Why have the Colorado Buffaloes struggled defensively through three games?

Robert Livingston emphasized before the college football season that the Colorado Buffaloes were going to some things that were “drastically different” on the defensive side of the football. After a 2024 campaign in which he came to town and instantly turned around the fourth-worst defense in the country from 2023, it appeared that he was going to have the Buffs’ defense in a prime position to make another leap.

Through three games, the drastic difference for the Buffs on defense is the inability to stop the ball. After allowing just over 350 yards per game in 2024, Colorado has allowed 430 this year, with over 204 of those yards coming on the ground (13th-worst mark in the country). The defense is what helped push this program to nine wins a season ago, and it looks that that win total is going to be tough to replicate with the way things are going.

Travis Hunter was a star for this unit last year, hence why he won the Bednarik Award and the Heisman Trophy. If he was still around this season, things would look a bit better, but there are some issues that he wouldn’t have been able to mask, similar to 2023. Outside of him and the other faces that departed in the offseason, what have been the reasons for the drop in production?

THE VALUE OF THE INTERIOR

Chidoze Nwankwo was a star for Colorado last year. Lined up at defensive tackle, he constantly ate double teams and worked his magic inside to muck up the middle and make life easier for the linebackers. This year, the variety of players that the Buffs brought in to fight on the line haven’t been able to provide that same push against their two Power 4 opponents.

Injuries haven’t helped in that aspect at all. Jehiem Oatis, who played a solid game against Georgia Tech to open the season, was downgraded to out before the Houston game. His absence was clearly felt as the Cougars put up more than 200 yards on the ground.

Nwanko and Amari McNeil, who is still in the room this year, combined for six sacks in 2024 and were putting pressure on the quarterback in the pocket to prevent them from stepping up. That same push just hasn’t been there through three games.

Brandon Davis-Swain and Anquin Barnes Jr. have been the two best faces inside. There is no timeline on Oatis’ recovery, but the Buffs will need him inside when conference play kicks off for good.

TACKLING AND BLOCK SHEDDING

This has been the worst aspect of the defense so far. Replacing linebackers Nikhai Hill-Green and Lavonta Bentley from a season ago wasn’t going to be easy, and it doesn’t seem that the Buffs hit the jackpot there. Tackling woes have been the reason why three yard gains have turned into eight yard gains, and first downs have turned into touchdowns.

Big Weig on the run 🕺@ConnerWeigman pic.twitter.com/fhM9Oa9brM

— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) September 13, 2025

Physicality and getting off blocks has also been a problem, especially in the secondary. Georgia Tech had a lot of success running a fly sweep with their receivers in the season opener because the Buffs corners struggled to attack the ball and get off the blocks. They utilized screens and short passes as well to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers in space, and the Buffs’ defensive backs couldn’t make the necessary plays to limit big gains.

Angles are also part of the problem. The reason why Haynes King was able to break free on multiple runs was because the Colorado defenders took themselves out of the picture with poor angles. Terrance Love did it on the final touchdown, Tawfiq Byard did it on the second touchdown, and Reggie Hughes did it as the spy on a third down in the second half that would’ve gotten the Buffs off the field.

PRESSURE HASN’T BEEN GETTING HOME

Something that Livingston has shown time and time again is that he likes to bring pressure on key downs. He’ll load the line of scrimmage with defenders ready to attack, and trust the cornerbacks to hold their own on the second line in man coverage. The problem is, those corners can only guard effectively for a couple of seconds, which should be enough time for the pressure to get through and fluster the quarterback.

However, that hasn’t been the case, which is why the Buffs have left so many people open on short crossing routes on those key downs. Last season, the Buffs ranked eighth in sacks per game (3.1). This year, they’re 81st (1.7).

Everyone knew that there was going to be big shoes to fill on the defense this year. Hunter is just one of many faces that didn’t return to the unit this year, and Livingston and company are clearly missing other guys like Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Colton Hood. There is still time for Colorado to turn the defense around with one final tune-up game against Wyoming this weekend, but if they don’t have their ducks in a row when the gauntlet of Big 12 play kicks off for good, they will be in trouble.

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