Colorado heads to Stillwater with a simple mission: find a way back into the win column and make Oklahoma State work for everything.
That won’t be easy. The Buffaloes are walking into a road game as clear underdogs, and the Cowboys’ offense has been rolling for most of the year.
Oklahoma State is averaging around 37 points and 518 yards per game, numbers that tell you exactly why this matchup looks so tough on paper. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has been the engine, piling up nearly 2,000 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Colorado’s defense will have to know where he is on every snap.
Still, the Buffaloes have reason to believe they can make this interesting. Their 27-24 loss to No.
10 Utah showed they can hang with a quality opponent, and the defense kept the game within reach until the closing moments. If Colorado can bring that kind of effort again, the challenge becomes turning the Cowboys’ offense into a grind instead of a track meet.
The formula is pretty clear. Colorado needs pressure on Mestemaker, tighter coverage on the back end and much better execution on third down.
The Cowboys just dropped a 35-32 game to Houston, and that gave Colorado a little window to attack if Oklahoma State slips. The Buffaloes don’t need a perfect defensive performance.
They just need to keep the explosive plays in check and force longer drives.
If Oklahoma State stays under 30 points, Colorado has a real path to keeping this one competitive - and maybe more.
On the other side, Colorado’s offense has to build on what it did against Utah. Isaac Wilson threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns in that loss, one of the team’s more encouraging outings recently. He showed he can move the ball through the air, but the turnovers are still a problem, and that’s the kind of mistake that can bury you fast against a team that can score quickly.
There’s also a chance for Colorado to take advantage of an Oklahoma State defense that has not exactly been airtight. The Cowboys are giving up around 358 yards per game, which opens the door for the Buffaloes to find some rhythm offensively.
Joseph Williams should be a major piece of that plan. He already has 508 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and he has emerged as one of Colorado’s most productive weapons. If Wilson can get him involved, along with the rest of the receiving group, the Buffaloes could put together one of their better road performances in conference play.
The betting line reflects the challenge. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Oklahoma State as a substantial favorite, by approximately 13.5 points. The Cowboys also get the benefit of a sold-out Homecoming crowd, which only adds to the difficulty for Colorado.
Even so, the Buffaloes have shown enough lately to suggest they can keep this from getting out of hand. A 31-20 Oklahoma State win would give the Cowboys the result while allowing Colorado to cover comfortably, and it would also leave the Buffaloes with a stronger performance to build on.
Colorado still has plenty to prove, but if the defense holds up and Wilson stays efficient, this one could end up being much closer than the spread says.
In Other News...
Colorados Bowl Hopes Ride On Slowing A Big 12 Star QB
Colorados postseason picture has tightened to the point where little room is left for error, and Saturdays matchup with Oklahoma State feels like more than just another conference game. The Buffaloes are trying to stop a four-game skid, and with bowl eligibility still in play, this one carries the kind of late-season urgency that can turn every series into a referendum on the year.
A big part of the challenge is figuring out how to slow down Drew Mestemaker, a quarterback who has given Big 12 defenses problems with both his arm and his legs. Colorado knows the Cowboys can lean on him in a variety of ways, so the Buffaloes will need a disciplined rush and cleaner pressure than they have shown at times this fall. The hope is to get him uncomfortable early, because once he starts feeling heat in the backfield, the game can tilt in Colorados favor quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Could Get A Crucial Pass Rush Boost At Oklahoma State
Colorado is heading into its trip to Oklahoma State with a welcome sign of relief on the defensive front. Deion Sanders said Lamont Lester Jr. is expected to be a full participant, a notable development after the defensive lineman was limited last weekend and had already missed time because of injury earlier in the stretch. Lester has been one of the Buffaloes key pass-rushing options this season, with four sacks to his name.
The timing matters because Oklahoma State brings an offense that has been efficient through the air and tough to get to the quarterback. For Colorado, getting Lester back in a more complete role could make a real difference in how aggressively the front can attack, especially against a team that has protected the passer well. The Buffaloes have spent much of the season looking for consistent pressure, and this is the kind of matchup where one more healthy body can change the feel of the line. [Read more 🡒]
CU Buffs Defense Faces Its Biggest Test Since The Turnaround
After the loss to Northwestern, Colorado defensive coordinator Chris Marve said the biggest shift for the Buffaloes was not in the playbook but in the way they approached the game. Since then, the defense has steadied itself, giving up fewer points and creating more disruption in the backfield, a sign that the group found something it could build on rather than just react to.
Now comes a far different kind of measuring stick in Oklahoma State, a lineup that will challenge Colorados improved front and test whether the recent progress can hold up for four quarters. The Buffs are also dealing with injuries, which only adds to the difficulty, and the emphasis in Boulder has been on sustaining that defensive edge instead of letting it fade late in games. [Read more 🡒]