Deion Sanders and Colorado fight for relevance after bye week

Bye weeks. There are always different opinions about these breaks in a season. I giggle at the first thought. In addition to a long career in sports television, your author also spent time in sports talk radio. It was fun. I'll never forget a caller who once looked at her favorite team's schedule and wanted to know who their opponent was four weeks into the season. “Mark, who is BYE? I know there's a BYU, but is there a BYE?” Gotta love it.

Either way, the CU Buffs pulled off a pretty damn impressive road win, are gaining momentum, and some skeptics aren't crying so loudly. This is one of those moments where some might say, “Damn, I wish we were playing K-State at home this weekend and didn't have to wait two weeks.”

Mighty Mo is a beast who goes up and down on a football team or any other team and is happy to stay as long as he wants. It can be fleeting. The Buffs appear to be pretty healthy right now. That's one of the big advantages of having a bye five weeks into the season. You are almost 50% through the 2024 campaign. There are bumps and bruises.

Coaches have a pretty good idea of ​​who they can rely on when it comes to offense, defense and special teams. The players get to know each other better.

Especially for the Buffs along the offensive line and on defense. It was a strong signal of hope to limit the country's top offense to half its production. Running over 100 meters. Good. Do you see the importance of a decent ground game to complement unique, talented players and the passing abilities of Shedeur Sanders and a bevy of talented receivers? Even better.

“Now play the 'Cats,'” shout those who believe in Mighty Mo and the “use it or lose it” mentality. Just one guy's opinion, sometimes it makes sense. But not now. This will be another highly anticipated and highly watched battle between old conference foes Big 8, 12 and 12-again.

K-State is really good. Dynamic guy named Avery Johnson at quarterback. It's great to throw the ball and run it too. An extra week to prepare strategies to slow the Wildcats' offensive threats should be time well spent for coordinator Robert Livingston and his staff. It won't be easy. Johnson is a dual threat alongside players like Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Miami's Cam Ward. Coach, good luck with that. It will be a challenge.

The K-State defensive staff has its own issues with an emerging CU offense that is more balanced and threatening. This brings us to an undeniable truth. Travis Hunter should be the focus of this year's Heisman Trophy selection. The Florida native let the world know when he struck the Heisman pose as the Buffs shelled Central Florida 48-21 on the road, in the heat and humidity.

Say what you will about the Buffs coach and the style of this attempted revival of a once-proud football program, but this was a statement game. The Knights were two touchdown favorites and were given a lead of 27. Something clicked in the Buffaloes' souls. Hence the concern about whether this is a good time to take a week off.

Back to Hunter. What a story to unfold. The nation's top high school recruit says goodbye to Florida State's first-round prospect and follows his childhood idol, now coach, to Jackson State and then Colorado. Unleash talent rarely seen on the college football field and the team is 4-1, playing well and beginning to believe something special could happen. The cameras will continue to focus on the Colorado Buffaloes so a large audience can see Hunter's amazing talents.

A real key will be CU's success once the hard work is over. Many obstacles, starting with the nationally recognized KSU. A bye for Hunter's body is a blessing and won't hurt his well-deserved Heisman run.

The big question that will be asked in front of a late-night sellout crowd at Folsom Field? Will the farewell be a blessing for the Buffaloes? Shoulder to shoulder, will they use this stay to rest, recover and fight for football's relevance again?