The magical carpet ride continues for Colorado.
In by far the Buffs’ biggest game since joining the Pac-12, No. 10 Colorado used its two-headed ground game to run past No. 22 Washington State 38-24 in Boulder.
Phillip Lindsey opened the scoring for CU, notching a 9-yard scoring romp to stake the Buffaloes to a 7-0 lead. Washington State answered with two Luke Falk touchdown passes to lead 14-7 after one, but Sefo Liufau tied it on a 3-yard rush with 7:35 to go in the first half.
Washington State carried a 17-14 lead into the break, but Colorado owned the second half.
Liufau’s second score, this one from seven yards out, gave Colorado a 21-17 lead and, after Falk’s third scoring strike of the day, the Colorado quarterback’s third rushing score of the game, an 11-yarder with 30 ticks left in the third quarter, gave the Buffaloes the lead for good.
Chris Graham‘s 46-yard field goal with 9:09 remaining gave Colorado a 31-24 edge, and Lindsey’s 13-yard burst with 4:18 to play provided the winning margin.
For the game, Lindsey rushed 31 times for 144 yards and two scores, while Liufau carried 23 times for 108 yards and three scores. He also completed 27-of-41 passes for 345 yards.
Falk hit 26-of-52 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns, but only managed to notch seven points after halftime. After falling behind 28-24 late in the third quarter, Washington State turned the ball over on downs, recorded a three-and-out and lost a fumble.
Coupled with Utah’s loss to Oregon earlier today, Colorado (9-2, 7-1 Pac-12) can now clinch its first Pac-12 South championship with a victory over the Utes next week in Boulder or with a USC loss at UCLA later tonight. The loss drops Washington State to 8-3 overall and 7-1 in Pac-12 play, but the Cougars can still win the Pac-12 North by beating Washington in Pullman on Friday.