Colorado’s Sefo Liufau plays through yet another injury in banged-up senior season

Colorado was losing 24-0 to Oklahoma State in this year’s Alamo Bowl, and in the second half, the Buffs were playing without their starting quarterback, Sefo Liufau. The signal caller was reported as not be expected to return to the game at the start of the second half, due to an ankle injury. But in the third quarter, Liufau unexpectedly returned to the field.

He was able to successfully get the Buffs on the board for the first time all night in the fourth quarter, making it a 31-8 game against Oklahoma State.

Now, this isn’t an uncommon occurrence from the quarterback — he has come back in games after sustaining injuries a lot of times this season. In Week 3, he took a helmet to the face while on the bench against Michigan, and returned to the game immediately. The shot he took came from UM’s Jabrill Peppers.

If this hit wasn’t already bad enough, Liufau sprained his ankle in the third quarter of this Michigan game. Even after the play in which he sustained the injury, he managed to throw a 70-yard touchdown pass. The injury caused him to miss the next two games against Oregon and Oregon State the following two weeks.

In November against UCLA, Liufau exited the Buffs’ game against UCLA with a neck injury, but he returned in the second half per the Los Angeles Times. He went 19-of 30-passes for 143 yards and two interceptions on the night.

Then, in the Pac-12 Championship game against Washington, Liufau was sacked and rolled up on his ankle, which caused him to leave the game.

Back-up quarterback Steven Montez entered to close out the first half, but in the second, Liufau would return. However his first two passes resulted in interceptions.

On the season, Liufau threw for 2,171 yards and 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. The numbers aren’t all that great, but you have to tip your cap to the toughness Liufau has shown throughout the season when battling injuries.