Colorado's season split in two. The Buffs opened by winning 14-13 at Georgia Tech and beating Weber State 52-21. Then came a 41-7 loss at Northwestern, a 13-23 loss at Baylor and the Texas Tech game, 3 straight losses where the offense never topped 13 points. It got worse off the field too: Texas Tech allegedly found a Colorado play-call sheet in a hotel bar, and Deion Sanders spent part of the bye week downplaying it. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion has been asked publicly what's behind the struggles. Colorado also hosted Utah after the bye, and that result will shape the picture by the time these two kick off.
Weber State52-21
Murray State59-0
Wilson's supporting cast is thin. Receiver K. Perry is listed doubtful, and tight end Z. Atkins is out, so Colorado is short targets in the passing game it most needs to fix. On defense, corner M. Vickers and linebacker T. Martinez are both out. That's bad timing against a quarterback who just threw for 365 on the road and now has Hawkins as another option.
Oklahoma State's injuries are more manageable but not nothing. Guard J. Sexton (leg) and tight end O. Hammond are both out with no timetable, which tests the interior line and the blocking at tight end. The forecast in Stillwater is mild: mid-70s, cloudy, about 11 mph of wind. Weather shouldn't stop either team from throwing it around.
In the end, both units with something to prove meet in the same spot. Colorado's offense has to show it can move the ball against a defense that just gave up 5 touchdown passes. Oklahoma State's defense has to show that Houston was a bad night and not a trend. The Cowboys are 4-2 and 2-1 in the Big 12 with a quarterback who's playing well. The Buffs are 0-2 in conference and still looking for an offense.