The 2016 season is officially over for the Pac-12. We're kicking off our season review by handing out some grades for each team. Next up: Colorado.

Offense: The Buffs were inconsistent on this side of the ball. They finished the season averaging 31.1 points per game, good for No. 51 in the nation and No. 7 in the Pac-12. There were some impressive scoring outputs, but aside from an early flurry against Michigan -- 28 points in just more than one half of play -- Colorado's offense disappointed against the better defenses on its schedule. The Buffs mustered only 18 total points against Washington and Oklahoma State in consecutive losses to close the season.

That being said, quarterback Sefo Liufau did enjoy some solid stretches of play, as did his backup, Steven Montez. Both players did damage through the air and on the ground, with Liufau registering 2,366 passing yards and 494 rushing yards and Montez tallying 1,078 passing yards and 231 rushing yards. The Buffs also enjoyed a sturdy season from running back Phillip Lindsay, who racked up 1,252 yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.1 yards per carry. Receivers Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo combined for 169 catches, forming a dangerous set on the perimeter.

The Buffs ultimately upped their 2015 scoring average by a touchdown, and that was enough to complement the league's top defense on the way to a Pac-12 South crown. But offensive consistency must improve in 2017 with several star defenders leaving the program. Grade: B-

Defense: Just a little more than two years ago, Colorado's defense was one of the country's worst. Back then, it was clear the Buffs weren't up to Pac-12 par physically, as they allowed 5.6 yards per rush -- a full yard worse than the the 11th-place team in the conference.

In 2016, the maturation of this unit hit an impressive crescendo: Colorado allowed only 18.4 points per game in league play, tops in the Pac-12. The Buffs' secondary was particularly excellent, allowing only 5.4 yards per attempt during the regular season. That tied Colorado with Michigan and Ohio State for No. 1 in the nation.

The Buffs' defensive performance was the product of an excellent senior class that developed together through struggles into a rigid unit. Cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Ahkello Witherspoon locked down the outside, while Tedric Thompson captained the defense from his safety position. Colorado was sturdy up front thanks to fellow seniors Josh Tupou, Jordan Carrell and Samson Kafovalu. The Buffs also enjoyed a steadying presence at inside linebacker behind Kenneth Olugbode and consistent pressure from pass-rush specialist Jimmie Gilbert (10 sacks, 14 tackles for loss).

In all, the Buffs will lose eight starters from this defense, so 2017 presents a tough adaptation period. But these veterans were the engine of a great turnaround effort, and they made their last season one to remember. Grade: A

Special teams: This was, by the far, the shoddiest phase of Colorado's game. The Buffs' punt- and kick-return units were horrible, ranking No. 118 and No. 123 in the country, respectively. The team allowed three return touchdowns on the season and didn't do much of anything special to make up for that on its own returning end.

The kicking game was also shaky. Colorado had four different players attempt a field goal in 2016. Chris Graham and Davis Price saw the most opportunities, and they both made two-thirds of their kicks. Alex Kinney punted well -- averaging 41.3 yards per boot -- but that's not enough to offset all the other special-teams struggles here. Grade: D

Overall: Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre authored one of the great turnaround stories in recent college football history. Entering 2016, Colorado had gone 5-40 in Pac-12 play during its first five years in the conference -- including a 1-8 finish in 2015. The Buffs completely flipped the script this past season, ripping off an 8-1 conference record and earning a berth in the Pac-12 championship game.

So while one can nitpick Colorado's offensive inconsistency and special-teams shortcomings, it's important to remember the bigger picture here. The Buffs are back, even if they did end the season on a disappointing note. After a 10-4 campaign, MacIntyre's job now shifts to sustaining success. Grade: A-