The Colorado Buffaloes are staring at a four-game losing streak, and if they want to keep any bowl hopes alive, they have to find a way through Oklahoma State and Drew Mestemaker.
That’s the challenge. Mestemaker has piled up 1,940 passing yards, the sixth-most among FBS quarterbacks, and he’s already thrown 16 touchdowns, which puts him in the top 10. He’s also been picked off six times, a flaw Colorado has to be ready to attack.
What makes Mestemaker such a tough matchup is that he doesn’t just beat defenses one way. He has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game, and his best outing came against Murray State, when he completed over 90 percent of his throws, tossed five touchdowns and didn’t turn the ball over. He’s the kind of quarterback who can seize control fast.
He can hurt defenses with his legs, too. In Oklahoma State’s upset win over Oregon, Mestemaker ran for more than 100 yards, so Colorado can’t afford to focus only on the passing game. Stopping him means limiting him everywhere.
The opening Colorado needs is in the pressure game. Mestemaker has thrown an interception in three of his five games this season, and he tends to force the ball downfield when he’s under heat. That puts a premium on getting him uncomfortable in the pocket.
Colorado’s pass rush has been uneven. The Buffaloes had three sacks against Utah, but just two against Texas Tech and one against Baylor. That inconsistency is a concern, though the bye week may have given them time to clean things up.
There is a path here, though. Colorado forced Devon Damper into two interceptions against Utah last week after he had only two picks in his first five games.
Against a quarterback with turnover issues, the Buffaloes should have a chance to create a mistake or two. If they can turn those takeaways into points, an upset is possible.
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 🡒]