Colorado comes out of its bye week with Utah waiting and a familiar problem hanging over the matchup: health. Deion Sanders’ team has several players on the latest availability report, and a physical Utes squad will test the Buffaloes where games like this are often decided - up front.
The biggest watch item for Colorado is defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. He was listed as “Quesitonable” as of Thursday, Oct. 15, and his status is expected to be followed again on Friday and then two hours before kickoff on Saturday. At this point, Lester Jr. looks like a game-time decision for the Utah game.
Colorado’s report also includes Kam Perry, wide receiver Danny Scudero, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, defensive back Preston Ashley, cornerback Zach Atkins, tight end Fisher Clements, tight end Dylan Manuel, defensive lineman
Even with that group on the report, Colorado has two other players who are expected to sit out against Utah. Linebacker Tyler Martinez and offensive lineman Demetrius Hunter were not included on the Buffs’ availability report, but they will be inactive. Because long-term injuries no longer require a player to keep showing up as “Out,” both are expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Utah’s own injury picture looks a lot cleaner. The Utes listed only two players on their availability report released Thursday evening. Before their Oct. 10 win over Kansas, tight end Kana'i Lopes and offensive lineman Isaiah Garcia were both listed “Out,” but neither appears on the report ahead of the Colorado game.
Lopes still has not made his season debut after suffering an undisclosed injury before the regular season began, while Garcia missed two games with an injury. Those reinforcements seem to be on the way for Utah, which makes Colorado’s upset path even steeper.
The betting line reflects that gap. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Utah is favored by 15.5 points.
Colorado has shown it can force stops and get off the field on defense, but the offense has had trouble cashing in once it reaches the red zone. That issue looms large against a Utah team that has already built momentum.
The series between the teams is close overall, with Utah holding a 36-33-3 edge, but the stakes feel bigger for Colorado after its 29-7 loss to Texas Tech. Sanders’ team is 2-3 through five games, and Saturday gives the Buffaloes another chance to steady things before the record slips further.
Can Colorado pull off the upset win over Utah? Or will the Buffaloes fall to 2-4 with a season starting to feel more and more similar to Colorado's 3-9 finish in 2025.
In Other News...
Buffs Let A Stronger Start Slip Away At Stanford
Colorado got the kind of opening round that leaves plenty of room to climb, but not much room for error, at the Stanford Intercollegiate. After day one at the Stanford Golf Course, the Buffaloes sat in 14th place at 15-over-par, a spot that reflected more missed chances than disaster in a field where Stanford surged to the top at 13-under.
Maya McVey provided the steadiest footing for Colorado, carding a 1-over 72 to lead the Buffaloes individually. With the tournament just getting started, the challenge now is whether the rest of the lineup can turn a shaky opener into something more competitive as the rounds continue. [Read more 🡒]
Buffs Are One Win From A Breakthrough With NCAA Stakes
Colorados womens tennis program has a chance to turn a strong regional run into something bigger at the ITA Mountain Regional Championships. Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo have pushed all the way to the doubles final after moving through both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, giving the Buffaloes a shot at a regional title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Individual Championships.
Heidi Crncans singles run ended in the round of 16 against Utahs Sara Akid, leaving the doubles pairing as Colorados last chance to leave the tournament with a major breakthrough. Alexin and Bubalo now wait for their Saturday opponent, with the championship match set to determine whether the Buffs can cap the event with an NCAA-clinching win. [Read more 🡒]
Former Big 12 Quarterback Just Added Intrigue To Colorados Utah Week
Diego Pavia brought an unexpected layer of attention to Colorados buildup for Utah week, showing up around the program to back Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes. The former Vanderbilt quarterback, who finished as a Heisman finalist, spent time around the team and even gave viewers a peek behind the curtain through Twitch, adding another dose of buzz to a week already carrying Big 12 stakes.
Pavia also offered his take on Colorado quarterback Isaac Wilson, a useful outside perspective as the Buffaloes try to sharpen themselves for one of their biggest conference tests. He sounded optimistic about Colorados path in the Big 12 championship race, and his presence around the team only heightened the sense that this week has a little extra meaning beyond the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]