Colorado’s next seven games don’t offer much breathing room, and the Buffaloes are heading into the hardest part of the schedule with a two-game skid hanging over them. After opening the season 2-0, CU now gets a return to Folsom Field for the next two weeks - but the road ahead only gets steeper from there.
Four of the teams left on the slate are currently ranked in the AP Top 25, which means the Buffaloes are staring at a brutal stretch that will test every part of the roster. And for each matchup, there’s one clear area Colorado has to win if it wants a shot at the upset.
Texas Tech comes first, and the Red Raiders bring a 4-0 record into the game. They’re built around a punishing ground attack and a quarterback rotation that keeps defenses off balance, which makes them a dangerous opponent right away in Boulder.
Colorado’s path is simple in theory and hard in practice: stop the run. The interior defensive line has to generate push and create tackles for loss, while the linebackers have to adjust without Tyler Martinez.
Then comes Utah, and the challenge gets even sharper. The Utes are the Big 12’s most complete team right now, with Devon Dampier playing at a high level and a defense that has been the conference’s best, giving up just 10.3 points per game.
For Colorado, that matchup hinges on whether Chris Marve’s edge rushers can get to Dampier. The Buffaloes probably won’t have much room to operate offensively, so forcing pressure on the Utah quarterback is the best way to keep the game within reach.
Oklahoma State is next, and the Cowboys have shaken off their Week 1 loss to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane with three straight strong performances. Their win over then-No. 6 Oregon sparked the offense, and they backed it up by controlling West Virginia in Week 4.
Against Colorado, the secondary becomes the story. Drew Mestemaker has been carving up defenses, and if the Buffaloes’ defensive backs leave openings, he’s likely to exploit every one of them. In this game, coverage isn’t just important - it decides the outcome.
Kansas State arrives after that, and the Wildcats are coming off their first loss of the season to the Cincinnati Bearcats. Even in defeat, they looked dangerous. Avery Johnson appears to be playing up to his talent, and that has given the offense real rhythm.
Colorado’s answer has to start with a spy on Johnson. Kansas State has already run effectively against the Buffaloes since CU entered the Big 12, averaging 195.5 rushing yards in the two meetings, but this version of the Wildcats leans more on Johnson than on the kind of backs that hurt Colorado before. If he’s allowed to roam, it could get ugly fast.
Arizona State is the most manageable matchup in this run, though that doesn’t make it easy. The Sun Devils have leaned on Cutter Boley and a passing game that has found ways to slice up opponents, and Colorado will have to keep their receivers from getting behind the defense.
That puts a lot on Naeten Mitchell and Randon Fontenette. If the safeties are sharp and mistake-free, the Buffaloes have a real chance to slow down the Sun Devils enough to steal the game.
Houston follows, and the Cougars have put together a solid season. They’ve got a strong passing attack, Makhi Hughes in the backfield, and the Big 12’s best run defense. Even so, opponents have stayed in games with them in three of four outings.
The opening Colorado needs is in the air. Houston’s pass defense has been one of the league’s weakest, allowing 262.3 yards per game, second-most in the Big 12 behind West Virginia. That makes the Buffaloes’ receiver group a major factor, and probably the clearest way to create an upset.
The stretch ends against Cincinnati, one of the hottest teams in the Big 12 right now. There’s still plenty to learn about just how good the Bearcats are, but they enter this matchup as a team Colorado has to respect.
To have a chance, the Buffaloes need to shut down Cincinnati’s run game, and that starts up front. Colorado will need to attack an experienced offensive line with different stunts and pressure looks to wear it down. If the Bearcats get their ground game going, the final game of this difficult run could turn into a long night for the Buffaloes.
In Other News...
Colorado Homecoming Just Took An Unexpected Turn Before Texas Tech
Homecoming in Boulder was supposed to give Colorados meeting with No. 12 Texas Tech a little extra buzz, especially with the Red Raiders making their first visit to town since 2010 and the Buffaloes also folding in a 150th anniversary celebration. Instead, the run-up to the game has come with an unexpected twist off the field, as resale prices for the cheapest tickets have fallen sharply in the days before kickoff.
Still, the matchup has the feel of one that should draw real attention once the ball is in the air, and Colorado knows the challenge waiting from a ranked Texas Tech team. Wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. has already pointed to the importance of protecting home field, which makes the softening market around the game feel even more curious as Boulder gets ready for a big weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Puts Pressure On Colorado Before Texas Tech Test
Deion Sanders spent part of his latest press conference doing what he has often done in Boulder this season, putting the spotlight squarely on execution. Colorado has been uneven on third and fourth down, and Sanders made clear the issue is less about the design of the offense than the need for players to finish plays, while also defending Brennan Marions system as the Buffaloes prepare for Texas Tech.
Sanders broadened the message beyond one area, pointing to the running game, turnovers, field position, special teams and penalties as parts of the operation that need to sharpen up. He said the effort was there against Baylor, but effort only goes so far if it does not turn into points and wins, and that makes the Texas Tech matchup another measuring stick for a team still trying to put its best football together. [Read more 🡒]
DeAndre Moore Jr. Revealed What Colorado Showed After His Scary Hit
DeAndre Moore Jr.s collision against Baylor briefly turned a routine Saturday into one of those moments that makes the whole sideline hold its breath. The Colorado receiver did regain consciousness and, in a scene that said plenty about both his toughness and the situation, walked off the field without needing a cart. His teammates made sure he knew they were behind him, and Deion Sanders later said Moore was kept out of practice afterward but is expected to be available for the Texas Tech game.
Moores update afterward fit the tone Colorado has tried to strike through the season: shaken by the scare, but not defined by it. He spoke with optimism about where the Buffaloes are headed and stressed how important it is to protect their home field, a reminder that even amid injury concerns, the focus remains on finishing strong. For Colorado, the immediate concern was health, but the broader message was just as clear - the locker room is still very much invested in the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]