Colorado gets a difficult test back at Folsom Field, where the Buffaloes will try to snap a three-game skid against No. 11 Utah. The setups are stark: Colorado is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play, while the Utes arrive at 5-0 and 2-0 in the conference, riding the kind of balance that has kept them unbeaten.
Utah has been efficient and steady on both sides of the ball, averaging 42.8 points per game while allowing just 13. That sort of consistency is exactly what Colorado has lacked, and it’s why the Buffaloes will need a clean performance just to make this interesting. If Utah gets comfortable early, the pressure on Colorado only grows.
For the Buffaloes, the path to staying in the game starts on the ground. If they can establish their run game, move the chains on third down and stay away from turnovers, they can keep the score tight into the fourth quarter. Colorado could even be within one possession late, and even if it falls short of an upset, a competitive showing would still matter after the bye week.
At quarterback, Isaac Wilson has a chance to turn in a defining performance against his former team. After replacing Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis, Wilson is trying to build his Colorado résumé while making a statement in a familiar matchup. Against Texas Tech, he threw for 290 yards and a touchdown, but three interceptions undercut that effort and once again highlighted protection problems up front.
Colorado wide receiver Joseph Williams could be central to what Wilson does next. Williams has emerged as one of the Buffaloes’ most dependable and productive offensive weapons, and if he and Wilson connect early, Colorado can stress Utah’s secondary and open space for other receivers. The challenge will be finding that balance between pushing the ball downfield and avoiding the kind of reckless throws that can swing a game.
A big night from Wilson would likely mean more than just yardage. If he reaches 250 passing yards and adds two touchdowns, Colorado would have a real shot to keep pace. But the passing numbers only matter if the decision-making holds up.
Utah’s offense brings problems from every angle. Running back Wayshawn Parker has already piled up 499 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns, while quarterback Devon Dampier can hurt defenses as both a passer and a runner.
Colorado can’t afford to zero in on just one threat. If Dampier is allowed to extend drives and keep the Buffaloes’ defense on the field, Utah can settle in and control the game.
That’s why pressure matters so much for Colorado. The Buffaloes need to force tougher third downs and create takeaways, whether that comes through an interception or a fumble. Those are the kinds of plays that can tilt a game and give the offense another chance to strike.
Utah enters as the clear favorite, but Colorado does have a path to making this uncomfortable. Protect the football, get Williams involved, ask Wilson to deliver, and hope the defense can deliver a few momentum-changing stops. If the Buffaloes can do that, they may not just hang around - they could make this one a real fight.
In Other News...
Colorado Heads Into Utah With One Problem The Bye Week Didnt Fix
Colorados bye week offered a pause, but it did not clear the Buffaloes injury report the way they had hoped. As the team turns to Utah in Week 7, Deion Sanders is still sorting through a lineup hit by a recent losing streak, with some players trending back toward availability while others are still working their way toward the field.
The biggest question remains on the offensive side, where there was initial hope the break would get Scudero back, but Sanders sounded less certain about that timeline. On the other side of the ball, Lester appears more likely to return, even as new issues for Ezeogu and Manuel have further thinned the defensive line depth the Buffaloes need to steady themselves in conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Gets A Defining Home Test With Utah Coming To Boulder
Colorado comes out of its bye week facing a crisp, national-stage test at Folsom Field on Saturday night, when Utah visits Boulder for an 8:15 p.m. MT kickoff on ESPN. The Buffaloes sit at 2-3 and will get a rare chance to reset at home against a program that has spent the first part of the season looking every bit like a ranked contender.
For Colorado, the intrigue goes beyond the obvious mismatch on paper. This series has been a long-running one in the Pac-12 footprint, and Utah has owned the broader edge over the years, so the Buffs will be trying to use the bye to sharpen whatever needs fixing before a familiar opponent brings urgency and physicality to Boulder. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Tennis Built Real Regional Momentum On A Strong Friday
Colorados tennis group kept rolling through the second day of the 2026 ITA Mountain Regional Championships, turning Friday into a clean statement across the draw. The Buffaloes swept their doubles matches, with Heidi Crncan and Willow Gretsch pairing up for an 8-1 win and Pia Rebec and Louise Ternstroem following with an 8-3 result, giving Colorado a firm foothold before singles even got moving.
The momentum carried into the individual matches, where Ternstroem, Ema Bubalo and Crncan each picked up wins to move on to the Round of 32. For a program trying to build regional traction, a day like this matters because it shows depth as well as balance, and it leaves Colorado positioned with real momentum heading into the next round. [Read more 🡒]