The Colorado Buffaloes’ Big 12 opener against Baylor ended in a tough 23-13 loss in Waco, but the real story emerged at halftime when Head Coach Deion Sanders made a game-changing quarterback decision. With Colorado trailing 10-3, Sanders benched Julian Lewis and turned to Isaac Wilson, a move that ignited a brief spark but ultimately couldn’t turn the tide.
The QB Switch That Almost Was
Wilson, stepping in under pressure, led a massive 95-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Williams that stunningly tied the game at 13 with 11:04 left in the fourth quarter. It was a gutsy call by Coach Prime to pull Lewis, and he owned it completely. “It was a decision I made because I was trying to get us going,” Sanders stated, adding, “I’ll take the responsibility. We got to score. We got to score some points.” He even noted Wilson “came in a little shaky, nervous. Then he calmed down a little bit and got us down the field. Did his job.” Coach Prime’s message to Wilson was clear: “you don’t have to be the man. Just get the ball to the man, and we’re good. Because we got some guys.” Unfortunately, Baylor answered that tying score with a go-ahead touchdown of their own before adding a 54-yard field goal, sealing Colorado’s fate. The Buffaloes now sit at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Injuries Mounting, Frustration Building
Beyond the scoreboard, the injury report added to the pain. Linebacker Tyler Martinez went down hard, leaving the game with two tackles and later seen in a walking boot and on crutches. Coach Prime didn’t mince words about the severity. “He’s down. I don’t know about for the season, but he’s down.” He even mentioned Martinez telling him, “You’re going to have to pull me off the field” just last night, showing the kind of warrior spirit they’re losing. Wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. also left late in the second quarter after a brutal hit, a play that had fans yelling about a missed targeting call. Still, Moore showed incredible grit, telling the sideline, “You’re not bringing out a cart. I’m getting up and walking off.” Coach Prime admired that fight: “That’s why he has an L on the shirt. He’s one of the leaders amongst the team.” With injuries piling up and the scoreboard not reflecting their belief, Coach Prime summed up the team’s growing frustration perfectly. “We’re better than this,” he said, acknowledging last week’s “tremendous letdown” against Northwestern. He stressed, “It seems as though we’re better than our opponents, but the score does not dictate that.”
Falling to 0-1 in conference play is a tough pill to swallow for Colorado, especially after a mid-game QB switch couldn’t seal the deal. With a 2-2 overall record, Coach Prime’s words about being “better than this” set a clear expectation. The Buffaloes need to find a way to make the score reflect their confidence, and fast, if they want to climb out of this early hole.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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