LUBBOCK– The Colorado Buffaloes (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) defeated the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) in what is the Buffs’ fourth consecutive road victory of the year. The final score was 41-27.
This win puts the Buffaloes in sole control of second place in the Big 12. Despite losing to Kansas State, the Buffs have one less conference loss and therefore own second place.
After starting off with their feet in molasses, the black-and-white-wearing Buffaloes stayed in the game long enough to allow their explosive offense to dig them out of yet another early hole.
The opening kickoff was a sign of the disastrous start to come, as Texas Tech returner J’Koby Williams picked up 46 to open the game. Daniel Gerlach kicked off for Colorado, who is still trying to find a consistent kickoff specialist. Alejandro Mata also kicked off later in the game after more poor kickoff reps.
In total, the Red Raiders averaged 26 yards per kick return, and with most Colorado kicks not even making it to the goal line, the Red Raiders started almost every drive with great field position.
The Red Raiders took advantage early on. Dressed to the nines in their new gray alternate uniforms, they scored on their first three possessions, including a four-play opening drive where the Buffs’ defense appeared to be mentally stuck back home in the snow.
Along with the early defensive struggles, the offense could not stay on the field.
In just their first drive, the Buffs opened from the 14-yard line following a poor kick return. Before the snap, they were called for a false start and were moved back even further. On the first snap, the exchange between quarterback Shedeur Sanders and center Hank Zilinskas was mismanaged, and the ball was on the floor before the offense had any chance to get going.
The Buffs managed a first down after the mess, but two negative plays and an incompletion that followed led to a punt. Colorado was shut out for the rest of the first quarter, but once they got going, they never stopped.
With 7:33 left in the second quarter, Sanders fired a pass to receiver LaJohntay Wester, who was aided by a Travis Hunter block on his way to a 23-yard touchdown, and Colorado’s offense finally got on the board.
For the rest of the game, it was a completely opposite story to what the tortilla-throwing Lubbock crowd saw at the opening. The Red Raiders offense stalled and the Buffs offense flourished. After the game was 13-0 in favor of Texas Tech, Colorado outscored their opponent 41-14.
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s offense took the top off with long, melodic drives and defensive coordinator Robert Livingston’s defense didn’t just prevent the Red Raiders from gaining yardage, they also stepped up with multiple turnovers.
Linebacker Nikai Hill-Green intercepted quarterback Behren Morton early in the fourth quarter, and safety Cam’ron Silmon-Craig recovered a fumble on the very next drive. Arden Walker also forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Shilo Sanders for a touchdown to seal the game with just under one minute remaining.
Apart from the special teams miscues that continued throughout the game (Mark Vassett only averaged 38.5 yards per punt on eight kicks), the Buffaloes dominated following their slow start.
Sanders completed 70% of his passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Along with that, he touted a 149.6 passer rating and a rushing touchdown of his own.
Travis Hunter led the team with 94 yards and a touchdown on nine catches. He was joined in the scoring column by Will Sheppard and Wester, who each had a touchdown reception of their own.
Despite being 2-13 on third down and only producing 81 sack-adjusted rushing yards, the Buffs’ offense remained explosive on their way to another road victory.
Defensively, Hill-Green, Silmon-Craig and Sanders had the aforementioned turnovers, but defensive lineman Amari McNeil was one of the stars of the game as he had nine total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three tackles for loss. In only his fifth game of the season, McNeill proved to be a dominant force in the trenches.
“We knew we had it in us,” McNeil said after the game. “It was just when that time came we gotta make the plays.”
“We [weren’t] proud of how the game finished,” Silmon-Craig said of the late game play by the defense. The Buffs gave up a late touchdown just before the two minute warning that made it a one score game, allowing Texas Tech to remain with a real chance to get the ball back and tie it.
With four road wins on the season after only having two victories on the road last year, the Buffaloes have proved they can handle hostile environments,
“Everywhere we travel is an adverse situation,” head coach Deion Sanders said post game. “...These young men, they stand up to the challenge. I’m proud of them.”
After being picked to finish 11th in the Big 12 preseason media poll, the Buffs now travel home to play Utah with a real shot at the Big 12 championship game. Colorado has not made a conference championship game since 2016 where they lost to Washington in that year’s PAC-12 championship.
That game kicks off at 10 a.m. MT on Saturday, November 16 at Folsom Field. That game is to be aired as a “Big Noon Kickoff” on FOX.
Cover photo by Cristian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports
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