MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – November 8, 2025 – In a pivotal Big 12 showdown, the West Virginia Mountaineers edged the Colorado Buffaloes 29‑22 at Milan Puskar Stadium, riding a wave of youthful exuberance and strategic urgency to a vital conference win.
Game Flow and Impactful Moments
West Virginia struck first and often—opening the scoring with a blocked‑punt safety and an early rushing touchdown by hybrid defender‑turned‑running‑back Curtis Jones Jr.. True freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. continued the charge with a 162‑yard first half, including a touchdown pass to tight end Ryan Ward. The Mountaineers piled up pressure up front, registering four sacks and eight tackles for loss in the opening half and forcing the Buffaloes into a rhythm‑starved offense.
Colorado answered in the second half with portrait flashes of potential: freshman quarterback Julian Lewis stepped in and threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, pulling the Buffaloes within reach—but West Virginia’s steady control of momentum and clock ultimately sealed the victory.
Significance for Both Programs
For West Virginia:
- The win lifts them to 4‑6 overall and 2‑5 in Big 12 play, but more than that, it showcases a program finding identity through younger contributors and resolving adversity with determination.
- The performance underscored defensive revitalization under head coach Rich Rodriguez—the early dominance gave the Mountaineers the cushion they needed.
- The dual‑freshman combo (Fox Jr. and Jones) offers glimpses of a new core taking shape—important for a program rebuilding relevance.
For Colorado:
- The loss drops them to 3‑7 overall and 1‑6 in conference play, officially eliminating them from bowl‑eligibility and raising new questions about execution and momentum under head coach Deion Sanders.
- Despite Lewis’ bright debut, the Buffaloes still surrendered early momentum and homed in on opportunities that never fully transformed into control.
- Beyond the scoreboard, the cultural reset and roster progress are still far from translating into sustained success—a challenge the program must now face head‑on.
What to Watch Next
- West Virginia will seek to build on this momentum when they face Arizona State on the road—how they approach the next game will determine whether this win is a turning point or an anomaly.
- Colorado enters a bye week at a crossroads. With the season effectively over from a postseason standpoint, the focus shifts to development, recruiting and establishing a baseline for next year.
- The trajectory of the programs will be shaped not just by wins and losses, but by how these younger players and coaches respond in the offseason—this game offers momentum for one, and questions for the other.
Final Thoughts
Saturday’s clash was more than a 7‑point margin—it was a statement. West Virginia answered pressure and skepticism with grit, depth and strategic control. Colorado showed flashes of promise, but against a determined opponent they failed to sustain them. In this matchup, the Mountaineers didn’t just win—they delivered relief and resurgence. The Buffaloes, meanwhile, must now pivot, reassess and rebuild.
— Reporting for SportBuzzHub.com, November 8, 2025
