Colorado's defense tops the Big 12 in a major defensive category

Colorado's defense has become one of the country's more impressive units, even as the Buffaloes search for more consistency.

The Buffaloes have totaled 43 tackles for loss through five games, which is the highest total in the Big 12 and the third-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Twenty of those tackles for loss came in Colorado's past two games, showing the pressure and improvement of Chris Marve's defense at the line of scrimmage.

Colorado recorded multiple key stops during Saturday's 29-7 loss to Texas Tech at Folsom Field. Defensive lineman Santana Hopper led the way with 10 tackles and five tackles for loss, repeatedly breaking through the Red Raiders' front and forcing difficult down-and-distance situations.

Texas Tech entered the game averaging 429.5 yards per contest but finished with 315. With the secondary vastly improving, quarterback Will Hammond was held to only 134 passing yards, and the Red Raiders converted only three of 12 third-down attempts.

The Buffaloes also stopped Texas Tech twice on fourth down during the first half. Naeten Mitchell dropped J'Koby Williams for a 4-yard loss on fourth-and-1, and Gideon Lampron later stopped Quinten Joyner near Colorado's goal line.

Colorado enters the bye week at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play before hosting Utah on Oct. 17. The defense's ability to create negative plays consistently should give the Buffaloes a foundation to build on during the second half of the season.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado's defense tops the Big 12 in a major defensive category