Colorado heads into its Big 12 opener with a mixed injury picture, and the Buffaloes are still dealing with more absences than Baylor. The Bears will be down three defensive players and two offensive players, while Colorado is trying to get a few bodies back after a rough first three weeks.
The biggest concern for the Buffs remains the players who still can’t go. Scudero is out again, which stings after the preseason buzz around him and his brief return against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Charlie Williams is also unavailable, and that’s a real hit because he had emerged as the pass-catching tight end Colorado wanted over the first three games.
Colorado has also been without Gerlach since Week 1, when he was the placekicker against the Yellow Jackets. Elliot Arnold has handled that job well enough in his absence, so that loss should not loom as large as some of the others.
Henderson, though, is the one that could change how Colorado has to play. He is the Buffaloes’ third-leading rusher through three games and gives the offense a physical edge in the backfield. If he’s out, Colorado would have to lean on smaller running backs and get creative in short-yardage situations.
Payne’s absence is another one to watch. He was off to a strong start as a freshman, even earning a spot at coach Deion Sanders’ leadership retreat during the summer. This matchup would have been a useful early test against quality competition, even if the injury is not expected to linger.
There are also several names Colorado would prefer to keep available right up until kickoff. Smith delivered his breakout against the Northwestern Wildcats, rushing for 91 yards and averaging 11.4 yards per carry in the loss.
Gooden has been a two-way anchor on the offensive and defensive line, and Sanders has praised him repeatedly this season. He’s expected to matter in slowing Baylor’s pass rush, just as Bell is after his strong Week 1 showing against the Yellow Jackets.
At tight end, the Buffs need Atkins and Clements to stay available with Williams already ruled out. If either goes down, Colorado would have to turn to freshman tight ends and ask them to produce immediately on a stage like the Big 12 opener. That’s a spot the Buffaloes would rather avoid putting themselves in.
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Baylor Just Showed Why Its Big 12 Push Is So Dangerous
Baylors home conference opener at Betty Lou Mays Field had the feel of an early Big 12 test, and the Bears answered it well. After Oklahoma State struck first through Laudan Wilson, Baylor settled in and turned the match with goals from Aryanna Jimison and Noelle Sather, then backed it up with a clear edge in pressure and possession.
The Bears finished with a 19-9 shot advantage and got four saves from goalkeeper Azul Alvarez to help protect the lead. It was the kind of conference win that can travel well, especially for a team trying to establish itself quickly in a league where every result tends to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Aranda And Baylor Enter A Game They Cannot Afford To Lose
Baylor heads into its matchup with Colorado in a spot that feels pretty straightforward on paper but carries real weight in the standings. Analysts are leaning toward the Bears because Colorado has struggled lately and has dealt with plenty of its own issues, but the bigger question for Dave Arandas team is whether it can finally put together a complete performance against quality opposition. The offensive line and quarterback play figure to be central to that effort, especially with Baylor still looking for its first win over a Power 4 opponent this season.
A victory would do more than quiet any doubts about the Bears direction. It would give Baylor a much-needed boost in the postseason picture and help validate a team that has spent much of the year trying to turn solid expectations into results. The challenge is less about the betting line and more about handling the pressure of a game Baylor is expected to win, because slipping here would leave the Bears with even less margin as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor's Biggest Colorado Worry Could Decide More Than The Opener
Safety Devin Turners expected return gives Baylor another layer in the secondary, which is a welcome development as the Bears get ready for Colorado. That area looks like one of the more stable parts of the roster, with enough experience and playmaking to help Baylor match up on the back end while the offense sorts through its own early-season questions.
The bigger concern is up front, where the line has to handle both run blocking and pass protection against a Colorado defense that will test it in different ways. Baylor has pieces in the passing game to lean on, including Gavin Freeman, Louis Brown IV, Jayden McGowan and Drelon Miller, the Colorado transfer who adds an extra wrinkle to this opener. If the line settles in, the Bears can make that group matter quickly, but if it does not, the matchup could become more complicated than a simple first-game warmup. [Read more 🡒]