Deion Sanders and Colorado Knocked for Messy Clock Management Late vs. USC

The Buffaloes' plodding end-of-game approach came back to bite them.

Colorado tried so, so hard to turn what looked like a blowout loss in the making into a compelling contest.

However, the Buffaloes fell just short in their bid to upset No. 8 USC. Down 48–21 with 2:14 left in the third quarter, Colorado scored the game’s last 20 points — just enough to make Trojans fans sweat.

One of the key culprits in the Buffaloes' comeback stalling out was shoddy clock management on their final scoring drive. It took 4:15 for Colorado to travel 78 yards to wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.'s 16-yard catch with just 1:43 showing on the game clock.

Fans of both teams, as well as neutral observers, had a lot to say about coach Deion Sanders's Buffaloes' lackadaisical approach.

Colorado’s late-game clock management: pic.twitter.com/vZfPLc49nY

— Jason Squilliams (@JasonSquilliams) September 30, 2023

Careless clock managers of years past were name-checked.

Les Miles is clearly a clock management analyst for Colorado this year.

— College Football Nerds (@CFBNerds) September 30, 2023

Some handed out strong superlatives as Colorado frittered away a shot at victory.

Colorado wrapped that game up with some of the worst clock management I’ve ever seen

— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) September 30, 2023

The Buffaloes' history caught a stray (from NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano, no less).

Last time Twitter went nuts over Colorado clock management was, well, never. Twitter didn't exist last time Colorado was good.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 30, 2023

A question posed implicitly or explicitly by many fans: did Colorado realize it was down two scores instead of just one?

Colorado has decided to run out the clock while attempting a comeback

— Ray Jr (@RaymondLucasJr) September 30, 2023

The Buffaloes seemed to meet their match in second half, as their coaching woes did battle with USC's porous defense.

USC’s defense vs Colorado’s clock management pic.twitter.com/2bqYbbQzPD

— Dustin Nickerson (@DustinNickerson) September 30, 2023

Past temporal nightmares in the Centennial State were recalled.

Colorado clock management pic.twitter.com/i8iQG7zMKS

— ape (@qpe) September 30, 2023

The rough consensus: Colorado has some things to clean up before its visit to Arizona State next Saturday.

Did y'all not rep your 2 minute package, Colorado? All these runs and check with me with a running clock?

— Stir It Like Coffee (@CurseOfSpin) September 30, 2023