Colorado’s 20-13 loss to Baylor in its Big 12 opener wasn’t a total wipeout, but it did leave the Buffaloes with the same problem that’s followed them for much of the season: enough flashes to hang around, not enough execution to finish the job.
The good news for Colorado was that a few players clearly answered the bell. The bad news was that the offense as a whole still couldn’t put together the kind of steady performance needed to beat an FBS opponent.
On the defensive side, cornerback Boo Carter stood out as one of the day’s biggest bright spots. He kept showing the kind of physical presence Colorado wanted when it brought him in to help the secondary.
Against Baylor, Carter was active all afternoon and helped give the Buffaloes a fighting chance. That mattered even more after Colorado gave up 41 points to Northwestern the previous week.
This time, the defense at least made the game competitive, and Carter’s work in the back end was a big reason why.
Joseph Williams also gave Colorado something to build on. He came into the Baylor game as the team’s leading receiver with 234 yards through the first three games, and he added another key moment when his touchdown tied the game at 13-13 in the fourth quarter on a connection with backup quarterback Isaac Wilson.
Even with the offense sputtering around him, Williams remained the kind of receiver opposing defenses have to respect. He gave both Julian Lewis and Wilson a dependable target, and Colorado is going to need more of that going forward if it wants to turn the season around.
Then there was Quanell Farrakhan Jr., who delivered the breakout game Colorado fans had been waiting for. Farrakhan hauled in seven catches for 117 yards and averaged 16.7 yards per reception.
His first-quarter highlight came on a trick play, when he caught a 49-yard pass from Joseph Williams. That call came from offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, and it showed the kind of creativity Colorado can access with this group of receivers.
For Farrakhan, it was the kind of performance that can build real momentum heading into the next game.
But those individual wins couldn’t hide the larger issue. Colorado’s offense still hasn’t found its footing against better competition.
After putting up 52 points against Weber State, the Buffaloes have managed just seven against Northwestern and 13 against Baylor. They need more explosive plays, more sustained drives and more finishes in the end zone.
Williams and Farrakhan give them real weapons, but the offense has to find a way to get them involved consistently.
Quarterback remains the biggest question. Julian Lewis came into the season as one of the most important pieces of Colorado’s future, but his struggles continued against Baylor.
The Buffaloes eventually benched him and went to Isaac Wilson in the second half. That leaves a major question mark heading into next week.
Lewis has already shown what he can do, especially in the Weber State game when he threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns. But right now, the recent stretch has created uncertainty at the most important position on the field.
The line in front of him hasn’t helped. Colorado had trouble establishing the run and protecting the quarterback, and that lack of stability made it hard to build any rhythm against Baylor.
The offense finished with only 13 points, and the issues up front played a major role in the inability to sustain drives. It also fed directly into Lewis’ struggles.
With Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes now facing a short turnaround, the priority is obvious: get better up front, and get better fast. The passing game has pieces worth working with, but those weapons can only do so much if the quarterback doesn’t have time to operate.
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 🡒]