For half a game, quarterback Isaac Wilson looked like he could lead the Buffaloes to a road upset. Then for a half, he reverted to his old ways.
Colorado (2-5, 0-4 Big 12) couldn’t hang on in Stillwater, Okla., losing 57-24 to the Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-2, 3-1 Big 12). What started as a shootout ended with the Buffs running out of bullets.
Postgame, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was disappointed with the result of his team’s performance.
“This stuff hurts. 11 penalties, 84 yards, just totally undisciplined,” Sanders said. “Especially when you start disciplined, and you're going tit for tat.”
To begin the game, Colorado’s defense gave up a score in three plays. After that, Wilson and the Buffs offense kicked things off with a 12-play drive that resulted in a JaQuail Smith receiving touchdown. With the momentum, the Buffs offense looked poised to carry on its success from last weekend. That wouldn’t last.
Defensively, the secondary struggled, and continued mistakes hurt them early. Although they gave up two passing touchdowns, the Buffs also forced three first-half field goals, giving their offense chances.
At halftime, Colorado held a 24-23 lead, with Wilson having gone 14-of-16, for 222 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and zero turnovers. The game was in their hands, and the opportunity was there.
However, while the flames burned early for Wilson and the offense, the fire would die out just as fast.
When the two teams returned from halftime, Wilson fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, setting up OSU in prime real estate. They capitalized with a quick touchdown and never looked back. That would begin the onslaught from Poke’s QB Drew Mestemaker and the continued disaster of the Buffs’ team as a whole.
“When adversity hit, right after halftime, we didn't handle it whatsoever,” Sanders said. “It just snowballed.”
Wilson ultimately added two more interceptions in the second half, and the offense would remain scoreless for two quarters. Wilson finished 19-of-27 for 280 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble before being replaced by freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne in the fourth quarter.
Receivers Jospeh Williams (nine recpetions, 135 yards) and DeAndre Moore Jr. (106 yards, one touchdown) were two bright spots of the day continuing to be great targets.
Unfortunately, the run game never got going, with Colorado managing a measly 56 total yards on 30 attempts.
Smith was the only back outside of Damian Henderson II to receive a carry, and led the team with 39 of those yards. After a stellar first half, the Buffs offense vanished.
On the other sideline, Mestemaker had a field day against Colorado’s secondary.
He finished 21-of-36 for 386 yards and four passing touchdowns. The Cowboys had just as much success on the ground, with running back Caleb Hawkins going for 120 rushing yards and a score.
Altogether, the Buffs’ defense gave up 598 total yards of offense to OSU, and they allowed a score on 11/13 of the Cowboys’ drives. The Buffs had no answer for what they saw. The Pokes didn’t turn the ball over and overcame the early scoring from CU, showing why they are a top team in the Big 12 Conference.
Now on a five-game losing skid, the Buffs will return home to face Kansas State next Saturday.
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