The party at Folsom Field had the right soundtrack and, for long stretches, the right kind of football too. Colorado came out swinging, buried Weber State early and rolled to a 52-21 win Saturday in a home opener that was never truly in doubt.
Julian Lewis was the cleanest part of the whole thing. After grinding through the first 58 minutes of CU’s opening win against Georgia Tech, the quarterback looked far more settled this time, piling up 129 yards and two touchdowns on the Buffs’ first three offensive plays. Colorado’s offense had room to breathe, and for the most part it did exactly what it wanted.
But the box score didn’t tell the whole story, and Deion Sanders made sure of that.
“There should’ve been a lot more productivity, and a lot more expectation of that productivity,” Sanders said. “We didn’t get done what we wanted to get done. There’s no way that we’re satisfied with the outcome.”
That frustration came with a 31-point victory attached to it, which says plenty about where the Buffs are right now. They’re 2-0, but the sloppiness has become impossible to ignore. Special teams issues that surfaced against Georgia Tech showed up again against Weber State, and the mistakes kept Colorado from turning a comfortable afternoon into something even more lopsided.
DeKalon Taylor kept bringing kickoffs out of the end zone, just as he did in the opener. He only made it to the 20-yard line once, and that came early in the second half after safety Ben Finneseth was flagged for taunting, leaving Colorado to start at its own 10. Later in the second quarter, Weber State had a long kickoff return wiped out by offsetting penalties, but CU’s penalty in the sequence was for illegal formation on a kickoff.
Boo Carter, who bailed the Buffs out against Georgia Tech with a blocked field goal on the final play, also put the ball on the ground on a punt return late in the first half. Weber State didn’t take advantage. Better teams almost certainly will.
Even the late-game routine got messy. Colorado lined up for a 47-yard field goal with less than three minutes left, then had to burn a timeout because only 10 players were on the field.
Elliot Arnold’s kick in the third quarter was the first field-goal attempt of his career, so the reps mattered. The execution did not.
The penalty count was just as ugly. Colorado was flagged 13 times for 107 yards against Weber State, bringing its two-game total to 19 penalties for 167 yards.
“We’re trying to win a championship. We’re not just trying to win a game,” Sanders said.
“I’m a bona fide winner in my life. I’ve always won, and I want to win.
That don’t sit well with me. I’m happy and I’m enthusiastic about the win.
Some players played well. But I’m a darn winner.”
That’s the tension hanging over these first two weeks. The Buffs have the record they want, and the results have been good enough to keep the mood upbeat. But the errors are piling up, and they’ve been good fortune more than good discipline.
For now, Colorado can point to 2-0 and move on. The challenge comes next week at Northwestern, which opened with a win against South Dakota State and then went into an early bye before hosting the Buffs.
If Colorado cleans up the penalties and special teams mess, there’s a path here. If it doesn’t, those good vibes won’t last long.
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Week 2 Depth Chart Gives Buffs Fans Something To Debate
Colorados updated depth chart arrived ahead of Week 2 against Weber State, and as expected with a Deion Sanders team, it gave Buffs fans plenty to dissect before kickoff at Folsom Field. The release laid out the official starters and depth pieces on both offense and defense, offering the clearest look yet at how the staff is sorting out roles after the opener.
For a program still trying to settle into its early-season identity, even a routine depth chart turns into a talking point when Sanders is involved. The names at the top may not settle every debate, but they do give Colorado a fresh snapshot of where things stand as the Buffs head into their first home test of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Is Making Sure Dominiq Ponders Legacy Lives Far Beyond Football
The legacy of Dominiq Ponder is continuing to take shape well beyond the football field, as his parents have launched the Dominiq Ponder 7/22 Foundation to support students with scholarships and education centered on responsible decision-making. The effort is meant to honor the late Colorado quarterback while also pushing awareness around the dangers of driving under the influence, giving his name a lasting purpose tied to both opportunity and prevention.
Colorado has remained closely connected to Ponders family, showing that support in visible ways with a jersey patch and a dedication of the 2026 season in his honor. The foundation adds another layer to that tribute, turning remembrance into something practical for students and keeping his influence present in the program in a way that reaches beyond Saturdays in the fall. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Is Chasing A Rising DB Before Fans Even See Him Up Close
Colorado is using its home opener against Weber State as more than just a chance to start the season in front of its own crowd. The Buffaloes have also turned the weekend into a recruiting stop, extending an invitation to 2028 defensive back Tanner Hardy of Brookhaven High School, a young prospect whose name is already surfacing in the programs early evaluation work.
Hardy acknowledged the offer on social media, but there is still no word yet on whether hell make the trip or eventually join Colorados class. He is part of a broader group of prospects being brought around the game, a reminder that the Buffaloes are already working to build future relationships while fans are still waiting to see the current team up close. [Read more 🡒]