Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Concludes Season with 52-0 Loss to Colorado

The Cowboys’ historical season is over.

Oklahoma State lost its season finale to No. 25 Colorado 52-0 on Friday in Boulder to finish the season at 3-9 and winless in Big 12 play. The deficit is the worst ever in Mike Gundy’s 20-year career. The loss was also OSU’s ninth in a row, as the Cowboys will carry what’s tied as the longest losing streak in program history into 2025.

The 2024 season at least started well at 3-0, but this game was bad from the start. Making his second career start and first on the road, freshman quarterback Maealiuaki Smith threw an interception on the third play of the game to Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter, who also caught three touchdowns as a receiver.

Colorado quickly converted the turnover into a touchdown to prompt a 21-0 start to the game in the first quarter. The Buffaloes scored a touchdown on their first three drives before OSU’s defense shut down Shedeur Sanders & Co. for six straight possessions, including getting three sacks in a row after Colorado got to a first-and-goal and still failed to get any points. The Pokes shut out CU for the second quarter.

Colorado’s scoring drought ended only three plays into the second half when Sanders hit LaJohntay Wester for a 69-yard touchdown put the Buffs ahead 28-0. Wester finished with 11 receptions for 175 yards and a pair of TDs.

OSU’s self-destruction only continued in the second half when Gordon’s shoulder knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands to cause a fumble that Colorado recovered on the Cowboys’ opening second-half possession. That turnover ultimately resulted in another touchdown for Colorado.

After failing to score on 13 straight drives, Smith was replaced by seven-year senior Alan Bowman in the fourth quarter. The switch happened after Smith threw his second interception, which former Cowboy D.J. McKinney caught and returned for a 13-yard score. Offensive drives led by Smith included eight punts, two interceptions, two fumbles and a turnover on downs. Smith obviously wasn’t the only issue, though, as the Cowboys still never put points on the board with Bowman leading the way for three drives.

Overall, OSU’s offense had 10 first downs while averaging 2.3 yards a play, including 2.3 yards per rush. In most likely his final college football game, last season’s Doak Walker winner Ollie Gordon ran the ball four times for 10 yards.

Although it’s been a while since the Pokes had anything but pride to play for, Colorado, at 9-3, still has a chance to make the Big 12 Championship Game after the win if fate goes the Buffaloes’ way on Saturday.