WACO, Texas — Colorado found the second-half spark it was searching for Saturday, but the Buffaloes couldn’t sustain it long enough to leave Waco with a Big 12 victory.
Isaac Wilson came off the bench and led a 95-yard touchdown drive that pulled Colorado even in the fourth quarter before Baylor answered with 10 straight points to hand the Buffaloes a 23-13 loss at McLane Stadium.
Colorado fell to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play despite outgaining Baylor 363-337 and holding the ball for more than 31 minutes. The Buffaloes’ biggest problem was finishing drives, going just 3 of 15 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth down.
“You’re not going to win like that,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “You’re not going to win like that whatsoever.”
Colorado led 3-0 after Elliott Arnold’s first-quarter field goal before Baylor scored 13 unanswered points. Sanders turned to Wilson in place of Julian Lewis to begin the second half with the Buffs trailing 10-3.
Wilson settled in as the half progressed. After Arnold’s second field goal cut the deficit to 13-6, Wilson directed Colorado’s best possession of the afternoon, marching the Buffs 95 yards in 12 plays. He capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Williams, tying the game at 13 with 11:04 remaining.
Williams emerged as Colorado’s most consistent offensive threat, catching 11 passes for 127 yards and the touchdown. He also completed a 49-yard pass to Quanell Farrakhan Jr. in the first quarter.
“Joseph’s been a dawg,” Sanders said. “He’s cleaning up, he wants it. He wants to be that guy, and he is that guy right now.”
Colorado’s momentum did not last. Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway answered with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jadon Porter, and Rhett Armstrong later added a 54-yard field goal.
Wilson finished with 156 passing yards and a touchdown, but Colorado’s final opportunity ended with a fumble.
The Buffs return to Boulder looking to regroup before hosting Texas Tech on Saturday for Homecoming.