Dan Hawkins calls it a "watershed" game.

That's an apt description. If you want to see just how far the Colorado Buffaloes have progressed under Hawk, the third game of his third season at the helm isn't a bad place to start.

Of course, it's not just tonight's game against No. 21 West Virginia that will serve as a barometer. If you want to look at the big picture, the next four games -- all against teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 -- will be a stiff measure of just how much the Buffs have improved in Hawk's tenure.

West Virginia, Florida State, Texas and Kansas. It's a brutal stretch, and certainly one not many coaches would line up if they had their choice.

But the Buffs -- perhaps not old enough to know better -- are embracing the opportunity presented them.

The Mountaineers are the type of program the Buffs aspire to emulate. (Well, without the part where the coach bolts at the end of the year for more money, then has the audacity to try to weasel out of the contract he signed a year earlier).

West Virginia hasn't lost back-to-back games since the end of the 2004 season. Since then, they've put up a 34-6 record, played in three bowl games -- including two BCS bowls -- and finished in the top 10 three straight seasons.

That's the type of test that will tell you in a hurry if you are indeed ready to play with the big boys.

Two weeks ago, someone in this corner suggested that Colorado needed to use the Eastern Washington game as a final dress rehearsal for tonight's game.

That day, the Buffs did not look ready for prime time.

Twelve days later, the Buffs have no choice -- they'll have a national television audience to themselves against one of the nation's premier programs.

Ready or not, the Mountaineers are here, and they aren't happy. A loss to East Carolina in their last game knocked them out of the top 10, and already, new coach Bill Stewart is under fire.

In fact, rumor from back east is that the Mountaineers spent the last two weeks going back to the basics on offense in hopes of fixing some of the problems that plagued them against East Carolina.But the Buffs can't be worried about the Mountaineers' problems. The Buffs have plenty of their own, issues CU fans hope were addressed in the days since the Eastern Washington game.

Such as:

CU's defense must stay disciplined. WVU quarterback Pat White is as good as there is in the college game. If Colorado's defenders -- particularly the defensive line and linebackers -- don't stick with their assignments tonight, if they freelance and try to cut corners, White will make them pay.

A more productive running game. The Buffs' rushing attack was anemic the last time out, thanks in large part to a young CU offensive line that was exposed by a smaller but faster Eastern Washington front. Guaranteed, the Mountaineers are bigger and faster than the Eagles. Here's hoping the Buffs figure out a way to get Darrell Scott and Rodney Stewart involved from the get-go and establish some momentum.

Fewer turnovers. Last time out, the Buffs handed their opponent 14 points on a platter. Seven came on a fumble deep in CU territory, seven more came on an interception return. If Buff QB Cody Hawkins is going to direct a win tonight, he'll have to make better decisions and not put the Buffs in a hole early.

Now, here's an educated guess.

The Buffs have been pointing to this game since the end of last season. The coaches and players know this is a golden opportunity to move up a notch in the national eye, an opportunity to signal that Colorado football is moving up the ladder.

The Buffs beat Colorado State with a vanilla game plan. They survived Eastern Washington's upset bid -- barely -- with much of the same.

Don't be surprised if Hawk and his crew throw a few wrinkles on the field tonight.