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.
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Colorado Showed The Fight Fans Wanted In Big 12 Play
Colorados first Big 12 home test had the kind of edge and energy that can set a tone for a league season. The 21st-ranked Buffaloes outlasted Arizona in a five-set battle at the CU Events Center, improving to 10-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play while leaning on a balanced effort that included Ana Burilovics aces and kills and a team-wide push after losing two sets.
Jesse Mahoney had to like the response as much as the result. Colorado kept finding ways to answer when the match tightened, and that competitiveness was the clearest sign the Buffs can carry into the rest of league play, especially with the early scramble in the Big 12 already showing how thin the margin can be. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Is Treating Colorados Quarterback Drama One Surprising Way
Texas Tech is taking a notably cautious approach to Colorados quarterback situation ahead of their Week 5 matchup, with Joey McGuire saying his staff is preparing for both Julian Lewis and Isaac Wilson. For the Red Raiders, the uncertainty behind center is only part of the challenge, since McGuire pointed to Brennan Marions offense as one built around the run game and designed to stress defenses before it ever opens up the passing attack.
That leaves Texas Tech focused on the basics it can control, starting with stopping the run and staying disciplined when Colorado leans into play action. McGuires message was clear enough: the quarterback picture may still be unsettled, but the Buffs offense can still punish a defense that loses its eye discipline, and that is the part Texas Tech has to be ready for. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Locksley Is Suddenly In A Conversation Maryland Fans Dread
The early part of the 2026 college football season has already turned into a stress test for several high-profile head coaches, and Mike Locksley has found himself mentioned in the same uneasy breath as a few others whose programs expected more. Marylands recent losses have put added scrutiny on the job security conversation, especially with buyout figures now part of every postgame discussion and every bad Saturday carrying extra weight for athletic departments trying to decide how long patience should last.
For Colorado fans, this kind of pressure is familiar in a broader sense because Deion Sanders has been part of the same national conversation about expectations, results and what happens when a season starts to wobble. Around the sport, coaches have begun taking responsibility in different ways, but the bigger picture is unchanged: once the losses pile up, the question shifts from what a team needs next to how much longer a school can afford to wait before making a move. [Read more 🡒]