Colorado has a big opportunity... as long as COVID doesn't take it away

BOULDER – It’s no secret that Colorado has a big game this week.

Colorado has never beaten USC in 14 tries.

Colorado is 0-11 since 2017 when playing for postseason eligibility.

Colorado and USC are not only the only two teams in the Pac-12 South that remain unbeaten three weeks into the season, but they’re also the only two teams in the division that are .500 or better.

So there will be a lot on the line, including a likely berth in the Pac-12 title game, when the Buffs take on the Trojans in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Or should we say if the Buffs take on the Trojans?

One USC player tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, putting the game’s status into question. If there are more positive tests, or if the player was found to be in close contact with a significant number of other Trojans, the game could be canceled.

“We’ve heard that USC is in pretty good health, even though they’ve had a positive,” Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell told reporters Wednesday. “So we’re hopeful that’s still the case. If not, we’ll find out sometime today if that’s not the case, and then we have to move forward with another opponent.”

The Mercury News’ Jon Wilner reported this week that San Diego State could be the best bet for CU, if the Buffs need to find an opponent.

#Pac12 source: Decision on #USC availability could come as early as this afternoon, or tomorrow – not expected to drag into Friday. Colorado's top option would be SDSU. Buffs are healthy and don't want to sit out 2nd consecutive week.

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 25, 2020

As of now, though, Colorado hasn’t started scouting anybody who isn’t currently on its schedule.

“We haven’t had a chance to look at anybody other than who we’ve been studying these last couple of days for the game this weekend,” Dorrell said. “If that does change, we’ll be getting into overdrive, trying to pick up the pieces.”

So far, Dorrell’s Buffs have been able to avoid any positive tests. He credits the team for its willingness to comply with the safety precatuitons that have been put in place.

But the Buffs aren’t in the clear yet.

“I’m so nervous, just because you guys all know what’s going on across the country, how this pandemic has spiked everywhere, and it’s really going to affect a lot of teams, including ourselves at some point,” Dorrell said. “We’ve got to be extra precautious about really taking care of ourselves. I’m concerned about Thanksgiving to be honest with you. I’m concerned about that because those are gatherings and those are risky.”

Colorado has changed its Thanksgiving plans to minimize that risk.

Rather than the traditional, big Thanksgiving dinner with the entire team, staff and their families, the Buffs will be separated. Players will go to the homes of their position coaches and everybody will be masked up and socially distanced.

“If you’ve got a few other people that are family, and people that you don’t normally see every day, I’d be wearing masks,” Dorrell said. “I make sure I’m wearing a mask, not getting too close. I just think it’s really at that point in time with where this thing is, we’ve got to be really precautious.”

Dorrell hasn’t just been preaching the importance of following protocols to his team; he’s also emphasized the importance of the USC game, which–hopefully–will be played Saturday on ABC. He’s more interested in hyping up the opportunity CU has in front of it than the history that CU has against USC.

“I can’t change history; history is history,” Dorrell said. “I look forward to the opportunity that’s in front of us and we get a chance to continue to make strides, getting a win this weekend and keeping our hopes alive about being part of the conference talk.”

Hopefully, Colorado will have a chance to make history on Saturday.