Buffs offense offers glimpse of what's possible in loss against No. 11 Utah
The Colorado Buffaloes lost their fourth straight game, but somehow, this loss felt different.
In the 27-24 loss to the No. 11 Utah Utes, Colorado displayed many of the same struggles that have plagued the team all season. However, the Buffs' offense showed a type of resilience that hadn't been seen.
But early on, the offense struggled.
In the first half, CU managed just 17 offensive plays for 70 yards. The half ended on a drive that accounted for six plays and 37 yards, when quarterback Isaac Wilson's pass was wrestled out of Charlie Williams' arms for an interception.
In the first two quarters, the Buffs accumulated 82 penalty yards, more than their offensive production.
“Starting out with zero points in the first half is not how we want to start,” Wilson said following the loss. “We need to play for all 60 minutes.”
The offense came out firing to start the second half.
On its first second-half drive, Colorado finally got on the scoreboard. In just three plays, the Buffs covered 75 yards to score their first touchdown of the game. Running back JaQuail Smith capped the drive with a 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
After a defensive stop, the CU offense kept rolling. This time, Wilson led the Buffs 76 yards downfield in five plays. A running back scored again; this time DeKalon Taylor scampered into the end zone. The extra point gave the Buffs a 14-13 lead, their first of the game.
On the next possession, after a defensive interception, Colorado's offense tacked on three more points.
In three possessions, an offense that had struggled to move the ball all season scored 17 unanswered points against one of the nation's top teams.
However, the consistency that had eluded the Buffs all season remained an issue.
The next two offensive series saw Colorado fall back into a slump. Wilson and the offense were contained, leading to two quick punts. The sudden shift highlighted the unit's biggest problem: its inability to sustain offensive production for an entire game.
In the fourth quarter, with 5:23 left, Wilson trotted out for what would become the most important drive of the day. The Utes held a 20-17 lead, but the Buffs had enough time to regain momentum and upset the No. 11 team in the country.
On the first play of the drive, Wilson forced a ball into double coverage and was intercepted. Utah made the most of the turnover and extended its lead to 10.
The game seemed out of reach for a Colorado team that, up to this point, had punched above its weight class. The Buffs' previous season high against FBS competition was 14, set against Georgia Tech. Against the No. 11 team in the country, Colorado had already exceeded its low expectations.
And yet, the offense managed to give what was left of the Folsom crowd hope.
Wilson drove the offense 83 yards in 1:21, connecting with a wide-open DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 2-yard touchdown that cut Utah's lead to 27-24.
Even after a costly interception, Wilson and the offense showed resilience that had been missing for much of the season.
The Utes recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Colorado's defense forced a punt, giving Wilson one final opportunity with 56 seconds remaining.
Starting at his own 9-yard line, the transfer quarterback quickly moved the offense downfield, first connecting with Moore to bring the ball to the 30-yard line.
Then Wilson made a trademark play.
The quarterback escaped a collapsing pocket, picked up a first down, and then attempted a last-ditch lateral to a receiver near the right sideline for extra yardage. In total, the play appeared to gain 35 yards, setting up a potential 57-yard game-tying field goal attempt.
However, after review, officials ruled the lateral an illegal forward pass, wiping out the extra yardage.
The Hail Mary attempt hit the ground, securing Utah's victory.
Despite the loss, Colorado's offense looked brilliant at times. Wilson threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two costly interceptions.
His performance reflected both the potential and the inconsistencies of Colorado's offense. At times, Wilson looked comfortable running offensive coordinator Brennan Marion's "Go-Go" scheme, using his mobility to extend plays and create downfield opportunities.
But his turnovers, particularly the fourth-quarter interception with Colorado trailing by just three points, showed that the offense remains a work in progress.
“I had a bad, bad turnover in that second half,” Wilson said. “Really caused a downfall.”
Smith was also a bright spot and proved to be vital to CU's offensive success. The running back produced 141 scrimmage yards, highlighted by the 66-yard touchdown that sparked Colorado's second-half rally. His ability to generate explosive plays gave an offense that had struggled to move the ball consistently a much-needed spark.
The loss still stings, and as Sanders put it in the postgame press conference, there won't be a “pity party” for the team. But unlike many of Colorado's losses, this one offered something the team had been desperately searching for: optimism.
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