Travis Hunter, defense, sends message in defeat

First observations on Colorado’s 52-0 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a Big 12 showdown in Boulder.

1. Defensive rebounds: A week after becoming “high on attention,” CU’s defense took its newfound sobriety out on Oklahoma State — with a hammer. Six days after a performance in which Kansas racked up 331 rushing yards and three rushing scores and left Deion Sanders grumbling in Kansas City, the Buffs returned to the form they showed at Folsom Field. The hosts shut out the Cowboys and held the Pokes to less than 100 yards of total offense until just five minutes of laughter remained. Coach Prime was less than thrilled with the result at Arrowhead Stadium and his Buffs (9-3) responded with a win over the Cowboys 3-9. Friday was CU’s first shutout overall or in league play since Oct. 16, 2021, with a 34-0 win over Arizona. It was the program’s first shutout in Big 12 play since a 34-0 win over Baylor on Oct. 19, 2002.

2. Receiving records that drop like flies: Don’t you think CU has the best receiving corps in the country? Get a lot of these numbers. Travis Hunter’s 13th touchdown catch of the season in the third quarter set a new Buffs single-season record for receiving scores. And there’s plenty of love to be seen, as fellow wideout LaJohntay Wester scored his ninth and 10th TD receptions, giving CU two receivers in double-digit scoring for the first time in program history. Hunter’s 13 points surpassed Nelson Spruce’s 12 points in 2014, while Wester’s 10 points tied Paul Richardson for fourth all-time in 2013.

3. Pokes didn’t want to play: Holiday weekend? Breakfast start? Senior Day in Boulder? Cold temperatures? There was a feeling that Oklahoma State, winless in Big 12 play despite expectations of finishing in the league’s top three, might show up looking like it didn’t want to be here. The pokes did not disappoint. In fact, the Cowboys seemed more interested in fighting than playing early. With 5:26 left in the first quarter, OSU outside linebacker Justin Wright threw Shedeur Sanders to the visitors’ bench during a tackle at the Okie State 28. A little donnybrook ensued with CU wideout Terrell Timmons Jr. and left tackle Jordan Seaton rushing into a bunch of Cowboys to defend Sanders. Luckily, order was quickly restored.

4. More hunter history: With one interception and four catches for 22 receiving yards in the first quarter, Travis Hunter became the first Buffs player since Byron “Whizzer” White in 1937 to have at least 1,000 yards and four total picks in the same season. Half fun Little trivia – White was also a Heisman Trophy finalist that year. Less funny, he came in second place in the halfback voting. The runner who won the trophy? Clint Frank from Yale. Frank also won the Maxwell Award that year, but unlike White, he did not study law and become a Supreme Court justice – the Illinois native founded his own advertising agency in 1954.