The Colorado Buffaloes are back on the road Saturday, heading to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State at Boone Pickens Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:05 p.m. MT, with FS1 carrying the game.
Colorado comes in at 2-4 overall and 0-3 in Big 12 play after nearly pulling off a comeback against No. 11 Utah on Oct.
- The Buffs wiped out a 13-point deficit with a big third quarter before falling 27-24.
Oklahoma State is trying to bounce back as well after a 35-32 loss at Houston on the same day.
This matchup brings together old Big 8 and Big 12 rivals for the 49th time, but only the second meeting since Colorado returned to the conference. The Buffs closed the 2024 season with a 52-0 rout of the Cowboys on Nov.
- The last time these teams played in Stillwater was 17 years ago, when Oklahoma State won 38-21 on Nov.
19, 2009. Colorado leads the all-time series 27-20-1 and holds a 13-11-1 edge in games played at Oklahoma State.
Colorado’s defense put together one of its most active outings of the season against Utah. The Buffs were credited with 94 tackles, and 31 of Utah’s 80 plays saw multiple Colorado defenders in on the stop.
Gideon ESPN Lampron, Liona Lefau and Randon Fontenette each finished with 13 tackles, Naeten Mitchell had 12, and Boo Carter added 11. It was the first time this season more than three Buffs reached double figures in tackles, and all five set or matched a career high.
The numbers up front were just as loud. Colorado logged nine tackles for loss, nine pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries against Utah, marking the second time this season it hit at least eight in all three categories.
The Buffs have registered seven or more tackles for loss in every game this season, the longest run of that kind since at least 2007, and they’ve now posted nine or more TFLs in three straight games. Colorado leads the Big 12 and ranks second in the Power 4 and fourth nationally with 8.8 tackles for loss per game.
Santana Hopper is second in the country in individual tackles for loss per game at 1.67.
JaQuail Smith gave Colorado a different kind of spark against Utah. He ran 13 times for 73 yards and turned his lone catch into a 68-yard touchdown, becoming the first CU running back to post at least 50 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards in the same game since Travon McMillan did it against Arizona in 2018. His 68-yard score was the longest touchdown catch by a Colorado running back since Dylan Edwards’ 75-yard reception against TCU in 2023.
Utah entered Boulder averaging 42.8 points per game and riding an 11-game streak of scoring at least 31 points. Colorado held the Utes to 131 rushing yards and did not allow a rushing touchdown. Through six games, the Buffs have given up just three rushing touchdowns, their lowest total through six games since 2010.
DeKalon Taylor, known as TrackHawk, also found the end zone on the ground against Utah for his first rushing touchdown as a Buff. It was his third total touchdown in 2025, to go with two receiving scores. Taylor has 85 rushing yards, 89 receiving yards and 127 kickoff return yards this season.
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 Faces A Road Test That Could Define Its Big 12 Push
Colorado heads into Stillwater looking to steady itself after a loss and keep its Big 12 hopes from slipping further out of reach. Oklahoma State is in the same position, coming off a defeat of its own, but the Cowboys have enough respect around the conference that they are expected to have the edge in this one, especially on their home field. The matchup gives Colorado another chance to measure where it stands against a league opponent with similar recent frustration and a quarterback in Drew Mestemaker who will demand a clean defensive plan.
For the Buffaloes, the biggest question is whether Isaac Wilson can keep the offense moving against a defense that should make every possession feel heavier. Colorados recent performance against Utah showed some promise through the air, but this trip brings a different kind of pressure, with both teams needing a response and the margin for error getting thin. If Colorado wants to stay in the conversation, this is the sort of road game it has to make competitive early and keep alive deep into the second half. [Read more 🡒]