Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre, center, leads his team in warm up exercises before the NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

UCLA Bruins (3-5, 1-4 Pac-12) vs. No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. PT, Folsom Field
TV: FS1
Radio: AM 570

Scouting report: With a veteran-laden team and a lockdown defense, Colorado is one of the biggest surprises of a Pac-12 season full of them. The Buffaloes, who haven’t played in a bowl game in nine years, are in sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South. Their one loss in conference play is to USC. Colorado entered the season with the most returning starters in the conference with 20. The team’s defense is one of the best in the conference, ranking second in points allowed per game (18.1), and first in yards allowed (307.8). The Buffaloes, coming off a bye, lead the Pac-12 in pass defense efficiency and are second in pass yards allowed (178.6). They have an FBS-leading 21-game turnover streak.

Series history: The Bruins have a 9-2 lead in the overall series with five straight wins since Colorado joined the Pac-12. Despite the lopsided overall record, the Buffaloes tested UCLA in each of the past two games. Last year, the Bruins survived 35-31 after Colorado ran 114 total plays on UCLA’s weary, injured defense. In 2014, UCLA escaped in overtime in Boulder.

Key players:

QB Sefo Liufau, Sr., 91/135, 1,179 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs

— The senior quarterback has fought through injuries this year, but is respected among his teammates for his grit and leadership. He is the second-ever three-year captain for Colorado.

LB Kenneth Olugbode, Sr., 65 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT

— Olugbode leads the team in tackles by a large margin: the second-closest Buff defender has 44.

DB Chidobe Awuzie, Sr., 36 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT

— The leader of Colorado’s impressive secondary, Awuzie is the school’s leader in sacks for a defensive back (7).