Colorado’s 20-36 loss at Houston on Friday laid bare the gap in physicality and execution. The Cougars stacked five Ethan Sanchez field goals and rode Conner Weigman’s 305 total yards and two rushing scores to pull away in the second half. Houston churned out 431 yards and 209 on the ground, while Deion Sanders’ offense sputtered after halftime and never found a sustainable rhythm on the road in its Big 12 opener. The defeat dropped the Buffaloes to 1-2 (0-1 Big 12) and underscored how narrow the margin is for a team still sorting out its identity after a summer of change under Coach Prime.

Ryan Staub’s promotion framed the night, and the third-year signal-caller flashed a live arm and some improvisation before Houston’s pressure and the Buffs’ protection issues tilted the gam

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