Colorado takes 2nd place in Big 12 with 41-27 win over Texas Tech

Colorado separated itself from a potential second-place finish in the Big 12 with a 41-27 victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday.

The Buffaloes improved to 5-1 in the conference and trailed only BYU (5-0) in the standings pending the Cougars’ matchup with Utah on Saturday night. No. 17 Iowa State fell to 4-2 with its 45-36 loss to Kansas. With the Utes, Jayhawks and Oklahoma State remaining on Colorado’s schedule, a potential spot in the Big 12 championship game is within reach.

After trailing 13-10 at halftime, Colorado scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the third quarter. First, Shedeur Sanders capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a seven-yard TD run to take a 17-13 lead.

Texas Tech came right back and took the lead, capping a 66-yard drive with a two-yard TD run by Tahj Brooks. The Red Raiders went for it on fourth and 1 after quarterback Behren Morton was stopped for no gain at the 2-yard line.

However, the Buffaloes quickly responded with a 73-yard scoring drive that ended with Sanders hitting Will Sheppard on a reverse shoulder throw for a five-yard touchdown.

The Red Raiders then turned the ball over on downs and attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-5 from their own 31-yard line. But Jason Llewellyn’s pass fell incomplete, giving the Buffaloes a short field on offense.

Colorado capitalized on the gift with Sanders connecting with LaJohntay Wester for a 22-yard gain, then hitting Travis Hunter for a 24-yard catch and run for a score.

Sanders threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, completing 30 of 43 passes. Hunter had nine receptions for 99 yards, followed by Wester catching six passes for 82 yards and Sheppard posting eight catches for 79 yards. All three receivers caught TD passes.

The Buffaloes lost receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. in the first quarter with a lower body injury. He hadn’t caught a pass to that point, but had two kickoff returns for 20 yards. For the season, Horn has 33 receptions for 434 yards and a touchdown. His absence created more opportunities for Sheppard, who posted a season high in catches.

The game was plagued throughout by Texas Tech fans throwing objects onto the field, including tortillas and water bottles. Fearing a penalty, TTU coach Joey McGuire got on a microphone late in the third quarter to ask fans to stop being disruptive.

Brooks led Texas Tech with 137 rushing yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, though the Colorado defense held him in check for most of the first half. Josh Kelly posted eight receptions for 106 yards and Morton completed 24-of-40 passes for 275 yards, two TDs and an interception.

With his total yardage, Brooks became the rushing leader in Texas Tech history. He passed Byron Hanspard, who rushed for 4,135 yards from 1994-96.