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BOULDER – The Colorado Buffaloes are 60 minutes away from postseason play. Let that resonate. It’s 2016 and the Buffs are one win away from reaching a bowl for the first time since 2007.

That’s an accomplishment.

But how have they gotten there?

It has been nights like Saturday’s 40-16 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils that characterize the turnaround. Previously, it was CU getting beat by several scores.

“This is the first team with a winning record we beat this year,” Mike MacIntyre said following the game. “They perennially have beaten us bad. We had them at home. The kids have been hearing all week we’re leading the Pac-12 South and we control our own destiny, so all that pressure that our young men have never been under before. I thought tonight was a breakthrough win.”

Phil Lindsay’s Day

One of the keys to Colorado’s resurgence has been the team’s ability to start fast. In each game in which they’ve started fast running back, Phil Lindsay has set the tone. In no other game has he spirited a game like he did against ASU. It shall be remembered as the “Phil Lindsay Game” as he rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. But more importantly to Jeromy Irwin and the offensive line, “Phil’s slow ass finally broke a touchdown.”

The offensive line led Lindsay so he led the entire unit into the press conference post game.

“That’s good to hear,” MacIntyre said when he found out about Lindsay’s gesture. “Phillip’s smarter than I thought he was. They’ve got a great bond. They realize they all count on each other. He understood how good that defensive front was. There were some good holes for him to run through. Of course, he made some people miss, but they got him started and they did a great job. I’m really proud to hear that; that makes me feel good.”

As much as one could deflect Lindsay’s performance like he would probably want you too, you shouldn’t. His 75-yard touchdown to start the second half sealed the deal for the Buffs. Lindsay didn’t just break off the biggest one of his career, ASU failed to stop him for a loss all day.

“As a running back when you can get through the line five yards before you get touched,” Lindsay exclaimed. “That’s a running backs dream and our offensive line made it happen for us. All I had to do was run. They were so happy to finally see me break. They have been giving me the hardest time out of everybody about breaking scores. They love that because we move down the field and get off the field and get points. For me, being able to get that long touchdown is all because of them and I appreciate you guys [looks around at his offensive line].”

It was his first 200-yard game on the ground and it was the first time the school has had a player amass the two century mark since Chris Brown ran for 211 at Missouri on Nov. 9, 2002.

quaterBACK

Sefo Liufau was back as the starter for the Buffs behind center, and he was as advertised. As was written earlier this week on BSN Buffs, “The Colorado Buffaloes need Sefo Liufau, it’s how this script can come full circle.” Saturday night, the story came full circle.

“It feels great to be able to come out here and play the game that I love with these teammates that I’ve been with for four years now,” Liufau lamented. “We’ve been through the good and the bad. Being able to come full circle [is great]. The first time my class played ASU we got destroyed by them. Senior year to beat these guys and put a good win on the board is great.”

In fact, Liufau’s first action his freshman year was against Arizona State, he threw for 169 yards, nabbing one touchdown, two pickoffs while managing a 69% passer rating in relief of Connor Wood.

This time, he replaced a freshman in Steven Montez that looked to steal his job. This year Liufau threw for 265 yards on 23-of-31 passing, adding a rushing touchdown while not recording a turnover.

“Sefo did a phenomenal job tonight,” MacIntyre said of his senior quarterback. “He got us to start off well. The majority of all his checks and reads he was excellent with. He kept us moving. I thought he played really well tonight. He’s so critical of himself, he’ll find some stuff he didn’t do right of course. I was very pleased with what Sefo did tonight. He was moving around well; he felt very, very comfortable out there playing. That was the key when he got back out there. This year, in the games he’s played, he’s played really well, I mean really well. He’ll keep that up.”

“Sefo on or off the field, whether he’s playing or not, he’s always been the leader of this team,” Kyle Evans said. “When he’s out there it’s a comfort level. He knows what he’s doing; so we know what we’re supposed to do because he knows what he’s supposed to do. If we’re doing the wrong thing, he puts us in the right place. Whatever the situation may be, he’s always doing the right things and is comfortable with everyone on the team.”

“He’s the man,” Lindsay remarked. “That man has been through a lot now. He’s seen a lot of criticism, people loving him, people hating him. But at the end of the day, he gets up every time, leads his men down the field no matter what. I love Sefo, we’ve been through a lot but I just want him to know that.”

Perhaps more resonating than this writer’s words or his teammate’s words was his own reaction to the love he got from students postgame.

A hero's ovation for @SefoLiufau. pic.twitter.com/HrE0SJIkuW

— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) October 16, 2016

Fans have wanted Liufau replaced since his first day on the job, how in the world could you doubt him now?

Splendid Numbers

On Afolabi Laguda’s interception, the Buffs extended their 20-game turnover streak. More impressive than the streak was Colorado holding ASU to just one touchdown. In three games at Folsom Field, they’ve held opponents to just two touchdowns. Each touchdown came as a direct result of a Colorado miscue; in the ISU game, it was a fumble, on Saturday it was a muffed punt.

48,588 is quite the number of people to pack Folsom Field, the most in the MacIntyre era. It signifies the fans have realized “The Rise.”

The Buffs remain the only team in the country undefeated against the spread this season at 7-0.

Between Liufau, Lindsay, and the defense, the team has a trio of elements clicking right now. That is hard to stop.