How big of a problem is the Buffs’ inability to practice for two weeks?

The Pac-12 is back but the Buffs aren’t quite yet.

The Pac-12 CEO Group voted Thursday to start a fall season on the weekend of Nov. 7, walking back their decision to cancel all sporting events through the end of the year. But, just one day earlier, Boulder County announced a stay-at-home order for all 18- to 22-year-olds. The order lasts through Oct. 7 and applies to the Colorado Buffaloes football team, which will not be able to work out together.

Pac-12 fall camps will begin Oct. 7 or 8 depending on the date of teams’ first games but they’ll be able to work out up to that point for 20 hours per week. Throughout most of this fall, teams have been allowed to work for 12 hours per week.

CU will miss out on 40 hours of work, compared to the rest of the conference. That’s assuming the stay-at-home order isn’t extended.

Throughout the summer, Pac-12 coaches were adamant that they needed eight weeks of buildup before their first game. Only a couple said that six would be enough. The buildup is typically four weeks of camp with four weeks of 20-hour weeks beforehand to build up strength and conditioning to reduce the threat of injuries.

For most of the conference, two of the 20-hour weeks are lost but teams, as mentioned above, have been working 12-hour weeks for over a month, which should help to mitigate some of the lost time. The Buffs will have a two-week gap where players must work out at home or alone outdoors. Players won’t be able to visit teammates’ homes and use their equipment.

Head coach Karl Dorrell didn’t seem too concerned about the effects of the order when he met the media on Thursday.

“We’ve been working up to this point, after the decision with (the Pac-12’s) 12-hour rule,” Dorrell said. “We have plenty of time. We’ll be in great shape. I feel like we have plenty of time to get this team ready to compete for a championship.”

Those words should be music to Buffs’ fans ears after watching devastating injuries across the NFL following reduced offseason work due to COVID-19. There’s no guarantee that Colorado won’t be impacted by the two-week break but Dorrell said he’s content to roll with the punches.

“There’s going to be circumstances that are uncontrolled,” Dorrell said. “We only can control what’s in front of us. We’re going to maximize whenever we have time to do preparations and get ready as a football program.”