Even without playing a game this past weekend, the Colorado Buffaloes moved up in the national rankings.

On Sunday, the Buffs moved up two spots to No. 21 in the latest Associated Press Top 25. The Buffs (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) also entered the US LBM Coaches’ poll for the first time, at No. 24.

This is just the second time in the last 19 seasons that CU has been ranked among the top 25 this late in a season (also in 2016).

CU, which will visit Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2) on Saturday in Lubbock, Texas (2 p.m. MT, Fox), is now hoping to be among the top 25 when the first College Football Playoff rankings are revealed Tuesday night. The CFP rankings will help to determine which teams make the 12-team playoff in December.

The Buffs, led by head coach Deion Sanders, have won two in a row and five of their last six and head into this week looking to keep the momentum going. That process started by taking advantage of the bye week.

“The self-scout is a big part of (the bye week),” defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said last week. “You look around college football, see what’s good, what’s bad, people you respect, and then get a head start on Texas Tech.”

This was CU’s second bye of the season. They went into the first one on a three-game winning streak and came out of it and lost to Kansas State, 31-28, at home on Oct. 12.

“I think when you have two bye weeks and the first one doesn’t go great, you want to shape some things up,” Livingston said. “So it’s a credit to the staff and to the players, and we’re just excited to get going.”

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur also looked in the mirror at what the Buffs could do better on that side of the ball.

“Places I’ve been in the past, we’ve had good success after the bye,” he said. “We fought a close game the last time against Kansas State, and lost it at the end. But byes can be very productive if you approach it the right way.”

Enjoying opportunity

Livingston said he is “forever indebted” to Sanders and athletic director Rick George for giving him “a chance when they didn’t have to.”

So far, Livingston has thrived in his first year as a coordinator after a dozen years working with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

“I can’t thank them enough,” he said. “It’s a great staff. It’s a great group of guys. It’s just been a lot of fun. I spring out of work to come here. I mean, it’s phenomenal. We love this city. We love everything about it. Just blessed to be here and trying to make the most of it.”

Livingston added this his wife and children “love it” in Boulder, as well.

“It’s hard not to love it,” he said. “We’ve got a young family. We’ve embraced it. The community is great. Their school is great. So just, it’s a blessing to be here.

Staub developing

Other than a few plays late in blowout games, the Buffs haven’t used backup quarterback Ryan Staub. The redshirt freshman is learning and developing, though, behind starter Shedeur Sanders.

“I think he’s done really well,” Shurmur said. “We saw a little taste of what he could do last year against Utah. I think he’s had a really good off season, and I do see him getting better each week.”

As a backup, Staub doesn’t get nearly as many reps in practice as Shedeur, but Shurmur said he likes how Staub has improved.

“One of the superpowers that a backup quarterback needs to be able to have is that you’re going to go in and execute in really a tough situation, because your starter’s out, and do it well with very few reps,” Shurmur said. “I think he’s starting to master that. And then his development as just an overall quarterback, day after day after day, I think he gets better and better.”

Staub is 0-for-3 passing on the season, but went 17-for-24 for 195 yards and a touchdown in his lone start, Nov. 25, 2023, at Utah.