Then again, most of the 52,000 who witnessed CU's division-clinching win over Utah weren't even looking at the scoreboard by the end.

The teams play in the sixth Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday night at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

An fantastic turnaround it's been for the Buffaloes, who won just five league games in their first five years as a member of the Pac-12. TV: 9 p.m. ET, FOX. "I think that's why we're both in the championship game, because our defenses have played well throughout the year". If the Buffaloes do indeed miss out on a New Year's Six bowl, the Alamo is where they will land.

In that 45-27 win, Jackson had a historic day by collecting 291 all-purpose yards and also scoring on a 55-yard punt return and a 97-yard kick return. Their opponent will likely be a 6-6 Northwestern team, setting up a rematch after the Wildcats upset Stanford in Evanston a year ago. Then his fourth quarter interception gave him seven on the season, tying him for the single season best in CU history (matching Dick Anderson in 1967 and Cullen Bryant in 1972). Clemson's Deshaun Watson, Washington's Jake Browning and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook are playing in high-stakes games, with a chance to make lasting impression.

Wisconsin (10-2) and Penn State (10-2) play each other in this weekend's Big Ten championship game, but it seems unlikely that either would jump Washington in the event of a Huskies victory over Colorado.

After CU's 38-24 victory over Washington State on November 19, a game in which CU was as balanced offensively as it's been all season, the two coordinators took to Twitter to express admiration for one another. As a result, it landed in the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten's replacement team ahead of No. 7 Ohio State, though it was considered the more talented team.

When Sefo Liufau was recovering from a Lisfranc foot injury last spring, unable to participate in team drills, the Colorado quarterback put on a headset and listened.

What would need to happen for the Buffs to make it? He was a first-team all-state selection in his lone season at DVC.

More important, it would present the clearest path to the Rose Bowl on January 2.

"They talk in between series and talk quite a bit during the game, exchanging ideas", MacIntyre said. If both Clemson and Washington lose their conference title games, the next teams in could very easily be MI and the victor of the Big Ten championship. It helps that he has a deep-threat receiver, John Ross III, who is tied for second nationally with 16 touchdown receptions. Problem is, the Buffs will get burned if they focus too much on Ross and Pettis and can't stop the run.

Sophomore running back Myles Gaskin ran for 1,180 yards in the regular season, his second season of at least 1,000 yards.

All of those teams except Oklahoma State are now ranked ahead of CU in the College Football Playoff rankings, with new rankings due out Tuesday. Rather than teaching his players a style that works just in college, Lake has thrown National Football League concepts at his players and made them learn.

CHRIS GRAHAM (Burlingame High, Burlingame): The junior, who has shared kicking duties this season, made 9 of 13 field-goal attempts, including two each vs. Oregon, UCLA and Utah, with a long kick of 46 yards against Washington State. The benefits of making the playoff, apart from the financial spoils and recruiting boost, ensure that the Huskies will treat this game with extra motivation.

FILE - In this October 22, 2016, file photo, Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau runs against Stanford during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Stanford, Calif. Colorado takes on Washington in the Pac-12 championship on Friday night in Santa Clara, Calif.