Colorado just got absolutely smacked, losing 29-7 to No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday night, and head coach Deion Sanders’ big gamble on backup quarterback Isaac Wilson blew up in his face. It was a brutal second half that saw the Buffaloes’ early momentum completely evaporate.
Momentum Crushed: From Opening Drive Touchdown to Halftime Lead Melt
Sanders decided to shake things up, putting Wilson in to start over Julian Lewis, who had been the starter. And for a minute, it looked like a genius move! Wilson led the Buffaloes right down the field on the opening drive, hitting Joseph Williams for an eight-yard touchdown. Colorado was up 7-3 at halftime, and you had to wonder if Sanders had found his guy.
This wasn’t Wilson’s first time seeing action this season. He played a bit in a blowout win against Weber State, and then he actually came in for Lewis at halftime last week in that tough 10-point loss to Baylor. He finished that Baylor game with 156 yards and a touchdown, and that, plus how he practiced, was apparently enough to convince Sanders to give him the keys against Texas Tech. Wilson is in his first season at Colorado, having started his college career at Utah, and he entered this season as the No. 2 guy behind Lewis. Lewis, through four games and a 2-2 start, had put up 733 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Sanders wanted a spark, but what he got was a whole different kind of fire.
Three Interceptions and the Shortest Pick-Six You’ll Ever See
The second half was a complete disaster. Wilson threw three second-half interceptions, completely derailing any chance Colorado had. Texas Tech didn’t just pull off a comeback; they extended their lead to double digits by the fourth quarter. It wasn’t just Wilson either; they tried a trick play early in the second half and wide receiver Joseph Williams threw an interception too. Yikes.
Wilson’s night was perfectly summed up by his third pick. The Red Raiders had downed a punt at the 1-yard line, basically pinning the Buffaloes to their own goal line. Instead of trying to run it out or just take the safety if needed, Wilson scrambled and tried to force a pass. It got picked off in the end zone for an instant pick-six! Just like that, from the one-yard line, a touchdown for the opponent. Wilson finished the loss 26 of 44 passing for 292 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. He did add 40 yards on 17 carries, but those turnovers killed them. To add insult to injury, he took a hard hit with just 14 seconds left, forcing freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne to come in for the final snap.
Now, with a week off, Deion Sanders has a massive decision staring him down. Does he stick with Wilson after that nightmare, or does Julian Lewis get another shot? The Buffaloes face Utah on October 17, and whoever’s under center better be ready, because this team needs a serious shake-up.
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.
Leave a Reply