Colorado’s slide in the Big 12 standings has been swift, and the latest loss only makes the picture look worse.
After opening 2-0, the Buffaloes are back at .500 following a 23-13 defeat to Baylor in their Big 12 opener. That result lands them in a brutal spot with two ranked opponents looming, and it’s hard to argue there’s a team in the conference dealing with more issues right now.
No sugarcoating it: the Buffaloes are the worst team in the Big 12 as it stands. Injuries, penalties and turnovers have dragged down a revamped roster that has looked flat through four games. The ‘Go-Go’ offense has fallen flat on its face against Power Four opponents, and the Buffs’ opponents’ domination of time of possession has worn down the defense.
Even in the Baylor game, Colorado had some depth show up at receiver, but that was about the extent of the bright spots. For most of the afternoon, the Bears had control. Add in a recently rekindled quarterback controversy, and there just isn’t much going right for Deion Sanders and company.
At the top of the latest Big 12 power rankings, Utah stayed put after a 31-17 win at Iowa State. The Utes looked dominant against a solid Cyclones team in Week 4, and their defense, led by linebackers Trey Reynolds and Elijah Elliss, has been the best in the Big 12, allowing just 10.5 points per game.
Texas Tech also held steady after a 49-14 win over Sam Houston. The Bearkats hung around with the Red Raiders longer than they probably should have, but Texas Tech put together a shutout in the second half to keep its undefeated record intact.
Cincinnati made one of the biggest statements of the week, beating Kansas State 31-26. The Bearcats proved themselves as legitimate Big 12 championship contenders, and their rushing attack of Gi’Bran Payne and Cole Tabb is one of the best in the conference. That ground game could carry them toward a Cinderella conference title appearance.
Oklahoma State continued its climb after a 41-24 win at West Virginia. The Cowboys have completed their rebound from an ugly Week 1 loss, and quarterback Drew Mestemaker is as advertised. With an elite offense, they’re looking like a real threat in the Big 12 race.
Houston, meanwhile, took a step backward despite beating Georgia Southern 42-28. The Cougars allowed 28 points to a 1-2 Georgia Southern team, which is disappointing for a squad ranked in the AP Top 25. Their defense needs a major rebound before conference play really starts to hit weekly.
Kansas State’s ranking took a hit after its 31-26 loss at Cincinnati, but the Wildcats still looked strong. Avery Johnson kept his hot start rolling, and as long as he keeps playing at that level, Kansas State will be in business.
Baylor’s 23-13 win over Colorado came with some rough edges, especially the 10 penalties for 84 yards. Still, the Bears made the plays that mattered, converting 6-of-17 third downs on their way to a 10-point victory.
Behind them, Arizona State continued to lean on offense after a 34-24 win at Washington State. The Wildcats’ defense has been the concern, though, giving up 24 points to a struggling Washington State team just two weeks after allowing 28 in a loss to BYU. The offense has carried a lot of the load, and whether that’s sustainable remains to be seen.
West Virginia’s loss to Oklahoma State exposed some problems after an encouraging start. The Mountaineers’ run game looked strong again, but they couldn’t get much going through the air. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. had his first rough outing of the season, and the rest of the team unraveled around him.
UCF also picked up a narrow win, taking down TCU 21-14. The Knights showed they can win ugly, leaning on the run game again to outlast the Horned Frogs. There’s still plenty to clean up, especially with turnovers, but the result got the job done.
TCU stayed competitive until the end, but two interceptions from quarterback Jaden Craig proved costly. The Horned Frogs were right there until the final whistle, and as Craig becomes less shaky at the FBS level, the team should improve with him.
Iowa State rounds out the group after getting hammered by Utah, 31-17. Home-field advantage didn’t do much for the Cyclones, and Jaylen Raynor’s two interceptions were backbreakers. The defense also couldn’t slow Utah’s run game, leaving plenty for Iowa State to fix as Big 12 play rolls on.
In Other News...
Baylors Close Win Revealed Who Carried The Offense And Who Didnt
Baylors first in-conference test turned into the kind of game that forces a hard look at where the offense really came from, and who was asked to do too much. DJ Lagway led the way for the Bears in the home matchup, piling up 221 passing yards and 116 rushing yards while helping push the offense to 23 points. He also hit Jadon Porter on a 33-yard touchdown pass, one of the few plays that consistently gave Baylor breathing room.
The bigger picture for Baylor was less about style points than survival, even against a Colorado team that went to Julian Lewis after halftime. Dawson Pendergrass added 85 yards on 16 carries, giving the Bears a steadier ground presence, but the game still underscored how much the offense ran through Lagway. For a team trying to settle into conference play, the win answered one question and left another hanging about how sustainable that formula will be. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Already Have One Big Reason To Debate DJ Lagway
Baylors quarterback picture has already become one of the more interesting storylines of the season, even before the Bears have had much time to settle it. DJ Lagway opened as the starter, then missed two games with a right ankle injury, and Nate Bennett stepped in and won both of those starts. That kind of fill-in success can change the way a fan base talks about a position, especially when the team has now seen two different answers under center.
Lagway is still expected to stay in the job once hes healthy, and his contract status is part of why the Bears are likely to keep leaning that way. Still, Bennetts brief run gave Baylor supporters a real alternative to compare against, which is exactly how quarterback debates start to take on a life of their own. The Bears may have an answer for now, but the conversation around it is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Has A Red-Zone Concern Fans Cant Ignore
Baylors trip into the red zone against Colorado looked productive on the surface, but the finish told a different story. The Bears got there five times and came away with three touchdowns, a drop-off that stood out as their lowest red-zone touchdown rate of the season and a reminder that moving the ball and cashing in are not always the same thing.
DJ Lagways return from injury added another layer to the conversation. The starting quarterback was back on the field, but his limited mobility was noticeable and he missed several open receivers, which affected how the offense was called. Dave Aranda said Lagways health shaped the game plan, and Baylor will be watching closely to see whether further rehabilitation can help him operate more freely in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]