The Colorado Buffaloes went into Saturday afternoon’s game with desperation kicking in as they started out the season 5-0 and made an appearance in the Top-25. Since then, they have lost four straight and still need a win to secure a spot in the postseason.
Well, that will have to wait yet another week as Colorado fell 31-7 to No. 8 Washington State, leaving the Buffs looking at their schedule with not many opportunities for a turnaround in sight. The Cougars came into the game as the eighth-best team in the country, with a potent offense that had its fair share of highlight plays. Washington State looked extremely impressive on Saturday though.
It was a nationally televised game played on ESPN so there were surely jitters for both teams, but once things started going, the flood gates opened for the Cougars. The CU defense started the game off well, holding the Cougars to nine offensive plays in three drives.
After a pass breakup by Delrick Abrams on fourth down, it was Travon McMillian that put the first points of the game on the board. The senior running back first took off for a 64-yard gain, before ultimately being stopped at Washington State’s three-yard line. He then capped off the drive on the very next play giving the Buffs a 7-0 lead with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, WSU got on the board for the first time with a 39-yard field goal from Blake Mazza. The 3-point play cut the Buffaloes’ lead to 7-3 with 13:37 remaining in the first half.
Washington State would then score its first touchdown of the game when in-state product Max Borghi reached the end zone with a 28-yard reception. Following the third down score, Washington State had its first lead of the game at 10-7; and that was the score at the half.
The second half was not positive for the Buffaloes, and that’s when things got away from Colorado. It started with McMillian recording his first fumble of the season, which set the Cougars offense up in plush field position.
Minshew found his wide receiver Renard Bell for a one-yard touchdown, and a quarter later, ran one in for a 10-yard touchdown himself to make it 24-7.
The Cougars put the finishing touches on the Buffaloes as James Williams found the end zone with 3:46 remaining in the game on a three-yard scamper to make it 31-7.
Now at 5-5 on the season, Colorado looks ahead at their schedule and only have two more opportunities to get a win to be bowl eligible. The Buffs are back at home on Saturday against division foe Utah Utes who sit amongst the top of the Pac-12 South before CU finishes off on the road against the Cal Bears.
