Colorado's defense has taken a disappointing step back in Robert Livingston's second season as Coach Prime's defensive coordinator, but perhaps they turned the corner last week in the win over Iowa State.
While they still allowed 441 yards, the Buffs were terrific on third down, holding Iowa State to just 2-of-12. They also forced a key takeaway.
The defense hasn't been good enough this year, however, which is something both Deion Sanders and Livingston would readily admit. Colorado currently ranks 90th in the country in yards per play defense.
But a big reason for future optimism is thanks to a couple of true freshmen who have already stood out in their first seasons in Boulder.