Colorado’s slide in the Big 12 standings has been swift, and the latest loss only makes the picture look worse.
After opening 2-0, the Buffaloes are back at .500 following a 23-13 defeat to Baylor in their Big 12 opener. That result lands them in a brutal spot with two ranked opponents looming, and it’s hard to argue there’s a team in the conference dealing with more issues right now.
No sugarcoating it: the Buffaloes are the worst team in the Big 12 as it stands. Injuries, penalties and turnovers have dragged down a revamped roster that has looked flat through four games. The ‘Go-Go’ offense has fallen flat on its face against Power Four opponents, and the Buffs’ opponents’ domination of time of possession has worn down the defense.
Even in the Baylor game, Colorado had some depth show up at receiver, but that was about the extent of the bright spots. For most of the afternoon, the Bears had control. Add in a recently rekindled quarterback controversy, and there just isn’t much going right for Deion Sanders and company.
At the top of the latest Big 12 power rankings, Utah stayed put after a 31-17 win at Iowa State. The Utes looked dominant against a solid Cyclones team in Week 4, and their defense, led by linebackers Trey Reynolds and Elijah Elliss, has been the best in the Big 12, allowing just 10.5 points per game.
Texas Tech also held steady after a 49-14 win over Sam Houston. The Bearkats hung around with the Red Raiders longer than they probably should have, but Texas Tech put together a shutout in the second half to keep its undefeated record intact.
Cincinnati made one of the biggest statements of the week, beating Kansas State 31-26. The Bearcats proved themselves as legitimate Big 12 championship contenders, and their rushing attack of Gi’Bran Payne and Cole Tabb is one of the best in the conference. That ground game could carry them toward a Cinderella conference title appearance.
Oklahoma State continued its climb after a 41-24 win at West Virginia. The Cowboys have completed their rebound from an ugly Week 1 loss, and quarterback Drew Mestemaker is as advertised. With an elite offense, they’re looking like a real threat in the Big 12 race.
Houston, meanwhile, took a step backward despite beating Georgia Southern 42-28. The Cougars allowed 28 points to a 1-2 Georgia Southern team, which is disappointing for a squad ranked in the AP Top 25. Their defense needs a major rebound before conference play really starts to hit weekly.
Kansas State’s ranking took a hit after its 31-26 loss at Cincinnati, but the Wildcats still looked strong. Avery Johnson kept his hot start rolling, and as long as he keeps playing at that level, Kansas State will be in business.
Baylor’s 23-13 win over Colorado came with some rough edges, especially the 10 penalties for 84 yards. Still, the Bears made the plays that mattered, converting 6-of-17 third downs on their way to a 10-point victory.
Behind them, Arizona State continued to lean on offense after a 34-24 win at Washington State. The Wildcats’ defense has been the concern, though, giving up 24 points to a struggling Washington State team just two weeks after allowing 28 in a loss to BYU. The offense has carried a lot of the load, and whether that’s sustainable remains to be seen.
West Virginia’s loss to Oklahoma State exposed some problems after an encouraging start. The Mountaineers’ run game looked strong again, but they couldn’t get much going through the air. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. had his first rough outing of the season, and the rest of the team unraveled around him.
UCF also picked up a narrow win, taking down TCU 21-14. The Knights showed they can win ugly, leaning on the run game again to outlast the Horned Frogs. There’s still plenty to clean up, especially with turnovers, but the result got the job done.
TCU stayed competitive until the end, but two interceptions from quarterback Jaden Craig proved costly. The Horned Frogs were right there until the final whistle, and as Craig becomes less shaky at the FBS level, the team should improve with him.
Iowa State rounds out the group after getting hammered by Utah, 31-17. Home-field advantage didn’t do much for the Cyclones, and Jaylen Raynor’s two interceptions were backbreakers. The defense also couldn’t slow Utah’s run game, leaving plenty for Iowa State to fix as Big 12 play rolls on.
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For a program always trying to stay ahead of the recruiting curve, landing a player this early matters beyond just the headline. It gives the Red Raiders another chance to shape a top national talent before his senior year arrives, and it adds to the broader buzz around Texas Tech athletics as the schools teams keep moving through a busy stretch in soccer, volleyball, golf and football. [Read more 🡒]
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Texas Tech Faces One Real Upset Threat From Colorado
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For Texas Tech, the trip still carries one real upset threat because Colorados linebackers will be asked to handle the Red Raiders running game and keep the game from tilting into a track meet. If Colorado can hold up in that part of the field, the rest of the afternoon becomes much more interesting for a Texas Tech team trying to avoid getting pulled into a tighter fight than the ranking suggests. [Read more 🡒]