The Pac-12 conference has finally released their schedule for the 2012 football season, the second for the conference now that it includes 12 teams. For the Colorado Buffaloes, the reality of a much easier slate is now official, but that doesn't mean the Buffs are getting off lightly.
Colorado vs. Colorado State - Saturday, September 1st
Sacramento State at Colorado - Saturday, September 8th
Colorado at Fresno State - Saturday, September 15th
Colorado at Washington State - Saturday, September 22nd
UCLA at Colorado - Saturday, September 29th
Arizona State at Colorado - Thursday, October 11th
Colorado at USC - Saturday, October 20th
Colorado at Oregon - Saturday, October 27th
Stanford at Colorado - Saturday, November 3rd
Colorado at Arizona - Saturday, November 10th
Washington at Colorado - Saturday, November 17th
Utah at Colorado - Friday, November 23rd
Check out the full conference schedule here and some quick notes after the jump...
- Overall, this is a much easier slate for a Buffaloes team that is still deep in the rebuilding process. The non-conference schedule is much lighter and the Buffs get a bye week at an opportune time. With so much coaching turnover it will be hard to forecast a lot of the teams in this conference heading into next fall. We know that USC and Oregon will be the breadwinners at the top of their respective divisions. We can assume that Stanford will take a step back and that it could be Washington taking their place if a replacement for Chris Polk can be found. We know that we know nothing about all of the teams with new coaches. Most importantly, we know that next year is going to be a fun one for Pac-12 football.
- Not much to say about the non-conference schedule. The Buffs go from Hawaii, California, Ohio State and Colorado State to Sacramento State, Fresno State (with a new head coach) and Colorado State (with a new head coach). Plus, the Buffs actually get a bye week this year and it comes at a pretty good time, near mid-season.
- Speaking of head coaches, the Buffaloes will play a whopping SIX teams with a new man in charge, including four in a row at one point.
- The toughest portion of the schedule is obviously going to Oregon and USC back-to-back, but the Buffs weren't going to win those games at home either so it's actually not a bad thing that they're on the road this year.
Your turn. What does everyone think?
0 recs | 15 comments
I think we start out hot like 5-0 and maybe get 6 or 7 wins, tough stretch with @ Orecgon, USC, home to Stanford @ Az and home against UW. Tough tough stretch,
waterboy31321 - January 4, 2012
We lost to WAZU last year...
at home!!!
We were thoroughly beaten by a mediocre Hawaii team and generally looked like horsedung in every game outside the state of Colorado save one. 2011 reeked of a Hawkins year. Embree & staff better have a few aces in their recruiting pocket or we’re in for another bowl-less year.
Happy New Year!
BuffulanceMan - January 4, 2012
All of that was in our coach's first year.
And we have 6 first year head coaches on our schedule! Six! That’s bowl eligibility right there if we can win those.
Show some optimism, it’s only the 4th day of the year for crying out loud. No need to spell doom for the Buffs quite yet.
clutch2999 - January 4, 2012
I'VE BEEN OPTIMISITC SINCE 2003
and where has that gotten me?
To your point, you should be aware (if you’re not) that first year coaches of bad teams win. All. The. Time. Ours did not. I understand that every circumstance is different, but I’m simply being realistic at this point. Unless this team shows that it has a completely different mentality come crunch time, we’ll be stuck in Shittsville, USA. It’s possible that with one more year of Hawkins players out the door and new blood coming in, the winning attitude will begin to be instilled by this coaching staff. However, IMO, we need some effing studs to show up next fall and start dominating and playing nasty football for that to happen. We were too slow, too small, and too weak last year to win even with Knute Rockne giving locker room speeches.
BuffulanceMan - January 4, 2012
MUCH easier this year
6 true home games, an FBS opponent, a bye week… where are all these luxuries coming from?!?
I think the Buffs can win anywhere from 5-8 of these games. It will be key to start 3-0, then you have to win 2 of the next 3, though all 3 are beatable. (ASU, WSU, UCLA all with new coaches)
Then the next 3 look rather daunting.
The final 3 look manageable as well. Hopefully we’d be bowl eligible before those three, but I could see us clinching a bowl either @ AZ or at home vs. Utah.
GO BUFFS!
clutch2999 - January 4, 2012
I voted >6
…but would not be surprised if we end up with 4 wins. I’m always optimistic during the off season, facts/reason/history be damned.
highlandsbuff - January 4, 2012
depends on QB PLAY
The defense is still going to be a work in progress for another couple of years, so we must be able to score 28 or more points a game to have a chance to play in a bowl next year. The reality comes down to who is going to lead the team on offense?
That would be a good poll to ask once signing day is done.
Lets Go - January 4, 2012
RB also a big question
as is our 2nd WR. O-Line/TE is OK, though I’m neither enamored nor overly concerned with how either played last year. I actually think we’ll be the same or better at QB, which is great, and gives me some optimism (& why I voted 5 wins).
On D, we can’t be worse in the secondary, can we?
BuffulanceMan - January 5, 2012
The team this year could have easily finished 5-8 (Cal and Wazzu...rough losses)
Hopefully, we’ll be able to take 6 from that schedule.
Hollidayrain - January 5, 2012
I voted for 6 plus, but I am overly optimistic
If connor wood is the real deal, I think we should win 8 games, and maybe 9 with hopefully Luck leaving the conference, Standford game should be a winnable game. If Wood isn’t the real deal, this team will likely struggle to win 5 games.
Broncoman - January 5, 2012
even if connor wood is "the real deal"
who is he gonna throw to? David’s WR post scared me (as have quite a few of them). Even Richardson isn’t the slam dunk 800+ yard WR I thought he would be by now. He was invisible 3/4ths of last season. A key to next year will be Richardson and whoever the QB is getting a good rapport/getting on a roll early on.
I picked 5 but I could see anything from 3 to 6. Sure, the schedule is a little bit easier but I’m really not sure why anyone would expect that we would be that much better than last year. Hopefully the coaching staff will be better but we’re losing a lot of major contributors and I don’t really see any instant impact players in our recruiting class (yet anyway).
nebraskasux - January 5, 2012
I say about 5-6 wins
I think every game is winnable except USC and Oregon (both on the road). Sac State should be a win. Colo State also. That leaves 8 more games. I think we can win 3 or 4 of those 8. Don’t know which ones but home games against UCLA, Az St, Wash, Stan, Utah should get us at least 2 more (maybe 3)…and then maybe steal one or 2 on the road from either Arizona, Wash St, or Fresno St. I think we’ll be competitive (wins or close losses) in all games except trojans and ducks.
HBbuff - January 5, 2012 via mobile
Unpredictable!
Next years team will look so much different that the 2011 version.
Who is our starting QB? Will he be any good? Who’s going to carry the rock? Will our DB play improve?
There are many questions going into this season. We could win as much as 7 I believe. Would be devastating to have a 3 win season again.
We NEED to show progress to improve recruiting!
huckthefuskers - January 6, 2012
Will say 6
Hopefully a 3-0 start and should find three wins elsewhere. Recruitment in this 2012 class is critical. We will need a couple of true Freshmen to step into starting roles again this year.
Roaring Fork Buff - January 7, 2012
Starting or substantial playing time.
Roaring Fork Buff - January 7, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of The Ralphie Report to post a comment.