The Colorado Buffaloes, led by Deion Sanders, will host the Oklahoma State Cowboys for their final home game of the 2024 season at Folsom Field in Boulder. The Buffs (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) are coming off a disappointing 37-21 loss to Kansas, a defeat that significantly damaged their hopes for the Big 12 Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.

However, with a chance to secure their ninth win and the possibility of reaching double-digit victories with a bowl game win, there is still much at stake for Coach Prime and his squad. Meanwhile, the Cowboys (3-8, 0-8 Big 12) enter this matchup enduring their worst season under Mike Gundy, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2005 and risking their first winless conference season since 1994.

Shedeur Sanders, a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, and Travis Hunter, a top Heisman Trophy contender, remain the cornerstones of Colorado’s campaign. Sanders has amassed 3,488 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and added four rushing scores. His dynamic presence has been the engine for Colorado’s high-octane offense. On the other side of the ball—and sometimes on the same side—Hunter continues to dazzle as one of the most electrifying players in the nation. With 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 12 total touchdowns, alongside his stellar defensive stats (30 tackles, nine pass breakups, three interceptions, and a forced fumble), Hunter is on the verge of making history as the first defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997.

Two Colorado standouts could rewrite NFL history next year

Oklahoma State, reeling from a tumultuous season, enters as 16.5-point underdogs. The Cowboys have struggled mightily, with running back Ollie Gordon II being a lone bright spot despite a drop in production compared to his breakout 2023 campaign. Gordon has rushed for 870 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, but his efforts haven’t been enough to offset the Cowboys’ struggles in all phases of the game. Their last encounter with Colorado was a decisive 38-8 victory in the 2016 Alamo Bowl, but this year’s circumstances paint a drastically different picture.

NFL GM visits Colorado’s practice reportedly eyeing Shedeur Sanders

For the Buffs, this game represents an opportunity to bounce back from adversity and finish the season strong. A win would not only secure momentum heading into recruiting season but also strengthen their case as a program on the rise under Sanders’ leadership. While their CFP hopes are faint, a commanding performance from stars like Sanders and Hunter could leave a lasting impression, both for postseason awards and as a statement of the Buffs’ bright future in college football.

Friday, November 29

No. 25 Colorado vs. Oklahoma State

Kickoff: Noon ET

TV: ABC

The Cowboys’ disastrous 2024 season is almost over.

On Friday, Oklahoma State will play its final game of the season at Colorado at 11 a.m. CT. The early start is a fitting end to OSU’s season, which started with a plethora of early kickoffs.

However, the Cowboys will not play again for roughly nine months and will have a chance to carry some momentum into 2025. Colorado is still in the middle of the Big 12 title race and could make a statement to begin the weekend.

Still, OSU is looking to avoid a winless conference slate and finish with an upset victory on the road. While the Cowboys haven’t won in over two months, Black Friday could be a perfect time for OSU to find the win column again.

OK State on SI’s score predictions:

Ivan White (@ivanbball13)

Colorado 38 Oklahoma State 17

The Cowboys will put up a good fight in Maealiuaki Smith’s second start, but their defense will again be the team’s downfall. OSU’s offense looked improved last week against Texas Tech but repeating that performance will prove difficult against a Colorado team clinging to Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hopes.

Taylor Skieens (@Taylorskieens)

Oklahoma State 45 Prime-orado 42

Oklahoma State showed signs of life a week ago. The offense resembled the OSU of old. There is a new kid in town and his name is Maealiuaki Smith. The freshman was impressive for the Cowboys, and he scores his biggest career victory when he takes down the Buffaloes.

Nick Crain (@CrainNBA)

Colorado 41 Oklahoma State 20

It’s likely that Oklahoma State goes winless in the Big 12 this season, with Colorado being a tough final test. Especially on the road against a team with much to play for, this one could get out of hand early.

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After a neck-and-neck fourth quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder just narrowly managed to get past the Golden State Warriors on the road.

Oklahoma City had jumped out of the gates with a 39-23 after the first quarter, but Golden State quickly battled back to bring it within double digits. Ultimately, the Thunder reigned supreme in a final score of 105-101.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 35 points, nine rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block on 13-of-28 shooting from the field. The guard struggled with 3-of-12 shooting from 3-point range, but he was able to push the pace offensively in other areas to give him the edge over the Warriors.

Without Stephen Curry, the Golden State offense plummeted — shooting nearly 36% from the field and 32% from behind the arc.

Here are three takeaways from the Thunder’s four-point victory:

Even though Oklahoma City left Chase Center with a win, struggles from the free-throw line kept it far closer than it needed to be.

The Thunder made just 16 of their 26 free throw attempts, good for a measly 61.5%. Gilgeous-Alexander shot an uncharacteristically poor 6-of-10, while Jalen Williams didn’t fare much better with 5-of-8.

One of those misses came with seven seconds remaining in the game, where Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first of two attempts after a foul from Buddy Hield. However, he knocked down his following three attempts to secure the win for Oklahoma City.

Shooting anywhere near 60% shooting on free throws is less than ideal though, regardless of the outcome being in the Thunder’s favor. It’ll be an area it wants to clean up before it goes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Between the free throws and a 11-of-37 — or 29.7% — finish from the 3-point arc, it was a win that’s ugly as they come for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder struggled to find offense against a depleted Warriors squad without Curry, which on paper, it should’ve had an easier time going up against. Golden State was led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 19 points on 8-of-21 shooting, and Andrew Wiggins also struggled with 16 points on 4-of-16 shooting.

It was undoubtedly a strong defensive effort for Oklahoma City, especially in regards to Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort. As a whole, it finished with 10 steals and nine blocks on the night — adding to its high number of stocks throughout the season.

On offense, the Thunder did leave a lot to be desired, but it’ll take any win it can get in a tough Western Conference. After Wednesday night, it remains in the No. 1 seed with a one-game advantage on the Houston Rockets.

It seems that Oklahoma City can’t escape the injury bug this season, and it tends to happen against the Warriors.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Chet Holmgren awkwardly landed on his hip after making contact with Wiggins, leaving him with a hip fracture that will keep him out for most of the year. After last night’s win, Williams suffered a similar fate.

Kuminga went up for a slam dunk at the end of the first half, and Williams decided to challenge. However, Kuminga’s hand went right into his face on the play, causing a right eye injury that ruled him out for the rest of the game.

It’s unclear how serious the injury is nor how long it will leave him out of action, but it’s yet another blow that the Thunder has dealt with in that department. It still left with a victory in its hands, but if Williams would have played the entirety of the game, the outcome could’ve been much simpler.

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