Week 1 of the college football season has concluded, except for one game on Monday. Nonetheless, Pro Football Network has released its Week 1 grades, with the Colorado Buffaloes' defensive line the highest-graded line of the week.
Colorado received an overall grade of 95.5, ranking ahead of LSU (95.4), Tennessee (93.7), Temple (91.7) and Alabama (90.3). The leader of the group was defensive end Lamont Lester Jr., who racked up three sacks and three quarterback pressures.
Aside from Lester, another stat highlighting how well the Buffs' defensive line played was Georgia Tech's inept ground game. After the Yellow Jackets' first possession, when they ran the ball six times for 33 yards, Colorado's defense was stout against the run, holding Georgia Tech to a meager
18 yards on 24 carries. It was the type of performance that truly makes you think about what has changed for CU, considering all the struggles the program has had stopping the run, especially since Deion Sanders took over.
Not bad for being small. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/sPkMo7kDE9
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 6, 2026
It was a different Colorado defense Thursday night. Whether that was new defensive coordinator Chris Marve, a new crop of players, a new attitude, or a mix of all three, it was very apparent that steps had been taken to get the unit back on the right track.
Improvements are still needed, as the pass rush, aside from Lester, was virtually nonexistent. This lack of pressure will not be effective against some of the better quarterbacks in the Big 12. However, CU enters Week 2 with renewed confidence on defense as they prepare to host Weber State for their home opener on Saturday, September 12.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado defensive line earns nation's top grade after Week 1
