If the Colorado Buffaloes are going to extract a measure of respectability from this season -- an opportunity that still exists -- they need to start from square one tonight.

Granted, Texas` Royal Memorial Stadium isn`t the ideal place to begin anew. Ditto for a matchup with the nation`s No. 2 team, a group that has visions of a national title dancing in their heads. Oddsmakers say the burnt orange will leave the Buffs burnt to a crisp, with the Longhorns installed as robust 33-point favorites.

But despite their disappointing 1-3 start, despite the tumult that swirls around the program, Dan Hawkins` Buffs still have plenty to play for in their final eight games.

The Buffs are 0-0 in the Big 12. That means the chance to make a dent in the Big 12 North standings is within their grasp. It means a chance to improve, the chance to establish something resembling consistency and continuity remains.

And it means they need to begin heading that direction in a hurry.

Nobody outside of the Buffs` locker room is expecting Colorado to win tonight (did we mention the 33-point spread)? The generalconsensus among CU fans is that a respectable showing -- i.e., anything north of the point spread -- would be a start.

I`d like to see more than that. I`d like to see the Buffs make a game of it. Make the Longhorns sweat, at least a little. And it`s not an impossible task.

The Longhorns aren`t perfect. In a 34-24 win over Texas Tech, UT quarterback Colt McCoy did throw a pair of interceptions. The Longhorns finished that game with just 205 yards passing and an additional 135 on the ground.

Simply, UT`s offense can be at least interrupted. Colorado needs to make sure it takes advantage of every opportunity that presents itself in that regard.

Neither is UT`s defense impenetrable. Texas Tech did rack up 420 yards passing against UT, and the Red Raiders did it without chucking the long ball.

Instead, they took their time with short passes. Five different Tech receivers caught at least five passes in the game, and each had at least 59 yards receiving -- but the longest completion of the day was a mere 33 yards. Most of the completions were in the 10-12 yard range.

I`d love to see the Buffs follow a similar strategy. Short passes to their best athletes and let those receivers pick up yards after the catch.

This, of course, would require CU`s coaching staff to modify its strategy. For whatever reason, the Buffs have not been able to consistently put the ball in the hands of the players who have the best chance of picking up yards after the catch. Receivers such as Markques Simas and Andre Simmons and utility-back Brian Lockridge have had precious few touches.

Part of the reason is that they`ve been the target of long balls -- Simas and Simmons in particular. CU needs to change that strategy and let quarterback Cody Hawkins shorten the field. Dink and dunk. Put CU`s best athletes in space and let them make plays. Get them involved.

Do that enough, and it might give the Buffs a little room to run. Make Texas` secondary and linebackers respect the short passing game, and they might back off just a little in run support -- enough, anyway, that Rodney Stewart and Darrell Scott could at least make a little headway.

But truth is, even if the Buffs put forth their best effort of the year, it almost certainly won`t be enough to beat Texas. After all, it was just 10 days ago that they played what Hawkins called their best game of the year thus far, and it resulted in a 10-point loss to West Virginia.

This is, however, a chance for the Buffs to do some good things against one of the best teams in the nation. It`s a chance to prove to themselves that they can compete.

If they can do that, the Big 12 season does not have to be a waste.