Colorado is staring at a tricky assignment on Saturday, and Deion Sanders made it clear the focus starts with Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
The Cowboys may not be ranked in the AP Top 25, but they picked up the 26th-most votes in the week 7 AP Poll, with Mestemaker driving a lot of that momentum. Through six games, he’s completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,940 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Sanders did not shy away from the praise when he met with reporters Tuesday. He described Mestemaker as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and in the country.
"The kid can spin it he could flood out spin what we wanna do is get him uncomfortable get him off his spot. . . . He's a phenomenal quarterback man.
The kid could spin it. That's why the coach was compelled to bring him over there with him.
He's a bonafide leader. We got to get him off his spot and make him uncomfortable, but because if he sits back there, even on the boots, when he gets his feet set, he's extremely accurate," said Sanders
Sanders doubled down on that view moments later.
"Knows his offense like the back of his hand, and he can get it done," the Colorado coach continued. "It's one of the best in the conference as well as in college football to me."
The Buffaloes coach also pushed back on the idea that Mestemaker is a run-heavy quarterback. Yes, he has used his legs - including in Oklahoma State’s win over Oregon - but Sanders sees a passer first. Mestemaker has 21 carries for 142 yards and is third on the Cowboys behind running backs Caleb Hawkins and Ayo Adeyi in rushing.
"I don't know if we call this kid a running quarterback. This kid, his best attribute is him throwing the football.
He can run. He's shown the ability to run.
He's had a tremendous gain in a couple games, but I don't see him as a running quarterback. I see him as a guy that can, that has escapability, but he wants to throw first."
The numbers back up that assessment. Mestemaker has been sacked only five times in six games, and with two rushing touchdowns, Colorado has to account for him in the red zone as well. But the bigger challenge is obvious: stopping Oklahoma State’s passing game with Mestemaker at the controls.
Oddsmakers are leaning toward the Cowboys, listing Oklahoma State as a 13.5-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. Colorado, though, has already shown it can hang with top Big 12 teams after upset bids against No.
8 Texas Tech and No. 10 Utah came up just short.
Now the question is whether Sanders and the Buffaloes can spring the surprise on the road.
In Other News...
CU Buffs Still Have One Big Rotation Question Before The Opener
Colorados exhibition win over North Texas offered a useful glimpse at how Tad Boyle wants this group to look heading into the opener. Barrington Hargress, Alex Dickeson, Josiah Sanders, Justin Neely and Goc Malual opened as the starting five, and the Buffaloes worked with an eight- to nine-man rotation as Boyle continues sorting out roles in a roster that has plenty of new faces and late-arriving pieces.
The one lingering wrinkle is the frontcourt depth chart, where Charlotte transfer David Gomez remains on a limited workload as he gets back into conditioning after foot surgery. Colorado also added another name to its long-term pipeline with a commitment from 2027 recruit Mana Winitana, while Boyle, Hargress and Sanders were in Kansas City for Big 12 Conference media day, a reminder that the Buffs are still juggling immediate lineup decisions with the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Heads Into Oklahoma State With A Growing Injury Problem
The injury list keeps growing for Colorado as it heads into its Week 8 matchup with Oklahoma State, with running back Micah Welch and offensive lineman Jayven Richardson both added before the trip. Deion Sanders offered updates on Welchs situation and also addressed the status of Lamont Lester, whose limited action has been tied to getting fully healthy rather than pushing him back too quickly.
There is also a more sobering question hanging over the offense with Danny Scudero, whose situation has Sanders concerned as the Buffaloes wait on how much longer they can expect to have him. On the other side of the report, Sam Gadie has surfaced as he starts working toward a possible return, giving Colorado at least one encouraging sign as it tries to sort through a crowded and increasingly delicate injury picture. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Heads To Stillwater With Something To Prove
Colorado heads to Stillwater carrying the kind of questions that tend to follow a team after a rough stretch, and this trip to Boone Pickens Stadium offers a fresh chance to answer a few of them. The Buffaloes and Oklahoma State have both had recent performances dissected closely, and Colorado's most recent outing against Utah gave a clearer picture of where the defense held up and where the offense still has room to grow.
The matchup also comes with the usual game-week details for fans trying to keep tabs from afar, including television, radio and social media options. There is some history between these programs, too, which only adds a little more edge to a conference meeting that already feels like a measuring-stick moment for Colorado. [Read more 🡒]