“Arizona State (ASU) is a great football team. We just have to play ball. We’re an elite football team, too,” University of Colorado (CU) running back Phillip Lindsay said before the two teams fought it out at Folsom Field on Oct. 15.

Lindsay was not wrong to say that his team is “elite” this year, because they are. CU has had a great season so far with five wins and only two losses. Among the wins were Oregon and ASU—both very competitive teams. The two losses were against Michigan, ranked number four, and USC, a team loaded with NFL level talent. CU played a good game against Michigan in the “Big House”—in the first half, they were in the lead. In the second half, they lost their starting quarterback, Sefo Liufau, and made several huge mistakes. Otherwise, they could have won the game.

CU’s unexpected success this year has come from experienced and talented players, like running back Phillip Lindsay, safety Afolabi Laguda and quarterback Liufau. Perhaps more importantly, however, CU finally has good experience on both lines.   This experience has given the team the confidence they lacked in prior rebuilding years.

“I think that in recent years, before this year, I don’t think our standards have been as high as a team,” Liufau said. Obviously you want to go out there and win every game, but to honestly believe in yourselves and your teammates and your ability to go out there and win games and make plays, it’s a lot higher standard.”

Liufau and other teammates are taking their football season very seriously this fall.

“We want to set the bar high,” Laguda said. “We’re chasing that Pac-12 championship; nothing less. We don’t just want to go to some random, 6-6 bowl game. We want to get to that championship, and we have to play that high level championship football.”

It looks like these players’ hard work might pay off; CU is tied for first place in the Pac 12 South division and ESPN predicts that they have a 60% chance to win the division. If the Buffs can keep up their great work, they will be playing the Utah Utes for the division title on Thanksgiving weekend. CU won a national title in 1990, and was in the hunt for much of that decade. It looks like within the next couple of years, the Buffs might be in position to chase another title.