Can Colorado rebound this week?
For one final time this season, let’s play some football at Folsom Field!
Colorado is set to take on Oklahoma State in their final home game of the season this Friday at 10:00 am MT, as the Buffs look to bounce back after a tough and disappointing loss against Kansas last week. The setback significantly hurt Colorado’s conference championship hopes, but the team has the opportunity to regroup and close out their home slate with a strong performance. Standing in their way is an Oklahoma State squad that has yet to win a conference game this season, entering the matchup on an eight-game losing streak.
The Buffs are favored by 16.5 points going into this game, but should they be favored by this much? Today, we’ll break down the matchup, look at what the future holds for Colorado, and share predictions for Saturday’s game.
The Matchup
Offensively, Colorado should be expected to put up plenty of points. Coming off last week’s loss, the Buffs will likely be motivated to deliver a statement performance, and they may look to run up the score if given the chance. The Oklahoma State defense has struggled all season, giving up at least 38 points in seven straight games, and there’s little reason to believe they’ll fare any better against Colorado’s explosive offense.
The Buffs will likely focus on spreading the ball around and ensuring their top playmakers shine. It’s clear that this coaching staff is mindful of awards, stats and draft stock, so don’t be surprised if they try to get multiple players into the endzone. Shedeur Sanders will look to put up a monster performance, potentially throwing for five or more touchdowns, while the team aims to finish the regular season at Folsom Field on a high note.
Defensively, Colorado will face the challenge of slowing down Oklahoma State’s star running back Ollie Gordon. Regarded by many as one of the top running backs in college football entering the season, Gordon has recently found his rhythm after a slower start. He’s rushed for over 120 yards in back-to-back games and is averaging more than two touchdowns per game in his last five outings. Despite Oklahoma State’s struggles in nearly every other area, Gordon has been a consistent bright spot.
Colorado’s defense, which has shown improvement in recent weeks, will need to focus on containing Gordon while forcing the Cowboys to rely on their inconsistent passing attack. The Buffs just have to make some tackles and prevent the Pokes from getting ahead and chewing up clock, as K-State and Kansas did. If the Colorado can do that, Okie State isn’t likely to keep pace with the Buffs’ high-powered attack.
Prediction
This is the type of game that can be dangerous for teams to overlook, especially following a deflating loss and facing an outmatched opponent. The Buffs will need to ensure they don’t come out flat and instead channel their frustrations from last week into a strong performance.
After crunching the numbers, everything suggests that Colorado should rebound in a big way. Shedeur Sanders is poised for a statement game, with four or five passing touchdowns, and Travis Hunter should have plenty of opportunities to bolster his Heisman campaign. The Buffs’ defense may bend at times against Ollie Gordon, but they should do enough to secure a convincing win.
Colorado 45
Oklahoma State 24
Outlook
Even with a win, Colorado’s chances of making the conference championship remain slim. The most likely path for the Buffs to advance would require Houston to pull off an upset against BYU, a result that would put Colorado back in control of their fate. However, the more realistic outcome is that the Buffs will finish the season with one final game—a bowl appearance in December.
While this scenario might seem disappointing given the early promise of the season, Colorado’s remarkable turnaround under Coach Prime has still exceeded expectations. This game will also serve as a farewell for many Buffs players who will be playing their final home game in Boulder, making it a special moment for fans and the team alike.
Be sure to tune in for the 10 a.m. MST kickoff this Friday morning, and as always, Sko Buffs!