Erica: Julian Lewis is in the hospital. The Buffaloes just got blown out 57 to 24 by Oklahoma State. And tomorrow? They have to play Kansas State with a backup quarterback who has barely seen live reps. This is not a drill. This is a disaster unfolding in real time.
Brett: It’s heavy, Erica. We’ve been talking about offensive line protection for weeks, but now you add a medical emergency at the most important position on the field? The margin for error here isn’t just small; it’s nonexistent.
Erica: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we don’t sugarcoat the scoreboard. I’m Erica, and I’m joined by Brett. If you’re new here, hit subscribe right now because we are breaking down every angle of this Colorado situation. Ava, lay it out for us.
Ava: Coming up: First, we break down that 57-24 humiliation against Oklahoma State—what actually went wrong when Drew Mestemaker threw for 386 yards. Second, the Julian Lewis situation and who steps in for tomorrow’s game against Kansas State. And third, our keys to survival for a team sitting at 2-5.
Erica: Before we dive into the wreckage, quick note to our listeners. We put out a fresh, deep-dive episode every single day, analyzing every game, every injury, every roster move. It takes a village to keep this show free and daily. If you value that kind of access, please check out the link in the episode description to support us directly. It makes all the difference.
Brett: Appreciate that, Erica. Let’s get into it. Because honestly, looking at the film from Saturday night, there are things we can fix. But then there’s the Lewis news, which changes the entire complexion of this week.
Erica: Let’s start with the elephant in the room: that loss to Oklahoma State. 57 to 24. That is not a close game. That is a statement game. What did you see in that second half?
Brett: I saw a complete collapse of situational football. Oklahoma State scored 34 points in the second half. Their quarterback, Drew Mestemaker, was surgical. He finished 21 of 36 for 386 yards and four touchdowns. When you give up nearly 400 passing yards to a guy who is efficient like that, your secondary is getting picked apart.
Erica: And let’s not forget the ground game. Caleb Hawkins had 19 carries for 120 yards. So it wasn’t just air balls. It was physical. It was inside-outside balance. How do you defend that type of attack?
Brett: You stop the run first. You force them into third-and-long. But Colorado’s defensive line couldn’t generate consistent pressure. Ethan Wesloski had two sacks and eight tackles. He was everywhere. Without a pass rush, your linebackers are playing match-the-man coverage, and eventually, someone gets open.
Erica: It’s frustrating because Colorado started okay. Isaac Wilson was actually decent before things fell apart. He went 19 of 27 for 280 yards with two touchdowns. But those two interceptions killed any momentum they had.
Brett: Exactly. Two picks against a defense that was already pressing? That’s a coaching issue or a decision-making issue. Once you turn the ball over twice in red zone territory or midfield, you’re playing from behind. And once you’re behind, you have to throw more. Then Mestemaker starts hitting Justin Bowick for 138 yards. Game over.
Erica: Bowick had five catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. He was a mismatch all afternoon. Does this offense look lost without Julian Lewis running the show?
Brett: Lewis provides mobility. He extends plays. When he’s hurt or gone, the pocket collapses faster, and the receivers don’t get those extra yards after the catch. Joseph Williams had nine receptions for 135 yards, which is great, but it’s hard to sustain drives when you’re one-dimensional.
Erica: One-dimensional and trailing by 30 points. Yeah, that doesn’t end well. So we go into Week 9 with a 2-5 record, 16th in the Big 12 standings. Tomorrow is Kansas State. They’re 4-3. That’s an eight-game swing right there.
Brett: Eight games is huge. If Colorado loses this, they’re likely eliminated from playoff contention and maybe even bowl eligibility depending on how the rest of the conference plays out. The stakes couldn’t be higher for a team this low in the standings.
Erica: Let’s talk about the injury picture. We know Julian Lewis suffered a medical emergency Wednesday and was hospitalized Thursday. His father announced it. That’s off the field drama, but what does that mean for the roster?
Brett: It means panic. Dominiq Ponder is the backup QB on the depth chart. Kaneal Sweetwyne is there too. But neither of these guys has significant game experience compared to Lewis. You’re handing the reins to a kid who has probably only practiced this system in spring ball.
Erica: And Kansas State isn’t going to care. They’re coming in hot. They beat Colorado earlier in the season? No, wait, checking the record... Kansas State is 4-3. They’re playing well. They’re going to swarm the backup QB.
Brett: They will absolutely swarm him. And that brings us back to the offensive line. We talked about this last week after the Oklahoma loss. The O-line struggled against Nijel Pack and the Sooners. Now they have to protect a rookie passer against a Wildcats defense that knows exactly what they’re dealing with.
Erica: Who are the key players on the OL? We’ve got Yahya Attia, Leon Bell, Aiden DeCorte. Are any of these guys able to step up?
Brett: It’s a group in transition. With Isaiah Johnson transferring to Texas, they lost leadership. The hire of Derrick White was supposed to help with development, but you can’t fix an entire line in two weeks. If the backup QB gets pressured within three seconds, the play breaks down.
Erica: So we need quick releases. Short passes. Maybe use JaQuail Smith more in the screen game? He had 13 carries for only 39 yards against OSU, but he’s also caught passes. Is he a viable target for a backup QB?
Brett: Smith is a good safety valve. He knows the system. But relying on him exclusively makes you predictable. You need DeAndre Moore Jr. involved. He had two catches for scores against OSU. If the backup QB can find Moore in the flat or on a slant, that keeps the chains moving.
Erica: Moore is definitely a weapon. And what about defense? Gideon Lampron had 14 tackles against OSU. He’s a machine. Can the defense keep them in this game if the offense stalls?
Brett: Lampron is their heartbeat. Santana Hopper had a sack too. But defensively, you’re tired. You’re giving up 57 points. The morale is shot. Keeping them motivated while the offense struggles is the hardest job in sports right now.
Erica: Okay, let’s get bold. Keys to the game. If Colorado wants to pull off an upset against Kansas State, what has to happen? Give me three things.
Brett: Number one: Protect the football. Zero turnovers. If the backup QB throws one pick, it’s over. Number two: Establish the run early. Titus Bautista or Damian Henderson II need to grind out yards so the defense can rest. Number three: Simplify the offense. No trick plays. Just basic concepts.
Erica: Simplify. That sounds painful for a coach like Deion Sanders who likes flair. But maybe he has to dial it back. He made a joke about silencing critics with money, but he needs to silence the noise with wins.
Brett: The media cycle is brutal right now. Every headline is about Lewis’s health or the OSU loss. The players need to block that out. Focus on the next snap. That’s it.
Erica: Final prediction time. Last week, Brett predicted a 24-20 win for Colorado against Kansas State. Erica, you predicted a narrow 21-17 loss. Where are you landing today?
Brett: I’m sticking with my gun. I think Colorado controls the clock. If they run the ball effectively and limit mistakes, they win 24-20. The talent is still there.
Erica: I’m scared, Brett. I’m changing my mind. I think the inexperience shows. I’m taking Kansas State 27-20. The Wildcats have too much firepower for a shaky offensive line.
Erica: We’ll see who’s right tomorrow at 2 p.m. EDT. Make sure you tune in. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more fans find us.
Brett: Stay tuned to Beatline. We’ll be there with updates on Julian Lewis and the game plan.
Erica: Go Buffs. We’ll see you next time.