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The Colorado Buffaloes are without their best defensive player vs. the California Golden Bears. Isaiah Oliver left last Saturday’s game against Washington State with a lower leg injury and never returned. He was expected to be back in the lineup today as a game-time decision, but was ruled out shorty before the noon kickoff.
Oliver was named to the All-Pac-12 mid-season first-team with a total of 20 tackles, nine pass deflections and two interceptions. Trey Udoffia will get the start in place of Oliver with Dante Wigley playing the opposite cornerback position. Ronnie Blackmon will be moved into the backup role and could get some playing time in the rotation against the Bears.
Oliver, the Goodyear, Arizona native, could return to play in his home state next week at Arizona State (7 pm MT/ TV: Pac-12N).