The Colorado Buffaloes' 57-24 loss to Oklahoma State could put the head coach under serious review.
Deion Sanders’ team led 24-23 at halftime Saturday, then allowed the Cowboys to score 37 unanswered points. Colorado fell to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in Big 12 play, with its fifth straight loss coming on another ineffective rushing attack.
Sanders is responsible for a staff that failed to respond once Oklahoma State took control. A one-point halftime lead became a 33-point defeat, and Colorado’s running backs finished with just 42 yards on 15 carries.
Marion’s second-half opening call sent the game downhill
Isaac Wilson had earned the opportunity to keep attacking through the air. He threw for 222 yards before halftime, finding receivers downfield and helping Colorado recover from Oklahoma State’s opening touchdown.
He threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. on third-and-13 between defenders. Joseph Williams also found openings, and Colorado's passing success made the game competitive.
Brennan Marion opened the second half with a quarterback run. Wilson fumbled, Oklahoma State recovered at Colorado’s 13-yard line, and the Cowboys quickly took the lead.
Wilson has to secure the ball, but Marion made a questionable call in choosing that play after watching Wilson repeatedly connect with receivers during the first half.
The next possession brought a sack and consecutive false starts, leaving Colorado facing third-and-26. The Buffaloes were still within one score, and they were already making their own recovery considerably harder.
Wilson later threw two interceptions and finished with 280 passing yards before freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne replaced him. In the second half, he threw for five completions and 58 yards.
Colorado’s running-back rotation has gone nowhere
Marion’s willingness to use multiple backs against Georgia Tech feels increasingly distant. With Micah Welch out with a hand injury, Colorado needed more from the players behind him.
Damian Henderson II and Richard Young barely influenced this game. Colorado’s backs averaged 2.8 yards per carry, and the offense again left Wilson responsible for generating nearly everything.
The staff needs to explain how they intend to use this backfield. Having several available running backs means little when the rotation produces 15 attempts and no dependable answer in short-yardage situations.
A third-and-seven run ended one first-half possession. A third-and-one option later nearly became a turnover before JaQuail Smith recovered the ball.
Those decisions deserve questions, especially when Colorado’s successful passing possessions showed that its receivers could win their matchups. Marion never found a productive rushing complement, and the offense stalled completely once Wilson struggled.
Sanders’ defense gives Colorado no chance to recover
Oklahoma State exposed Colorado’s coverage on the third play, with Miles Coleman uncovered for a 47-yard touchdown reception.
The Cowboys kept finding room, finishing with 598 yards. Drew Mestemaker threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns, while Caleb Hawkins rushed for 123 yards.
Lamont Lester and Santana Hopper made key sacks, but Colorado never generated enough pressure to come close to disrupting Oklahoma State’s offense.
Penalties again made matters worse. Colorado committed 10 for 69 yards, including another offside mistake that gave Mestemaker a free play for his 28-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Young.
Sanders’ staff watched the same problems continue throughout the second half. At 2-5, Colorado needs evidence its coaches can fix them, and Saturday gave another reason to question whether they can.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado's collapse brings more scrutiny on Deion Sanders