Last season, when the Buffs couldn't run, they couldn't hide. Colorado averaged 300 rushing yards and 50 points in huge wins over Nebraska and Texas, but just 80 yards and 15 points in losses to Fresno State, Texas and Oregon. The good news: RB Marcus Houston returns from injury to join 900-yard rushers Chris Brown and Bobby Purify. And with bulldozing FB Brandon Drumm clearing the way, the Buffalo backfield ranks among the nation's best. The bad news: Colorado must replace All-America O-linemen Andre Gurode and Victor Rogers. Last year, the Buffs rushed the ball on 65% of their downs. Minus those two formidable people-movers, last season's run-first, run-always offense will be altered to sell the pass -- to open up the run. Even modest success from QB Craig Ochs, a Boulder native, will make this offense positively dangerous. Bad memories of their final two games, when Major Applewhite and Joey Harrington torched the secondary, will likely fade: Texas Tech is CU's only 2002 opponent that ranked higher than 47th in the nation in passing. A solid front seven, led by DT Tyler Brayton and ILB Sean Tufts, both among the best in the conference, should provide enough hard-nosed defense to get the Buffaloes to the Nebraska game in November with the Big 12 North title on the line. Win that one, and these Buffs could make a run at a BCS berth.

	Chris Brown has his eye on the 1,000-yard club.

HOT WIRE

Ochs is at full speed after suffering a concussion against Texas on Oct. 20 and a sprained right ankle the following week vs. Oklahoma State. He says he learned a lot watching Bobby Pesavento direct the O. Good thing -- only one returning WR or TE caught more than two balls last season. The passing game must click early to prevent a September loss (like last year's to Fresno State) from dashing January hopes.

TRIP WIRE

New O-line coach Dave Borbely must replace 107 games of starting experience on the strong side. Last year's massive and mobile unit cleared the way for 2,620 yards by Buffalo RBs, tops in the nation, and helped then-coach Steve Marshall get a job with the NFL's Texans.

WIRE TAP

"If Marcus Houston is 100% and his head is right, he could make them special. He just has 'it.' You gotta stick eight in the box and do a lot of stunting up front because their offensive line moves around a lot. Do that and you'll get angles. Craig Ochs is a better talent than Pesavento, but their wide receivers are nothing. You can single them."

BRISTOL WIRE

Mel Kiper Jr.: "The deepest RB corps in college football and a great blocking FB in Brandon Drumm, but CU needs a big-time WR to emerge. This isn't a national title team, but it can win the Big 12 North."

The ESPN Power 16
1	Oklahoma	9	Colorado
2	Florida State	10	Washington State
3	Miami	11	Washington
4	Texas	12	Oregon
5	Tennessee	13	Nebraska
6	Florida	14	Michigan State
7	Georgia	15	Virginia Tech
8	Ohio State	16	LSU

This article appears in the September 2 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

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