With what has happened through one or two games of conference play in the Big 12, none other than Colorado finds themselves in a three-way tie for first place. While that’s not necessarily where they’ll remain, Rece Davis believes the Buffs are a factor more than worth noting in that league.

Davis assessed what Colorado is coming into October during the ‘College GameDay Podcast’ on Monday. In a conference that has several in contention rather than one or two, he thinks, while they likely won’t win it for themselves, the Buffaloes will impact what the final standings will look like in the Big 12.

“I’ll tell you someone else who might have awakened people – and I know everyone’s already paying attention to Colorado. But if you’re looking at Colorado purely as a novelty act? Colorado is part of that wide, not deep, in the Big 12,” said Davis.

“In a conference that I look across and go, hmm, a lot of good, don’t see any great? You know, a lot of good to pretty good, don’t see great? They might not win it and, in fact, I don’t really think they will but I’ll bet you that they have a say in who does at the end,” Davis stated.

Colorado already could have justified an effect like that because of their stars on offense. However, their improvement on defense of late has been noticeable as they’ve allowed just 17.4 ppg. over their last three and a half games.

That was specifically so this past weekend against UCF. Against an offense that has aspects that would have previously presented problems to them, the Buffaloes held the Knights to 177 rushing yards at four per carry – both of which were season-lows after they came in posting 375.7 per game at 6.8 a touch.

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Combining that kind of defensive effort with the offensive output that was already there is what changes the conversation from here when it comes to Colorado.

“It’s not because of Shedeur Sanders, who is brilliant, or Travis Hunter, who, in my judgement, is the best player in college football because no one is doing on both sides of the ball what he’s doing,” said Davis. “They stopped UCF from running. Now, are they a defensive juggernaut? No. But they now at least put up some resistance to you on defense. As we talked about with Alabama and Georgia’s search for it, Colorado has got guys who will raise problems.”

“The fact that they put up resistance? I know UCF outgained them and UCF turned the ball over four times. I know all of that,” Davis said. “They’ve got guys who will raise some stakes. They’ve got guys who will raise problems.”

This has also all comes after an 18-point loss in their second game. Rather than declining from there, which he admits that they could still do over their final seven, they have responded with three straight victories with each being better than the last.

“They were right there on the edge after Nebraska. They’ve answered. They’ve answered,” said Davis. “Now, could they still have a losing record? Of course they can. I’m not saying that they’re great.”

With their conference season less than a third of the way, the Big 12 still has over half of the league believing that they’ll be in Arlington. Still, at 2-0 so far, Colorado will affect who actually gets there by year’s end according to Davis.

“I’m just telling you. Colorado may be in this,” said Davis. “Maybe.”

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