Where are the wins in the Buffs' 2020 football schedule?

The Colorado Buffaloes won’t take the field for another month, but we now know who they will play.

The Pac-12 released its 2020 football schedule this morning, and here’s everything you need to know about the Buffs’ opponents.

WEEK 1 vs. UCLA (Nov. 7)

I didn’t expect to pick Colorado in its season-opener. I really didn’t.

Whoever the Buffs choose to play quarterback will be making his first start. The post-Viska era will be beginning. And there’s a new coaching staff as well.

But the new coach is actually why I like CU in Week 1. Karl Dorrell will be starting his head coaching career at Colorado by playing against the only other school he’s been the head coach of: UCLA.

UCLA is still riding with Chip Kelly at head coach and junior Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. The Bruings lost running back Josh Kelly, who now plays for the Los Angeles Chargers, and the rest of the roster isn’t all that scary.

Demetric Felton figures to be more of a threat from the backfield due to Kelly’s departure, after playing primarily from the slot in 2019. The offensive line and receivers are more experienced this year, but there isn’t much to be scared of from either group.

Defensively, the Bruins are stout up front but will be starting four new linebackers. The secondary is a question mark following the departure of Darnay Holmes, but safety Quentin Lake is a playmaker.

Get ready for a Karl Dorrell revenge game.

WEEK 2 @ Stanford (Nov. 14)

Of all the Pac-12 North teams that Colorado could have drawn, Stanford really isn’t that bad.

It would’ve been nice to play Washington State or Oregon State, which will both have new coaches, but Stanford is probably the next best option.

David Shaw’s Cardinal team is always stout up front and that should be no different in 2020. However, left tackle Walker Little has opted out of the season, since he’s likely to be a first-round draft pick.

Only two other offensive starters are gone from Stanford’s 2019 squad but, like Little, they were key contributors. Running back Cameron Scarlett led the Cardinal in rushing and tight end Colby Parkinson was second in receiving.

Defensively, cornerback Paulson Adebo opted out. He is a projected first-round pick. The rest of the secondary returns, though there will be some turnover in the front seven.

Stanford finished 4-8 in 2019 and there’s a case to be made that this team is worse than last year’s. Plus, Colorado was within three points of beating them in 2019.

I’d pick Stanford in this one but there’s no reason to count the Buffs out.

WEEK 3 vs. Arizona State (Nov. 21)

2020 is a big year for the Sun Devils.

If Arizona State gets hot during the shortened season, it could be seen as a legitimate title contender in 2021. But if the Devils take a step backward—there first in half a decade—outsiders could be quick to discount an unproven team.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels returns for his sophomore season and the team should go as he goes. A strong showing would get the dual-threat passer into the Heisman conversation.

Daniels’ weapons are slightly depleted with Eno Benjamin and Brandon Aiyuk now in the NFL. Wide receiver Frank Darby should help to fill the void, but the Sun Devils will have to bet on talent rather than proven production just about everywhere else on offense.

The expereinced secondary should be a strength, with cornerbacks Chase Lucas and Jack Jones leading the way. The front seven will be solid with linebacker Merlin Robertson its top four leading tacklers returning.

This will be the toughest test for the Buffs to this point in the season and the Sun Devils should be heavy favorites.

WEEK 4 @ USC (Nov. 28)

For a second-straight week, the Buffs will take on a star sophomore quarterback.

Kedon Slovis would be firmly on Heisman watchlists if he was playing a full season. He can make everyt throw and has fantastic weapons around him, even with Michael Pittman Jr. now playing for the Indianapolis Colts.

Only three offensive starters and two defensive starters have departed, but left tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker and defensive tackle Jay Tufele have both opted out of the 2020 season, though there is still time to opt in.

If the Buffs are going to pull off a big-time upset over USC, and beat the Trojans for the first time in their 15th try, they’re going to need to dominate the trenches. That gets a lot easier without two of USC’s best players, but the smart money should still be on the Trojans.

WEEK 5 @ Arizona (Dec. 5)

This one is winnable. Very winnable.

Grant Gunnell may be an immediate upgrade for the Wildcats at quarterback over Khalil Tate but there are still questions all over this roster, including with the coaching staff.

Senior running back Gary Brightwell replaces JJ Taylor, who now plays for the New England Patriots. But with Taylor, and dual-threat quarterback Khalil Tate, gone, it’s tough to find where the offense will come from.

The Wildcats were the only Pac-12 team without a 2020 NFL draft pick and nobody on the current roster figures to be selected in April ’21.

Linebacker Colin Schooler was one of the best in the conference, but he transferred to Texas A&M for his senior season, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of what should have been an extremely stout group of linebackers.

The young gunslinger could be a problem for the Buffs, but there isn’t much else to be excited about for Arizona.

I’ll take CU to win.

WEEK 6 vs. Utah (Fri., Dec. 11)

This won’t be the same Utah team that the Buffs saw at the end of last season, but it will still be a good one.

Two All-Americans are are gone and that’s just from the Utes’ defensive line, which also lost an All-Pac-12 performer.

Only two defensive starters remain from last year’s defense, which was one of the best in the country. There are talented players to get excited about, like linebacker Nephi Sewell, but there are certainly some question marks.

Offensively, All-American running back Zach Moss is gone and so is quarterback Tyler Huntley. Jake Bentley, a grad transfer from South Carolina, will take over the offense, which will bring back its top two receivers, including tight end Brant Kuithe.

This will be a much different Utah team but until you see some struggles, you can’t doubt head coach Kyle Whittingham.

There’s potential for an upset, but you have to pick Utah as of now.