Erica: If you think the offensive line is just a group of guys blocking for fun, you haven’t been watching Colorado in the second half against Oklahoma State. We are talking about protection schemes that fell apart so hard, Isaac Wilson had to run for a touchdown himself.
Brett: It wasn’t just bad luck, Erica. It was leverage, it was angles, and frankly, it was a mismatch in personnel groups that Kansas State is going to exploit if this roster doesn’t shift gears immediately. We’re looking at who stays, who goes, and who actually gets the snaps on Saturday.
Erica: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Erica, alongside Brett, and we are your daily source for everything Colorado Buffaloes football. Before we dive into the tape, we need to take a quick second. This show is free, it’s daily, and it runs on passion—but also on servers and editors. If you love what we do, please consider supporting us via the link in the episode description. Your coffee literally fuels our research and editing today. Now, let’s get into it.
Brett: Thanks, Erica. And thanks for keeping the lights on. So, here is the landscape. Colorado sits at 2-5, 16th in the Big 12. They just got torched by Oklahoma State, 57-24. Drew Mestemaker threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Justin Bowick caught five passes for 138 yards. And our boys? Isaac Wilson threw for 280 yards but two interceptions, and JaQuail Smith managed only 39 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Erica: That’s a lot of numbers, Brett, but the headline is simple: The offense stalled out completely after the first quarter. Gideon Lampron had 14 tackles for Oklahoma State. Santana Hopper had one sack for us. But the real story isn’t the stats; it’s the depth chart. Who is actually ready to play for Kansas State on October 31st? Today, we break down three critical roster battles that will define this team’s season.
Brett: Let’s start with the most painful spot on the field: Offensive Line. Yesterday we talked about pass protection needing an upgrade. After Saturday night? It’s not an upgrade, it’s a rescue mission. You look at the roster list, and you see names like Yahya Attia, Leon Bell, Aiden DeCorte, Chauncey Gooden, Ben Gula, Phillip Houston, Bo Hughley, Demetrius Hunter, Larry Johnson III, Sean Kinney, Jayvon McFadden, Xavier Payne, Jayven Richardson, Andre Roye Jr., Jose Soto, and Hudson Steber. That is a crowded room.
Erica: A crowded room where everyone seems to be tripping over each other. When Mestemaker was throwing those deep balls to Bowick and Miles Coleman, were they seeing blitzes coming? Because from my couch, it looked like Wilson had nowhere to go.
Brett: Exactly. You have to look at the personnel grouping. Oklahoma State ran heavy pressures, and Colorado’s interior line struggled with the double teams. Let’s talk specific matchups. If you’re Coach Sanders or whoever is calling these plays, you’re looking at the veterans versus the newcomers. Larry Johnson III and Demetrius Hunter have been around. But then you’ve got younger guys like Jayven Richardson or Andre Roye Jr. trying to learn the scheme mid-season.
Erica: So, who steps up? Is there a clear starter emerging, or is this a committee approach because no one is dominating? We know Isaiah Johnson transferred to Texas, which leaves holes everywhere, including potentially on the OL if he was involved in blocking schemes. Derrick White’s new role in basketball strategy is great for the brand, but it doesn’t block edge rushers.
Brett: Right, the basketball stuff is separate, but the pressure is real. I think the battle is between experience and athleticism. Leon Bell brings size. Aiden DeCorte brings technique. But against a team like Kansas State, who is 4-3 and physically tough, you need someone who can handle the stunts. I’d bet on Larry Johnson III getting more snaps if he can stay healthy, but keep an eye on Bo Hughley. He’s been practicing harder than some of the others.
Erica: Bo Hughley? Interesting pick. I’ll take it. But let’s pivot to the skill positions. Last week, Bryce Hicks and Damian Henderson II were mentioned as potential touch-getters over JaQuail Smith. Did we see any of that against Oklahoma State?
Brett: Not really. JaQuail Smith had 13 carries for 39 yards. That’s a rough day. Titus Bautista, Cam Netwon, Cody Jordan—they all saw time, but none of them broke the seal. The running game is stifled when the offensive line can’t create push. It’s situational football 101: if you can’t run, the defense stacks the box, and then your quarterback has to beat them one-on-one.
Erica: And Isaac Wilson didn’t beat them one-on-one either. Two interceptions. One was a 1-yard run for a TD, which was cute, but the passing game was stagnant until the garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Who is catching the ball? Joseph Williams had 9 receptions for 135 yards. That’s solid. But what about the rest of the receivers?
Brett: Joseph Williams is the guy. He’s reliable. But look at the depth chart again. Tagert Bardin, Braedon Brenner, Ernest Campbell, Quanell Farrakhan Jr., Quentin Gibson, Kaleb Mathis, DeAndre Moore Jr., Kam Perry, Danny Scudero, Jacob Swain. That’s a lot of bodies. DeAndre Moore Jr. caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Wilson. That’s the kind of play we need more of.
Erica: DeAndre Moore Jr. is having a moment. But is he the number one option long-term? Or is Ernest Campbell the bigger threat? I feel like we talk about Campbell a lot, but his production hasn’t matched the hype yet. Against Kansas State, do we lean on Williams and Moore, or do we spread it around to confuse their secondary?
Brett: Kansas State has a good secondary. Spreading it around might work if your protection holds, but right now, I don’t trust the protection. So, you stick to your best players. Williams and Moore. Maybe bring in Zayne DeSouza or Fisher Clements out of the tight end position to check down. Julian Lewis and Dominiq Ponder are still behind Isaac Wilson and Kaneal Sweetwyne at QB, so the skill guys need to be ready for Wilson’s rhythm.
Erica: Makes sense. Stick to the proven commodities. But what about the defense? Gideon Lampron had 14 tackles. That’s huge. Santana Hopper had a sack. But Ethan Wesloski had 2 sacks and 8 tackles for Oklahoma State. Are we missing anyone else on that side of the ball? The roster list is mostly offensive guys, which tells me the defensive leaders are already set.
Brett: The defense is set because the talent is there. Lampron is a beast. The battle now is purely offensive. Who makes the final cut? Who gets the starting nod against the Wildcats? I think we’re going to see a reshuffle. If the O-line can’t protect Wilson, the coaching staff might look at Kaneal Sweetwyne. He’s a different style—more mobility. Maybe that helps against Kansas State’s speed.
Erica: Switching quarterbacks? That’s a bold move. But remember, last week Brett predicted Colorado would struggle to score more than 17 points if protection didn’t improve. We scored 24, but 17 of those came in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided. So, the prediction held up for the first three quarters. Do we start Sweetwyne to shake things up?
Brett: I wouldn’t start him unless Wilson’s confidence is shattered. But I would use him in package plays. Get him in motion. Use Julian Lewis too. Just mix it up. And on the back end, I expect Bryce Hicks or Damian Henderson II to finally break out. The brief mentioned them specifically as backups to JaQuail Smith. If Smith can’t get 4 yards a carry, why keep him? Move the chain with Hicks’ explosiveness.
Erica: So, my roster-cut predictions: I think we see more touches for Bryce Hicks. I think DeAndre Moore Jr. becomes the primary red-zone target alongside Joseph Williams. And I think Larry Johnson III starts at guard against Kansas State because he’s the most consistent blocker we have right now. What about you, Brett? Any surprise cuts?
Brett: I think Danny Scudero or Jacob Swain might lose snaps to the guys who are showing up in practice. You need guys who can block in space. And I predict Colorado wins this game, but only if they stop trying to throw it deep early. Keep it short. Control the clock. Win the turnover battle. Isaac Wilson needs to be smarter than he was against OSU.
Erica: Bold prediction. I like it. Kansas State is tough, but Colorado needs this win to keep any semblance of hope for the rest of the season. 16th in the conference isn’t where we want to be, but one game at a time. Remember, if you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share it with a friend who loves Buffs football.
Brett: Agreed. Stay positive, stay informed. The roster is changing, the strategies are shifting, but the goal remains the same. Win the next one. See you next time.
Erica: This is the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Buffs!