For the Colorado football team to have much success in 2024, it was clear that the defense was going to need to pull its weight.

So far, that group has done just that, helping the Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Big 12), who are on a bye this week, to bowl eligibility before November.

“We talked about it all year, not being the little brother, the stepchild to our offense, which is obviously dynamic,” defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said.

Hired in February after more than a decade with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, Livingston had never been a coordinator but was brought in to CU to fix a defense that gave up 34.8 points per game in 2023, ranking 124th out of 133 teams in the FBS.

CU has sliced that to 22.0 points per game (tied for 47th), and no team has put up more than 31 against the Buffs.

“I’m happy with who we have, what we have — the staff, the players that we brought in,” head coach Deion Sanders said after CU’s 34-23 win against Cincinnati last Saturday. “I’m truly happy with all of the above. And you guys and you ladies are starting to see everything come together. But we’re not nearly where we desire to be, not nearly.”

Sanders had never worked with Livingston but got glowing recommendations from several people he trusts.

“Who validated him, shoot, that’s a no-brainer,” Sanders said.

Further validation has come from CU’s players and coaches this year.

“I love his energy. He brings energy every day,” defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo said recently. “Having him around is just exciting. It makes you want to play for him. It makes you want to just go to work and attack every day.”

Perhaps what endears Livingston most to those around him is that he deflects all credit to the players and the other assistants.

“It started with just the players — who you have, who are shooters, who are guys that can impact the game,” he said. “You want to get your best players in positions to be successful and just kind of grow it that way. It’s a testament to the staff. They were already here. They knew the guys. They knew how they learned. So we weren’t behind the 8-ball that way.

“All the success that we’ve had, it should go to our staff and to our players. Anything where we screw up, it’s all my fault. That’s kind of how we view it. And it’s been a fun year. We hope to keep it rolling.”

If Livingston is taking blame for mistakes, there haven’t been many.

CU’s on pace to allow 22 points or less per game for just the second time since 1999 (the 2016 team allowed 21.7 points per game). Since 2010, only the 2016 team (342.5) allowed fewer yards per game than this year’s defense (364.6).

One of the most impressive numbers is the 6.5 points per game the Buffs are allowing after halftime.

The Buffs are doing it with a balanced defense that has an exceptional secondary, skilled pass rushers and linebackers making timely plays.

“These guys are hungry,” Livingston said. “They want to play. Give them a chance, and they’ll make the play for you.”

CU leads the Big 12 in sacks (22) and tackles for loss (53), and the Buffs are second-best in the conference in getting stops on third down and in the red zone.

With a month left in the regular season, however, the defense will be critical to the Buffs making a run at the Big 12 championship game. When they return to action on Nov. 9, they’ll face a Texas Tech team leading the Big 12 in scoring (38.1 per game).

The Buffs will also face some of the Big 12’s best running backs in each of the next four games.

“Each week, we gotta stop the run,” Livingston said. “There’s been some good weeks, there’s been some bad weeks.”

If the Buffs can stop the run and get to the quarterback, “You should feel pretty good about life,” Livingston said.

Consistency will be another key as the Buffs strive to continue their good run on defense down the stretch.

“I think we still kind of live on this roller coaster: great play, bad play, great play,” he said. “Let’s just live kind of right here in the middle.

“I’m excited. Again it’s a testament to the guys. There’s a great look in their eyes. Success breeds that. Let’s not lie to each other. So let’s finish it off. Now let’s finish it off. Let’s show the world that we are who we say we are, and go finish this thing.”