Colorado
College Football Mailbag: SEC’s Two-Loss Chaos Looms Ahead Of New CFP Rankings; Colorado, Indiana Eye Spots
Alright, another weekend of college football has passed, and we certainly have more questions than answers right now regarding the playoffs.
After a few upsets this past Saturday, with Georgia Tech throttling Miami, and Ole Miss beating Georgia , we are headed towards a chaotic few weeks of playoff rankings.
As for the rest of college football, conference standings continue to be a hot topic. The Big 12 has gone crazy, the ACC is in the hands of SMU, while the SEC looks like a traffic jam at the top. Who knows what happens down the stretch with the Big Ten, but I don’t expect Oregon to lose a regular season game, so it comes down to who they will play in the conference title game.
Let’s get to your questions, as I chose a few that stood out this week.
Are we headed towards total chaos in the SEC with all these teams potentially finishing with 2 losses? Thanks man.
—Anthony, Atlanta
Well, Anthony, I think the log-jam at the top of the SEC is fascinating, and this is what happens when you don’t play a nine-game conference schedule. But, here we are, and there are a number of teams fighting for a postseason berth. Again, I’m not just talking about the conference title game, I’m looking at the college football playoff. As it currently stands, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Texas sit atop the SEC standings with just one conference loss. But I don’t know how long that will stand, especially with the Vols traveling to Georgia this weekend.
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Josh Heupel of the Tennessee Volunteers questions head line judge Nicholas Theriot on the final drive for the the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Think about it this way. Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU and Missouri all have two losses right now, and the tiebreaker scenario will be fascinating to watch unfold. If Tennessee goes to Athens and beats the Bulldogs, then the conversation shifts, dramatically. The same can be said for the Aggies, if they were to win out, which includes a game against Texas.
I think the bigger decision comes down to the playoff committee, and how many SEC teams they decide to put into the postseason. But yes, we could be headed towards a chaotic ending, and I’m all for the madness that’s ensuing.
Is Mike Norvel firing his assistant coaches actually going to solve the problem for my Seminoles?
—Thomas, Pensacola, Fla.
I mean, Norvell fired his OC, DC and WR coach because he needed a new lease of life in Tallahassee. This team took a massive step back this season, getting destroyed by Notre Dame on Saturday, and currently sitting at 1-9 on the year. I’ll be honest, Florida State is going to have to rearrange things inside the football offices, and I’m not just talking about the coaching staff.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 18: Head coach Mike Norvell of the Florida State Seminoles watches his team play against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of the game at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
After all the momentum from last season, and the controversy regarding the playoffs, FSU did nothing to build off 2023, and it’s come back to bite them in a bad way. This team needs a quarterback, and to find that spark along the defensive line again. But right now, the future looks bleak, and Mike Norvell certainly made some changes so that it would give him a new lease on life at Florida State.
The Seminoles have a massive rebuild on their hands. So, I’d practice some meditation.
Appreciate your honesty about Colorado, especially after the Nebraska loss. So, do you think we can actually make the playoffs?
—Mike, Broomfield, Colo.
I’ll be the first one to admit that I did not see this coming after the Nebraska loss, Mike. I thought this team lacked weapons that would be needed to put an opponent away. Boy, was I wrong, and I’m really enjoying what Deion Sanders has done with this football team. Luckily for Colorado, the Big 12 has decided to go full-blown crazy, thanks to losses by Iowa State and Kansas State.
Now, all Colorado needs to do is win its remaining regular season games, which is certainly possible. If they do, the Buffaloes will be playing in the Big 12 title game, with a chance at securing a spot in the College Football Playoff. So, to answer your question, I absolutely believe this team can make the postseason, but they need to stop playing from behind at times.
Also, Travis Hunter is going to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, and I think he deserves the award at this moment.
Can Indiana afford a loss to Ohio State in two weeks, and still make the playoff? I’m a little concerned about strength of our schedule.
—Adam, Indiana
Yea, I’ve thought about this a lot over the last few weeks. The Hoosiers have certainly beaten up on their opponents during this 10-0 run, but I do wonder how the committee will look at them towards the end of the season. Right now, they are ranked 8th in the standings, beating a bad Michigan team 20-15 this past Saturday.
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 14: Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti walks down the field during a college football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the UCLA Bruins on September 14, 2024, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
If they lose to Ohio State by a touchdown, or 10 points, then I can see the committee keeping them in the Top-12. But, if they were to let this one get away, I don’t know how the voters will react to Indiana’s schedule. Let’s be honest, their biggest win is I guess Washington, maybe Michigan. This team has the ability to beat Ohio State, and I think there’s a good shot they leave Columbus with the win.
But that schedule isn’t that helpful if the committee is looking at that part down the stretch. Either way, the Big Ten race is wild, and there are a number of scenarios where I see the Hoosiers playing in the postseason, including a potential win next week.
Thanks to everyone for the questions, and you can continue reaching out to me at Trey.Wallace@OutKick.com and I’ll get back to you. Enjoy the week, with another Saturday of college football approaching.
Colorado
WATCH LIVE: Memorial service to honor firefighters killed on Colorado-Utah border – East Idaho News
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — Three firefighters who were killed battling flames on the Colorado-Utah border are being remembered as brave heroes who were trailblazers in their industries.
Wildfires have spread across the West fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow, forcing residents from their homes as crews work to tamp down the flames.
Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson were killed Saturday, June 27, and two others sustained burn injuries when they were overcome by flames from fast-moving fires in Mesa County. They deployed emergency protective shelters, which are considered a “last resort” for firefighters when there is no other way out.
RELATED | 3 firefighters killed in blazes along Colorado-Utah border are identified
They were assigned to a Helitack crew that can be dropped into remote areas by helicopters and whose mission is to prevent new fires from growing into out-of-control blazes.
Their deaths came almost 13 years to the day since an elite crew of 19 wildland firefighters died when they were trapped in a steep canyon in Yarnell, Arizona.
A memorial service will be held for the three firefighters at 11 a.m. Sunday at Las Colonias Park Amphitheater in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Emily Barker
Barker, 38, had so much spirit, and the people around her always strived to be a better person by her presence, said Sarah Brubeck Schnurbusch, a friend and former roommate.
Barker was from Clinton, Michigan, and liked hiking, skiing, dirt biking and playing hockey. She loved firefighting.
“I’ve never seen someone so excited to go to work,” Brubeck Schnurbusch said. She added that her friend was an expert who helped pave the way for many women in the industry.
She said she is hopeful that Barker’s death opens people’s eyes to the hard work firefighters are putting in day in and day out.
“I just hope that Emily knows the impact that she left on everybody else, and how many people really truly love her,” she said.
RELATED | Firefighter killed battling wildfire previously worked in eastern Idaho and was featured in EastIdahoNews.com story
Nick Hutcherson
Hutcherson, 27, served in the U.S. Navy and had plans to become a physical therapy doctor, according to the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona where he was assigned. He was also an active member of the Northern Arizona Deaf and American Sign Language community and was a dedicated Muay Thai practitioner who trained at Southside Combat Academy in Flagstaff.
Hutcherson was from Glendale, Arizona.
The Kaibab National Forest said it is heartbroken over his death. Hutcherson exemplified the agency’s commitment to serving the public and the courage wildland firefighters bring to the job, it said.
The combat academy described Hutcherson as a warrior and said it is forever grateful to have known him and to have fought alongside him.
“We lost a good one,” read a social media post. “If you met Nick, you loved Nick. He was such a gentle and genuine soul. We are still in disbelief.”
Sydney Watson
Watson, 27, was from Warrior, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Tennessee Southern, according to the university.
A former pitcher on the softball team and “a quiet, composed leader,” Watson was assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack crew, the university said in a statement.
In 2023, Watson participated in a program in North Carolina organized by the Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, the collaborative group wrote in a statement.
In her application for the program, she said she wanted to see more women on the fire line and to work with and learn from other women in the fire industry, the statement said.
“It’s hard for people outside of the firefighting world to understand why we do what we do. We do it because we love it. Sydney loved it,” the group wrote.
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RYE, Colo. (KOAA) — Bishop Castle faces an uncertain, but hopeful, future as the Aspen Acres wildfire burns nearby and its caretaker recovers in the hospital following a fall.
Daniel Bishop, who cares for Bishop Castle — the landmark his father built brick by brick — was admitted to the hospital more than a week ago after a fall. Soon after, evacuation orders came, putting the beloved structure in the Aspen Acres wildfire red zone.
“The whole backdrop of my life just changing from one drastic nightmare to the next,” Daniel said.
His wife, Sage Bishop, described the toll the back-to-back crises have taken on the family.
“We’re used to being in the mountains and working with our hands and doing things and our lives have been turned upside down,” Sage said.
And while recovering, Bishop says he didn’t know what would come of the iconic Colorado landmark.
“By the time the whole scene was printed, it was a nightmare,” Daniel said.
Many people online have been asking whether Bishop Castle survived the fire. The Bishop Castle Facebook page posted that, according to the incident management team, Bishop Castle is still standing.
For Daniel, that news brings only partial relief.
“I generally don’t celebrate until I really know it’s time to celebrate. Until I lay my eyes on the property and know exactly what’s happened,” Daniel said.
He also said fires can be unpredictable, so getting excited about the condition of the castle feels too soon.
“The truth is the fire is still burning, and fires are very predictable, and it could turn around and come back from the other direction,” said Daniel.
But he did say there is some reassuring news on the ground.
“There are actual fire crews there doing their job to protect the castle, there are actually people in there. Boots on the ground and helping out,” Daniel said.
He said he still worries for the many people whose homes are nearby. People who continue to support the family.
“God bless the first responders for every piece of structure, everybody’s property that they managed to save, because we are the fortunate ones in all of this right now. There are so many that have lost everything they had,” Daniel said.
Even with the uncertainty, the family is definitely certain about one thing… Sage said the outpouring of concern from the public has meant a great deal to the family.
“The support from people that care about us is amazing,” Sage said.
The family says Daniel is progressing very well and appreciates the support and kind words from the community. He said he couldn’t get through this without those at Encompass Health Rehabilitation.
___
47,000 Acres, 0% Containment, and New Evacuations
The Aspen Acres Fire continues to rage out of control, growing to over 47,000 acres with zero containment. New mandatory evacuations have been issued for the Red Creek area as the fire threatens thousands of structures across multiple counties.
47,000 Acres, 0% Containment, and New Evacuations
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The Colorado Buffaloes are on the road for four of their first seven games in 2026, including two of their three non-conference games.
With so much time on the road, especially early in the season, it is important for fans to know which games are worth traveling to. Here’s a look at Colorado’s most to least expensive road games to attend for the 2026 season and the reasoning behind the prices (all prices according to VividSeats).
1. Week 3 at Northwestern Wildcats
- Lowest ticket price: $562
Colorado’s matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats is far and away the most expensive game to attend. The price may appear confusing given the relatively low expectations both teams have coming into the 2026 season, but it is simply a matter of the venue the game will take place in.
Northwestern’s matchup against Colorado will be the final game it hosts in Martin Stadium, its soccer arena, before the construction of New Ryan Field is complete. The stadium has a capacity of just 12,023, which has inflated the price of admission as a result.
2. Week 8 at Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Lowest ticket price: $129
As for Colorado’s most expensive Big 12 road contest, it has nothing to do with the stadium and everything to do with excitement. After a combined 4-20 record over the last two seasons, Oklahoma State Cowboy fans are finally seeing a glimmer of hope.
Former North Texas coach Eric Morris took over the role at OSU during the offseason and brought his best players with him. The hype surrounding the team has created a marquee matchup and driven prices as a result.
3. Week 1 at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Lowest ticket price: $106
Speaking of marquee matchups, there are potentially none more qualified to be such than the Buffs’ season opener. It is an opportunity for revenge against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets following the Buffs’ loss to them at home to start the 2025 season. That game was down to the wire, and with this matchup appearing to be similar on paper, tickets are in very high demand.
4. Week 4 at Baylor Bears
However, prices take a dip with the Buffs’ Big 12 opener. Their matchup against the Baylor Bears may be the best deal of the season, as it will feature two explosive offenses in what is sure to be a Texas shootout. If it resembles Colorado’s most recent matchup against the Bears at all, that entertainment will be worth the price of admission and then some.
5. Week 10 at Arizona State Sun Devils
Another significant drop-off occurs in the Buffs’ matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils. This game is missing the glaring storylines that Colorado’s other matchups have, as both teams have much to prove. However, it will be Colorado’s opportunity for revenge against former star receiver Omarion Miller, who left the Buffs for the Sun Devils during the offseason.
6. Week 12 at Cincinnati Bearcats
But the cheapest game to travel to for Buffs fans contains even fewer storylines than the previous spot on this list. Cincinnati was eaten alive by the transfer portal during the offseason, as it has a roster of youth looking to prove itself. If either team’s season is going better than expected by that point, the game’s affordability may not remain for long.
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