Colorado enters Saturday’s homecoming game with No. 12 Texas Tech carrying more than just the weight of a Big 12 matchup. The Buffaloes are trying to land the biggest win of the Coach Prime Era, and Folsom Field is set for a black-and-gold stripe-out backdrop as the game unfolds in Boulder.
Quarterback questions are front and center for both sides. Colorado reopened its competition in Week 4 after benching redshirt freshman Julian Lewis in favor of junior Isaac Wilson during a 23-13 loss to Baylor. Steve Nakos of On3 reported that Wilson is expected to start against Texas Tech, though Lewis could still see the field.
NEW: Colorado will start QB Isaac Wilson over Julian Lewis against Texas Tech, @PeteNakos reports. Isaac is the younger brother to Zach Wilson. https://t.co/YCEfkwvFnK pic.twitter.com/WenEWCveMX
Texas Tech’s situation changed late in the week. Backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who had been used in several run packages, was ruled ineligible one day before the game after a Kentucky Court of Appeals ruling removed the extra season of eligibility he had been awarded for 2026, even though he had already declared for the 2026 NFL Draft earlier this year. Texas Tech later said Castellanos will not play and that the program is looking at more options for him going forward.
That leaves Colorado preparing for Will Hammond at quarterback, with his mobility still limited as he continues recovering from an ACL tear suffered last season. Without a more dynamic option behind center, Colorado defensive coordinator Chris Marve is expected to bring pressure often and try to make Hammond uncomfortable.
At the same time, the Buffaloes know Texas Tech can hurt them on the ground. J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey are the Red Raiders’ backs Colorado is keying on.
“It just comes down to reading our keys,” said Colorado edge rusher Toby Anene on Wednesday. “Reading our tackles, understanding down and distance, what type of plays they’re running and what the situation is.”
When Colorado has the ball, the spotlight shifts to Joseph Williams. The Buffs receiver was nearly the whole show against Baylor, finishing with a career-high 11 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. His matchup with Texas Tech cornerback Brice Pollock could decide whether Colorado’s offense has a real path in this game.
Pollock has been one of the Red Raiders’ most important defenders this season, and if he can take Williams out of the game, Colorado may have a hard time getting much going. If Williams wins that battle and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion builds the offense around him, the Buffaloes have a legitimate shot to hang around.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Fans Stumbled Onto A Colorado Mystery Before Kickoff
Before kickoff in Lubbock, Texas Tech fans reportedly stumbled onto something that looked a lot more useful than a souvenir: a 25-page Colorado game plan playbook found at the Buffaloes team hotel. The document appeared authentic and, to outsiders watching the game unfold, it matched plays Colorado actually used on the field.
For a team already trying to steady itself, the timing could not have been worse. Colorado was beaten 29-7 by Texas Tech in a game defined by turnovers and interceptions, then headed into a bye week with a three-game losing streak hanging over it. Deion Sanders acknowledged the issues and opened up a quarterback competition, leaving the Buffaloes with plenty to sort out and a strange pregame mystery still hanging in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Heads Into Bye Week With A Frustrating New Debate
Colorados trip to Texas Tech offered a little of everything except a complete performance, and that left the Buffaloes heading into the bye week with more questions than answers. Isaac Wilson took the start at quarterback and threw for a career-high 292 yards with a touchdown, but the offense never found enough rhythm to offset the three interceptions, while a defense that held Texas Tech to three first-half points and racked up 11 tackles for loss still watched the game slip away.
Special teams and penalties made the gap too wide to close, from missed field goals to a failed fake punt that short-circuited any chance at momentum. For a team that needed cleaner execution to build on its defensive work, the frustrating part is not just the loss itself but the debate it leaves behind as Colorado gets a week to sort out how to turn the offenses flashes into something more dependable. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Celebrity Sideline Moment Had Buffs Fans Reading One NBA Star
Colorados home game against Texas Tech brought a familiar mix of football and celebrity watching, with several high-profile guests taking in the scene from the sideline. Among the biggest names in the building were Nikola Jokic, DeMar DeRozan and Cam Johnson, and the attention around them quickly became part of the atmosphere as much as the matchup itself.
DeRozan was the one who seemed to embrace the moment most, engaging with fans and giving the sideline the kind of energy Buffaloes supporters have come to expect when a star rolls through Boulder. Jokic, by contrast, drew a different reaction, appearing more reserved and keeping his interactions with attendees to a minimum, a contrast that stood out during a season in which the celebrity turnout around Colorado games has already felt lighter than it has in past years. [Read more 🡒]