I have to admit that I can’t wait for Colorado’s season to end. Not because I ever hoped that they didn’t do well, but because I have a hard time watching Sheduer Sanders take the beating he’s been taking all year long. He’s been sacked 54 times now—by far the most in the FBS. The Cougars picked up five in this one as well as nine tackles for loss and a 56-14 must-win for their team who is now 5-6 overall and will need to pull off a miracle against No. 4 Washington this next week in order to become bowl eligible. Sanders actually left the game in the 2nd Qtr of this one after taking a huge hit on a botched snap. He ended up connecting on 6-of-10 for just 86 yards—his lowest total of the season—and 1 TD to two-way player Travis Hunter. Shedeur’s back-up, Freshman Ryan Staub, wasn’t nearly as adept as Sanders at connecting under pressure and was just 5-of-14 for 56 yards with his back-up, Junior Gavin Culd, no better at 1-of-3 for 22 yards and an interception. On the ground Sophomore RB’s Sy’veon Wilkerson and Anthony Hankerson along with Freshman Dylan Edwards combined for 122 yards on 27 rushing attempts and 1 TD by Wilkerson. Senior WR Xavier Weaver, Junior Jimmy Horn Jr., and RB Sy’Veon Wilkerson combined for seven receptions and the rest of the total 164 yards in the air for the Buffaloes.
For Washington State, QB Cameron Ward connected on 60% of his passes for 288 yards, 2 TD’s—one each to Junior WR Kyle Williams and Senior RB Nakia Watson—and no interceptions to go along with 10 rushing attempts and two TD’s on the ground. Junior WR Josh Kelly was the recipient of six catches for 130 yards—a 21.7 yard average per catch—with Carlos Hernandez and Lincoln Victor combining for another 126 yards on a combined seven receptions. Along with backup Freshman QB John Mateer’s 54 yards, all toll the Cougars were 20-of-33 for 342 yards in the air and Ward’s two TD’s. On the ground, in addition to Ward’s two rushing TD’s, Washington State carried the ball 32 times for 105 yards with Senior WR Lincoln Victor also carrying the ball once for fifteen yards and another score.
The Cougars wasted no time in this one up 21-7 by the end of the 1st Qtr and with Shedeur out 42-7 by the break and 56-7 by the end of three. Colorado helped with two of those scores coughing up fumbles that were both returned by Washington State for TD’s—eventually scoring another one of their own after the Cougars fumbled near the end of the 3rd Qtr leading to a Buffalo score 80 yards and 11 plays later with most all of the 4th Qtr left to play. But between three three-and-outs and a fumble there would be no more scoring in this one. Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders remains perplexed regarding their progress and said afterwards; “We’re falling short of what we’re capable of, that’s the part of this that’s tough to digest. We’ve got high expectations here, so this is tremendously disappointing. But they came to play from start to finish. They executed early, they executed often . . . and with Shedeur out on top of that, it was tough.”
Mike Vorel, Sport’s Writer for the Seattle Times, recently reported the following good news about the Apple Cup, the yearly in-state rivalry game between the Cougars and the Huskies that first took place November 30th, 1900. “The in-state rivals will meet as Pac-12 partners for a final time on Saturday, when No. 4 UW (11-0) attempts to cement an undefeated regular season in Seattle against possible spoiler WSU (5-6). The Huskies will officially join the Big Ten next summer but the last Apple Cup will not be played next Saturday. Washington and Washington State have agreed in principle to a five-year continuation of the series, through at least 2028.” The Buffaloes will hit the road to take on No. 22 Utah who will need the win to have a winning conference record this season—now at 7-4 overall with a 4-4 conference record.