Greg McElroy breaks down 'must-win' games for Colorado to reach a bowl game

Greg McElroy revealed the must-win games for Colorado on its 2024 schedule in order to reach a bowl game this season.

The schedule can be difficult as the Buffaloes move into the Big 12. But there are winnable games based on Colorado’s influx of talent.

It’s just about gelling at the right time and making a run this year, unlike 2023 where there was a huge skid.

“I think there are four must win games on the schedule,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “Absolutely must-win, cannot lose them. It’d be North Dakota State that’s in the opener, at Nebraska, at Colorado State and against Cincinnati at home. Those four games are absolutely must-win.. If you lose one of those games, then you can still get to a bowl game but your 50-50 games become much, much more difficult. 

“So I think you win those four games that I just listed … by the way, I think winning at Nebraska is going to be a real tall order but I think it’s a must-win game. If Colorado wants to go bowling. And you look at the 50-50 games you have to win two of the four 50-50 games.” 

As McElroy pointed out, Colorado has to have those must-win games. Otherwise, the tossups could be brutal if the Buffaloes don’t hit their stride.

“Here’s the problem, three of your four 50-50 games are on the road at UCF, at Texas Tech than at Kansas,” McElroy said. “You get Baylor at home. I also think that’s a 50-50 game, but you obviously have to win two of those four, because tell me this as a Colorado fan or as a fan of college football. How confident are you in Colorado being able to stop the ground and pound against Kansas State, the ground and pound against Utah, the ground and pound and the reigning Doak Walker award winner in Ollie Gordon against Oklahoma State? 

“I think it’s pretty unlikely that you handle those three teams because they’re going to ground and pound it and how good do you feel about going on the road to Arizona? A team that beat you convincingly last year and handling your business on the road there? I don’t feel real good about those. 

Will Colorado be bowl eligible in Year 2 of Deion Sanders? It might actually be more likely than last year despite the hot start.

“But I think they can get there because they have great horsepower,” McElroy said. “And they have a lot of talent. It’s just about being able to stop the run and being a lot better along both lines of scrimmage.”