Football: CU fans heading into the bye week have a lot on their to-do lists.

After a week off, the Colorado Buffaloes are back on the practice field and ready to start stretching.

After a 46-43 double overtime loss to Stanford on October 3, 2011.
On the 13th, CU took a break from last weekend and practiced for four days.
The Buffs (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) returned to practice Sunday as they prepare for Saturday’s game against then-No. 23 UCLA (5-2, 2-2) of Pasadena, Calif.
(5:30 p.m. MT, ABC).

KO enters Saturday’s game as a 17-point underdog. Despite the layoffs, this is a very important week for the Buffs as they look to shake off the embarrassment and continue their quest to get back on track and become bowl eligible.
Lovers have a few things on their to-do list to ease their anxiety.
1.
Defeat at Stanford: “I think every loss is the same,” after blowing a 29-0 lead and losing to CU Cardinal quarterback Sheder Sanders.

This is true to some extent.
In the standings, everything means the same thing and losing is not good.
But this loss was different.
Not only because victory was right around the corner, but also because the Buffs were nearly choking at halftime against the worst team in the Pac-12.
Stanford was Stanford again last weekend, losing 42-7 to UCLA.
CU needs to rediscover its best team, the one that came out against Stanford in the first half and against USC in the second.
The Buffs need to learn a lesson from their loss to Stanford, but don’t let this week get you down.

2.
Go ahead and stop the run: On the season, the Buffs rank 10th in the Pac-12 against the run, allowing 157.43 yards per game and 4.44 yards per carry.
But in recent weeks they have performed much better.
Through the first four games, CU has allowed 206.5 rushing yards and 5.33 yards per carry.
But over the past three games, the Buffs have allowed 92 yards per game and 2.97 yards per carry.
CU will need to continue to slow down its winning streak to get a win against UCLA and another tough schedule. UCLA ranks second in the Pac-12 and eighth nationally in rushing yards per game at 215.57.

Three.
SECONDARY BLOCKS: With some veterans at safety and cornerback and cornerback no.
1 in each of the last two receiving classes, KU has been strong against the pass this year.

The Buffs were strong early, catching six passes in the first three games.
Pac-12 quarterbacks tore them up through the air, but the Buffs gave up more passing yards (316.3 per game) than any other team in the conference.

That’s one of the revelations of Heisman Trophy contenders Bo Nix (Oregon) and Caleb Williams (USC).
This is another example of Arizona State’s Trenton Burge and Stanford’s Ashton Daniels.
They have nine TD passes this year, including five against KO.

Burge, the third stringer of the year, threw for 335 yards and his only touchdown of the season against CU.
Daniels threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns against CU, but totaled 829 yards and four touchdowns in the other six games they played together.

4.
For starters: KO has a lot of talented players.
The day of the game has not yet been revealed. Part of that is the offensive line needs to do better, but the back end still isn’t quite right.

CU ranks last in the Pac-12 with 86.29 rushing yards per game and was without its three most experienced quarterbacks this season.
Sy’veon Wilkerson (2,322 career yards), Kawosie Smoak (1,550 yards) and Alton McCaskill (1,006 yards) have combined for 103 yards on 34 carries this year.

Whether it’s Anthony Hankerson, Dylan Edwards or a trio of veterans, the Buffs need to get their running game going to take pressure off Sanders and the passing game.

5. Lean on Sanders.
   But not too much. The junior quarterback is arguably CU’s most valuable player and at times has donned a Superman cape and led the Buffs to victory.
   CU certainly has a lack of personnel to tackle this offseason, but they also have one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
   Sanders’ buffs are enough to outshine everyone else at the table.
   But relying on him too much could come back to bite the Buffs, as they did in the second half against Stanford. To advance to a bowl game, CU will need Sanders to stay healthy and keep doing what he’s doing, and others to help him.