Colorado’s last trip through Oklahoma State ended with a statement that still stands out: a 52-0 rout at Folsom Field on Nov. 29, 2024.
That regular-season finale is back in focus this Throwback Thursday as the Buffaloes get ready to meet the Cowboys again Saturday. The win pushed No. 23 Colorado to 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big 12, and it came with all the fireworks a program could ask for.
Shedeur Sanders threw five touchdown passes, Travis Hunter caught three of them, and the Buffaloes’ defense made life miserable from start to finish. Colorado forced four turnovers, held Oklahoma State to 147 total yards and earned its first shutout since 2021.
Sanders was in full command, finishing 34 of 41 for 438 yards with one interception. Hunter was just as electric, grabbing 10 passes for 116 yards while also picking off a pass on defense, a performance that strengthened his Heisman case.
“Travis clinched the Heisman today with his performance,” coach Deion Sanders said afterward.
LaJohntay Wester added another layer to the blowout, catching 11 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores came on a 69-yard play early in the third quarter. DJ McKinney also got in on the scoring with a 13-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Oklahoma State finished 3-9 overall and went winless in conference play.
Colorado’s history against the Cowboys also includes another memorable finish, this one from Nov. 9, 1991 in Stillwater. Against a winless Oklahoma State team, No.
14 Colorado trailed 12-10 with 14 seconds left and lined up for a 36-yard field goal. After Oklahoma State called timeout, coach Bill McCartney changed course and went for a fake.
Holder Robbie James connected with freshman tight end Christian Fauria on a 20-yard touchdown with six seconds remaining, lifting Colorado to a 16-12 victory. The Buffaloes finished 6-0-1 in conference play and shared the Big Eight championship with Nebraska.
Afterward, Oklahoma State head coach Pat Jones said, "The play at the end, however long I've been coaching, is the gutsiest call I've ever seen."
In Other News...
Isaac Wilson Gave Colorado Hope Before Another Brutal Collapse
Isaac Wilson gave Colorado a real jolt in the first half against Oklahoma State, helping the Buffaloes stay in striking distance before the game spun away after halftime. His early production showed the offense had some life, but Colorado could not build on it, and a rushing attack that managed just 42 yards on 15 carries left the Buffs without much balance to lean on.
The second half turned into the kind of unraveling that has haunted Colorado too often this season, with turnovers swinging the momentum back the other way. Wilsons evening ended on a rough note after his mistakes piled up and the offense stalled, leaving the staff to turn elsewhere late in the fourth quarter in search of anything to steady the game. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Had To Explain Colorados Brutal Second Half Collapse
Colorado had plenty to feel good about after a back-and-forth first half in Stillwater, taking a 24-23 lead into the break against Oklahoma State. But the game turned quickly after halftime, and the Buffaloes were left trying to make sense of a 57-24 loss on Oct. 24 that flipped from competitive to lopsided in a hurry.
Deion Sanders spent his postgame comments explaining the collapse, pointing to the way the game changed early in the third quarter and how his team never recovered from there. The Buffs also hurt themselves with repeated mistakes and an inability to get Oklahoma State stopped once the Cowboys found their rhythm, leaving Colorado with more questions than answers after another frustrating finish. [Read more 🡒]
Colorados Bowl Hopes Ride On One Huge Test At Oklahoma State
Colorados trip to Oklahoma State arrives with the Buffaloes still searching for traction at 2-4, and the quarterback situation remains one of the biggest reasons the offense has yet to settle in. Isaac Wilson is set for his third straight start after taking over at halftime against Baylor, giving Colorado a chance to keep building some continuity at the position as it heads into a game that could help steady the season.
The challenge is a major one, with Oklahoma State leaning on Drew Mestemaker and a passing attack that has piled up yards all season. Colorado knows better than to try to win a shootout, so the plan is to get after Mestemaker and make life uncomfortable for him while also looking for openings against a run defense that has been more vulnerable. For a team trying to keep its bowl hopes alive, this one feels like the kind of test that can shape the rest of the fall. [Read more 🡒]