Boulder, Colo. ? Forget, for a moment, that the division they played in was so bad last season that it actually triggered a brief discussion about getting rid of divisions in the Big 12 Conference.

And forget, for a moment, that the coach was about one step away from losing his job before he rallied and was named the league’s coach of the year.

Forget all that – and so much more – and it’s not so hard to believe what many experts do: The Colorado Buffaloes have a solid program and a decent foundation. They are favorites to defend their Big 12 North title, and coach Gary Barnett is the guy who can get it done.

“We’ve had a great, great summer,” Barnett said. “I can’t remember when I’ve seen a team in better condition than our team reported in.”

Physical condition is only half the story at CU.

Last year was a mess off the field.

Distracted by the investigation into a recruiting scandal – the remnants of which have yet to disappear completely – Colorado started 1-4 in the conference, then won three of four to earn a trip to the Big 12 title game and win a bowl game, none of which could have been expected from a program under such duress.

Most of the players from that team – most notably, quarterback Joel Klatt, tight end Joe Klopfenstein and cornerback Lorenzo Sims – have returned.

The good news is, those players have experience, and no one else in the Big 12 North is perceived to have made huge strides in the offseason.

The bad news is, Colorado lost by a combined score of 73-10 to Oklahoma and Texas of the Big 12 South last season – including 42-3 to the Sooners in the conference title game.

In other words, the Buffaloes are nowhere close to the best in the conference, and, hampered by recruiting restrictions and defections that occurred when the scandal began, they have a way to go to close that massive gap.

Barnett said things were more promising on the recruiting trail than one might guess.

“Most of the questions have occurred outside the athletic realm,” he said. “So, it’s a lot different this year than it was a year ago. We’ve been received very well. Recruiting, you can’t tell where it’s going to go, but we have had some commitments. Everything is a lot better than it was last year.”

This year’s roster already is set, and the Buffs suffered some setbacks in summer practice, losing receiver Blake Mackey, cornerback Terrence Wheatley and tailback Brandon Caesar to injuries – a bad start for a team that can’t afford to lose many players.

A lot will ride on Klatt. He threw for 2,065 yards and nine touchdowns last year – numbers that were down from 2003 – being victimized, in part, by a receiving corps with a tendency to drop balls.

“The majority of them happened in the first half of the season,” Klatt said. “Our wide receiver corps played well the second half. They got more detailed. I think that will show up this year with this group.”

With Mackey gone, the Buffs will rely on senior Evan Judge and a big group of sophomores, including Dusty Sprague and Alvin Barnett.

Caesar was supposed to compete for Bobby Purify’s spot at running back, but now that he is injured, Lawrence Vickers looks like the man.

Klopfenstein is considered one of the best tight ends in the country. He caught 28 passes last year, four for touchdowns.

Possibly Colorado’s strongest positions are kicker and punter, where Mason Crosby and John Torp both return from stellar seasons.