Colorado’s bye week arrives with the Buffaloes sitting at 2-3, and the next seven games will decide whether this season keeps sliding or starts to level out. After a start that included a road win over Georgia Tech and a 52-21 rout of Weber State, Colorado has now dropped three straight to Northwestern, Baylor and Texas Tech.
The latest loss, a 29-7 home defeat to the No. 12 Red Raiders, was the one that really sharpened the questions.
The biggest one remains under center. Deion Sanders has already made it clear that the quarterback play has to get better, and Colorado could use the bye week to sort through Isaac Wilson, Julian Lewis and freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne. Wilson got the nod against Texas Tech and struggled through his first start, finishing 26 of 55 for 290 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
That uncertainty has been a major drag on the offense, and Colorado can’t keep cycling through options if it wants any rhythm in the second half of the season. The Buffaloes have already had trouble producing consistently against Power Four teams, and another quarterback switch would only make that harder.
At some point, Sanders will have to pick one passer and let him ride. Whether that’s Wilson or Lewis, Colorado needs something stable to build around.
There is reason to think the defense can keep the team in games, though. Chris Marve’s group has shown it can generate pressure and create plays in the backfield, and that matters with Utah, Oklahoma State and Kansas State looming in a key stretch of the Big 12 schedule. Those matchups could turn into low-scoring battles if the offense continues to sputter.
Colorado doesn’t need the defense to be flawless. It just needs the unit to hold opponents down long enough to give the offense a shot. If the Buffaloes can avoid falling behind early, they should have chances to hang around and steal a few close ones.
That’s where the schedule starts to open up. Utah comes in undefeated and will be a tough home test, and Oklahoma State will also be a difficult road game. But Colorado still has winnable matchups against Kansas State, Arizona State, Cincinnati and UCF, with Houston at Folsom Field also offering an opportunity.
The main thing is avoiding another long skid. The Buffaloes are still looking for their first Big 12 win, but there’s still a path to a turnaround if the quarterback situation settles down and the defense keeps doing its part. If Colorado can win four of its final seven, a 6-6 finish is still on the table.
That wouldn’t be the season the Buffaloes wanted coming into 2026, but from 2-3 it would count as a real recovery. It would also put Colorado in a bowl game and give the program something to carry into the offseason.
In Other News...
Colorado Defense Showed Real Progress Before One More Painful Breakdown
Colorados defense gave the Buffaloes something real to build on in a recent matchup with Texas Tech, especially up front. Sanata Hopper was everywhere for stretches of the game, and the unit as a whole kept Texas Tech in check for most of the afternoon, allowing Colorado to stay competitive deep into the contest and limiting the Red Raiders to just 12 points through three quarters.
The encouraging part for Deion Sanders was the overall trend, even if it came with the familiar sting of another late lapse. Colorado showed better structure and energy than it has at other points this season, but the final breakdown erased much of the good will from the earlier effort. The challenge now is turning that improved early resistance into something that lasts through the finish. [Read more 🡒]
Cherry Creek Faces A Real Test As Its Surge Meets A 5-1 Threat
Cherry Creeks unbeaten reputation will get a real measuring stick this week when the No. 1 team in Colorado high school football lines up against Northfield, with both schools carrying 5-1 records into the matchup. The Bruins have looked the part of a state power, and their recent uptick has been helped by the return of junior quarterback Bentley Unruh, whose presence made a noticeable difference in their last game.
Northfield, though, brings more than just a winning record to the table. Senior tailback Kaeden Williams has been the centerpiece of a physical offense, piling up 822 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, which gives the Raiders a proven way to challenge Cherry Creeks defense. For a team trying to protect its top ranking, this is the kind of game that can reveal a lot in a hurry, even before the broader state playoff picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Took A Big Hit Before A Crucial Stretch
BYUs offense is heading into a rough stretch without one of its most important pieces. Running back LJ Martin went down with a lower-body injury against TCU, and the Cougars are bracing for a significant stretch without their lead runner as they prepare for a matchup with Notre Dame and other games beyond that.
The loss puts more pressure on an already shifting offensive plan, with quarterback Bear Bachmeier likely to shoulder a bigger load while the rushing attack waits for Martin to return. For a team trying to navigate a pivotal run of games, the absence of a back who has been central to the ground game changes the feel of everything around it. [Read more 🡒]