A disputed hit on Colorado wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. quickly became the focal point in the Buffaloes’ game against Baylor, with the first-half tackle by Baylor linebacker Travion Barnes sending Moore to the turf and leaving him down for an extended stretch.
On replay, the contact appeared to be helmet-to-helmet, but officials did not flag the play for targeting. Moore was eventually helped off the field, and the discussion around the sequence only grew from there.
The key issue is whether Barnes’ hit met the standard for targeting, since helmet-to-helmet contact by itself does not automatically trigger the penalty. Officials also have to weigh the defender’s action and the full nature of the collision.
Colorado’s bigger concern, though, was Moore’s condition. He was officially ruled out at the top of the third quarter, and the team will be waiting for updates after the game.
Moore has been a major piece of Colorado’s passing game this season. He came into Saturday with 15 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown across the Buffaloes’ first three games, and he had emerged as one of quarterback Julian Lewis’ top options.
That makes his status especially important as Colorado opens Big 12 play. Moore arrived at Colorado with strong praise from offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, and there was plenty of optimism from the staff and fan base about what he could bring to the offense this year.
The Buffaloes were already dealing with some thinness at receiver and tight end. They entered the Baylor game without star wide receiver Danny Sucdero, who has missed multiple games with a foot injury, and tight end Zach Atkins was also injured against Baylor on Saturday.
Colorado also went into the matchup trying to bounce back from its loss against Northwestern. Moore’s playmaking had been one of the ways the Buffaloes could build more rhythm on offense, and his injury adds another layer of uncertainty.
By halftime, Colorado trailed 10-3, and the Buffaloes made a quarterback change, starting Isaac Wilson over Julian Lewis in the second half.
For now, the targeting debate will keep circulating, but Colorado’s attention is squarely on Moore’s health. How soon he can return is still unknown, and his name will be watched closely on the Buffaloes’ weekly availability reports.
In Other News...
Baylor Opened Big 12 Play With A Win And A Bigger Debate
Baylor opened Big 12 play with a 23-13 win over Colorado, stretching its winning streak to three games and getting DJ Lagway back on the field after his ankle injury. Even so, it was the kind of victory that left plenty to sort through. The defense did enough to tilt the game, creating pressure, recording sacks and coming away with a fumble recovery, while the offense had a harder time finding its footing behind penalties and inconsistency.
Dave Aranda has made the search for a cleaner performance a recurring theme, and this one fit that bill again. Baylor completed less than half its passes and never got the rushing attack rolling the way it wanted, which is why the margin of victory felt a little different from the final score. The Bears got the result they needed, but the bigger question now is how much better this group can look once the offense settles in around a quarterback still working through that ankle issue. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Finally Got A Big 12 Win But One Debate Isnt Over
Baylor finally broke through in Big 12 play with a win over Colorado, and there was plenty to like about how it happened. The Bears got impact work from across the roster, with the defense piling up five sacks, 13 tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while special teams added a spark through McGowans seven punt returns for 139 yards. Gavin Freeman also chipped in with six catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, giving the offense a much-needed complement on a day when the game never felt like it belonged to just one phase.
DJ Lagways first home game added another layer to the conversation. He completed 19 of 39 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, but his mobility looked limited after the ankle injury, which leaves Baylor with a decision to sort through even after the win. The result mattered most in the standings, but the bigger question now is how the Bears balance what they need from Lagway with what he can realistically provide as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Gets A Rare Shot To Impress A Quarterback In Waco
Colorado will get a chance to make its case in a setting it does not fully control when three-star quarterback recruit Cayden Dixon is expected to attend the Buffaloes game against Baylor as a Bears visitor in Waco. Dixon already has offers from both programs, and the matchup gives Colorado a live setting to keep building a relationship with a quarterback it would like to evaluate more closely.
Deion Sanders has repeatedly framed Colorados recruiting pitch around fit rather than rankings, and Dixons visit puts that approach under a brighter spotlight. Even with Baylor handling the itinerary, the Buffaloes still have an opportunity to leave an impression in person, which is exactly the sort of small but meaningful opening that can matter in a recruitment this early. [Read more 🡒]