A devastating 34-0 second-half collapse sealed Colorado’s fate on Saturday, turning a promising one-point halftime lead into a crushing 57-24 road loss against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Buffaloes, entering as staggering 13.5-point underdogs, looked poised for an upset, but offensive turnovers and a total defensive breakdown allowed Oklahoma State to completely run away with it after the break.
A First Half That Promised So Much More
Colorado actually showed up in the first half, battling hard and even taking a 24-23 lead into the locker room. The Buffaloes were on fire early, scoring on each of their first two possessions in the first quarter. Quarterback Isaac Wilson found running back JaQuail Smith for a short touchdown pass, then hit DeAndre Moore Jr. on a 15-yard shotgun pass, putting them up 14-7. Wilson wasn’t just throwing, either; he added a rushing touchdown in the second quarter and helped set up a field goal that gave Colorado that narrow lead at halftime. Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker was doing his thing, too, hitting Justin Bowick for a 14-yard score and putting up three field goals, but the Buffaloes were right there. It felt like something special could be brewing.
The Second-Half Nightmare Unfolds
Then the second half started, and it was like a completely different team showed up for Colorado. Oklahoma State absolutely erupted, outscoring the Buffaloes 14-0 in the third quarter alone to grab a 37-24 lead. Mestemaker tossed another touchdown pass, and William Mason added a rushing score. The Cowboys’ defense, which looked shaky in the first half, cranked it up big time. They picked off Wilson at their own 30-yard line and then forced a fumble from the Colorado quarterback, returning it deep into Buffaloes territory. Colorado’s struggles just spiraled in the fourth quarter, giving up two more field goals, yet another Mestemaker touchdown pass, and another rushing score. Wilson added to his costly night with a third turnover, throwing another interception as Oklahoma State just kept piling on the points, pulling away for the win.
A Season On a Familiar, Rough Track
This loss drops Colorado to a grim 0-4 in Big 12 play and 2-5 overall. They just can’t seem to find a win in conference action. It feels a lot like last season, when the Buffaloes finished 3-9. Remember 2024? That was Colorado’s last winning season, going 9-4 with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter leading the offense. This team is clearly not that team. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State improves to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, adding to a season that already includes a marquee win over the No. 6 Oregon Ducks. Talk about a tale of two halves, and a tale of two seasons so far. Colorado will look to turn things around when they host the Kentucky State Wildcats next Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, but man, they’ve got a lot of work to do.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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