⚡ CFB Dashboard

With only one game against a Power Four opponent under its belt, Colorado still has plenty of questions to answer heading into its Week 3 matchup at Northwestern. Beginning with what's known, the Buffs finally have a dynamic rushing attack under first-year offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and running backs coach Johnnie Mack. Colorado rushed for nearly 200 yards against Georgia Tech and then produced its first 100-yard rusher since 2022 against Weber State this past Saturday (Micah Welch).  Defensively, coordinator Chris Marve's unit has been strong up front and at linebacker, but questions remain in the secondary. Expect Colorado to continue mixing things up against Northwestern in hopes of finding the optimal personnel groupings.  Below are three questions Colorado must answer in its Week 3 trip to Evanston: Can Colorado contain a true dual-threat quarterback? Georgia Tech's Alberto Mendoza and Weber State's Nate Dahle are certainly mobile quarterbacks, but neither compares to the dual-threat capabilities of Northwestern's Aidan Chiles. The fourth-year quarterback has rushed for 549 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, and he's now working with one of college football's most accomplished offensive minds in Northwestern OC Chip Kelly. Colorado's defensive ends, linebackers and safeties will be challenged to keep Chiles contained. How will the passing game adjust to inclement weather? At Georgia Tech in Week 1, Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis and his wide receivers struggled in wet/humid conditions. Pro Football Focus tabbed Colorado with four drops on the night, including three from DeAndre Moore Jr., who bounced back nicely against Weber State.  Early forecasts predict rain in Evanston on Saturday. Can Lewis and his wide receivers adjust?  Fortunately for the Buffs, their improved rushing attack should help keep things flowing offensively if the passing game again struggles.  Where do things stand in the secondary? It'll be interesting to see how Coach Prime and his defensive staff members approach the secondary rotation in Week 3. Nickelback Makari Vickers and safety Naeten Mitchell largely struggled against Weber State, with the former getting benched in the second quarter. Coach Prime adjusted by putting Boo Carter into the slot and allowing Jason Stokes Jr. to cover on the outside. Both performed well and should continue to see opportunities in those respective roles at Northwestern. Jah Jah Boyd and Preston Ashley also showed plenty of good against Weber State, heightening the competition for playing time in the secondary.