Colorado coach Deion Sanders plans to use the upcoming bye week to evaluate the quarterbacks after saying the Buffaloes have “got to play better at one specific position” following their 29-7 loss to No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday night.
Sanders said Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) will consider all three quarterback options — Isaac Wilson, Kaneal Sweetwyne and highly touted prospect Julian “JuJu” Lewis — before it faces No. 13 Utah on Oct. 17.
“That’s the position that’s somewhat disabling us and disarming us,” Sanders said. “Somebody’s got to step up and take hold of it and get it done.”
Wilson made his first start for the Buffaloes on Saturday and engineered an opening nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. But there wasn’t much spark after that, as Colorado was shut out the rest of the way and Wilson threw three interceptions.
“The score is not indicative of who these guys are and who we are,” Sanders said. “I don’t believe so. It’s just very unfortunate.
“I expected a win. That’s what I expected today. A tremendous win that would’ve made the bye week so much better. We’re going to work. We’re going to right the wrongs, looking to see how some of the young men respond.”
Later, presumably talking about the quarterback position in answering a question about whether he felt his team was on the verge of finding a winning formula, Sanders doubled down on what he views as the problem.
“Let’s stop the shenanigans, man,” Sanders said. “We got one darn problem. You guys know darn well what that is. Let’s stop the foolishness. We’ve got to play better at one specific position. That’s it.”
Wilson’s night might be best remembered for his final interception — a pick-six straight to Texas Tech linebacker John Curry, who caught the pass several yards deep in the Buffaloes end zone.
“I need to stop trying to be more than I am,” said Wilson, who finished 26-for-44 for 290 yards. “We’ve got dogs all over the field, and I just need to get it to them.”
After the early touchdown against the Red Raiders, the Buffaloes’ next 12 drives ended with two missed field goals, four interceptions, an unsuccessful fake punt, three punts and two turnovers on downs.
“We kept stalling out, and I take full blame on that,” Wilson said. “I did not make smart decisions tonight. Like I said, I need to stop trying to do too much.”
Lewis opened the season as the starter and had five touchdowns and zero interceptions in wins over Georgia Tech and Weber State. But he threw two interceptions in a blowout loss to Northwestern then was benched at halftime for Wilson against Baylor on Sept. 26.
Sweetwyne has appeared in two games this season, going 8-for-12 for 42 passing yards.
Colorado, the most penalized team in the Big 12, was flagged eight times for 84 yards Saturday. The offense outgained Texas Tech 375-315 but couldn’t turn it into points.
“We’ve been horrible,” Sanders said. “Don’t sugarcoat it. We’ve been horrible. What did we have, seven points? You’re not going to win. You’re not going to win.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
