Colorado’s 41-7 loss to Northwestern was the kind of game that exposes everything at once. The Buffaloes were beaten in all three phases, but the biggest problems came on defense, where missed tackles, poor block shedding and a shaky mindset helped turn Week 3 into a blowout.
The tackling was a mess from the start. Northwestern piled up 182 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and the workload was spread across six running backs, a wide receiver and two quarterbacks.
That kind of variety can test a defense, but Colorado’s issues looked bigger than scheme. The Wildcats kept finding extra yards because Buffalo defenders simply weren’t finishing plays.
A lot of that damage came on the perimeter. Colorado’s secondary was especially rough in run support, with Northwestern repeatedly getting outside and forcing the first wave of defenders to miss. The Wildcats also did serious damage through the air after the catch, as 123 of their 241 receiving yards came once the ball was already in their hands.
The Buffs’ problems weren’t limited to missed tackles. They also struggled to get off blocks across the defense, and that showed up everywhere Northwestern wanted to attack. Screen passes and outside runs came with immediate space, and when Colorado did make contact, it often wasn’t enough to knock the Wildcats off balance.
That lack of physical disruption extended to the front seven. Colorado’s pass rush never really showed up, finishing with just one sack and three quarterback hurries.
Northwestern posted similar numbers, but that came with the lead and without needing to force the issue with blitzes. Colorado was sending pressure at its usual rate, yet Northwestern’s offensive line kept holding firm.
The interior was just as troublesome. Colorado’s defensive tackles were pushed backward too often, which opened clear lanes in the middle of the field. If the Buffs are going to slow down run-heavy offenses, they’ll need cleaner technique and a much stronger answer up front.
There was also a clear mentality problem before kickoff. Colorado appeared to carry itself like it had already arrived after coach Deion Sanders’ postgame message following the Weber State win, but that confidence turned into a rough look once the game started.
As the Buffaloes entered Martin Stadium, linebacker Tyler Martinez was heard mocking the Wildcats’ makeshift stadium in a video from Kamran Nia on X that has since gone viral. Martinez said the stadium “sucks” and “sounds like an (expletive) library.”
That moment drew plenty of negative attention once the final score became impossible to ignore. After a loss like this, Colorado will need a reset in approach as much as anything else.
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Deion Sanders did not like what he saw after Colorados 41-7 loss to Northwestern, and it was not just the score that bothered him. The Buffaloes were undone by turnovers and offensive inconsistency, but Sanders focused on the reaction from some players afterward, saying he was dissatisfied with the fact they were laughing after the defeat.
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Sanders also had to deal with more than the scoreboard, addressing player behavior in the wake of the defeat as he tried to steady a team already under pressure. With Big 12 play looming, the message was clear enough: the Buffaloes have to clean up the details, prepare better and show much more discipline if they want the next stretch to look anything like they hoped. [Read more 🡒]