Buffaloes are historically bad

It wasn’t much of a secret that Colorado would struggle this season. Every preseason prediction – the Pac-12 media poll, college football magazines and random websites – picked the Buffs to finish last in the Pac-12 South.

Entering a game Saturday at 10:30 a.m. against the Washington Huskies, the Buffs are 1-9 and riding a six-game losing streak. Statistically, they rank among the worst teams in conference history.

Through 10 games, the Buffs are being outscored an average of 47-17. The 2008 Huskies, who went 0-12, were outscored 38-13. Washington State, in 2008, was outscored 43-12. The 1980 Oregon State Beavers, who went 0-11 – along with the 2008 Huskies, the only other conference team to not win a game since the conference expanded to 10 teams in 1978 – were outscored 35-9.

Colorado’s only victory was an improbable 35-34 win at Washington State in late September.

But unless Colorado overcomes heavy odds this week to beat Washington – the Huskies are a 20 1/2-point favorite – or next week against Utah, this could be the worst season in school history. Their worst record in the post-World War II era is 1-10 in 1980 and 1984, when the Buffs were members of the Big Eight.

The losing and the huge margins of defeat – each of Colorado’s Pac-12 defeats have been by 25 points or more – have led to questions about the future of the program under coach Jon Embree.

Embree, though, is finishing just his second year and it’s thought the school wouldn’t yet pull the plug. Embree, 4-19 as coach, played tight end for Colorado from 1983 to 1986.

For now, all Colorado really wants is a win in Boulder against either UW or Utah to avoid becoming the first CU team since 1920 not to win a home game.

“I expect us to,” Embree said this week. “I don’t think of it any other way.”

Notes

UW coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday that true freshman offensive lineman Shane Brostek could see time on the defensive line this week to help deal with depth issues created by injuries. He also said backup linebacker Jamaal Kearse and backup running back Dezden Petty will not make the trip.