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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Patrick Andres

College Football World Aghast As Colorado Goes Down 42–7 to Washington State at Half

This is not how Colorado’s story was supposed to end.

Go back to September of this season. The Buffaloes were the darling of the sports world. Coach Deion Sanders appeared to have orchestrated an overnight turnaround in Boulder, and Colorado jumped out to a 3–0 start.

The Buffaloes, however, came back to Earth slowly—and then quickly.

First came the losses to ranked teams—to Oregon in a blowout and USC in a nail-biter. Injuries major and minor piled up. One defeat became another became another.

Everything came to a head Friday night in the first half of Colorado’s game against Washington State. The Cougars detonated on the Buffaloes, jumping out to a 42–7 lead thanks to 14 first downs against Colorado’s five.

The college football universe responded by scratching its collective head.

Many pointed to the Buffaloes’ green offensive line, a weak point since the beginning of the season.

In fact, both fans and writers noted that Colorado had taken the long way to where most people thought they would go.

The September version of the Buffaloes became an object of nostalgia.

Fans of other Pac-12 teams howled at Colorado’s overexposure.

The Buffaloes’ shoddy defensive play was on display for all to see.

Topical jokes flew.

Colorado fans grew increasingly unmoored.

Only a mercy rule seemed able to save the Buffaloes now.

Washington State went on to beat Colorado, 56–14.

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