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| No. 21 Buffaloes | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |

### At USC

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 19 Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
| Trojans | 0 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 31 |

### At Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 15 Huskies | 0 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 27 |

### Oregon State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Beavers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 7 | 41 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 34 |

### At Arizona

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 10 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 34 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 42 |

### Washington State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 10 Cougars | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |

### Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 21 Utes | 0 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 30 |
| Buffaloes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |

### At California

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Buffaloes | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Golden Bears | 21 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 33 |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 21 | 19 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | — | — | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 18 | 25 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 6 | 187 | Juwann Winfree | WR | Denver Broncos |