Colorado’s upset of No. 14 Houston had a brief moment of real tension when Isaac Wilson limped off the field in the third quarter Friday night at Folsom Field.
Wilson headed to the locker room after the scare, and true freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne was handed the keys with Colorado protecting a 28-20 lead. The concern didn’t linger for long. Wilson returned under center early in the fourth quarter, after the Buffaloes had already stretched the margin to 35-20 on the way to a 42-32 win.
The result was a major one for Colorado, which entered the night with just a 17 percent chance to win, according to ESPN Analytics.
“These kids are resilient. They have not stopped.
They have not quit, they have not given up, as well as our coaching staff. I’m really a proud guy right now,” Sanders said during his postgame interview with ESPN on the field.
Colorado’s comeback started with a frantic finish to the first half. Down 20-7, the Buffaloes struck twice in the final two minutes before the break. DeKalon Taylor ripped off a 67-yard touchdown run, then JaQuail Smith followed with a 32-yard score to send Colorado into halftime up 21-20.
Wilson kept the momentum going to open the third quarter, finding Joseph Williams on a 53-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to eight. By the 12:10 mark of the fourth quarter, Williams had five catches for 80 yards, while Wilson was 14-of-22 for 167 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The offense was humming in a way Colorado hasn’t often seen this fall. The Buffaloes piled up 392 yards at 8.0 yards per play, including 225 on the ground, and converted seven of 11 third downs.
Then came Sweetwyne’s moment.
With Wilson sidelined, the 6-3, 195-pound freshman from Lehi, Utah, needed just one carry to make his presence felt. His first rush of the night went 14 yards for a touchdown with 5:34 left in the third quarter, giving Colorado its most points against an FBS opponent this season.
Sweetwyne arrived as a three-star prospect out of Skyridge High School after backing off an early commitment to BYU. Before Friday, his college line included 11 completions on 17 attempts for 105 yards, plus a rushing touchdown against Weber State. His lone career start came at slot receiver against Texas Tech.
Colorado’s defense helped keep the night moving in the right direction, too. After three straight games without a takeaway, the Buffaloes had forced two turnovers by early in the fourth quarter. Boo Carter picked off Houston quarterback Conner Weigman, and Randon Fontenette added a sack.
Sanders also made the call to go with Sweetwyne ahead of redshirt freshman Julian Lewis, who started the first four games of the season, a choice that says plenty about where the true freshman sits in the quarterback order.
Wilson’s return eased the biggest concern for Colorado, which came into the game at 3-6 and needing to win out to become bowl eligible, with Cincinnati next on the schedule. His first series back ended on a fourth-down run at the Houston 38, so his mobility is still worth monitoring.
For a short stretch, though, Sweetwyne kept the offense steady when Colorado needed it most.
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Deion Sanders Just Changed The Colorado Conversation For Now
Colorados 42-32 win over No. 14 Houston gave Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes something they have not had in a long time: a signature victory to point to when the conversation around the program had started drifting toward frustration and uncertainty. It was Colorados first win over a top-15 opponent since 2007, and it came at a moment when the season had been defined more by questions than answers, with the Buffaloes sitting at 4-6 and trying to steady themselves in Sanders fourth year.
For Sanders, the timing matters almost as much as the result. The win does not erase the larger issues surrounding the program, but it does provide a needed burst of momentum and a reminder that Colorado can still land a punch against a ranked opponent. It also comes with the backdrop of his substantial contract extension and the financial realities tied to his future, which have only added to the scrutiny around every result. [Read more 🡒]
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Colorado will need more from Joseph Williams and the rest of its offense to keep pace, while the pass rush has to find a way to disrupt Weigman and slow Houston's rhythm. The Buffaloes are expected to enter as underdogs, which only adds to the pressure as they try to keep their season from slipping away before the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Tougher Providence Test Than Last Weeks Results Suggest
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That makes this a far different test than Colorados recent home win over San Diego might suggest. The Buffaloes got enough production from Barrington Hargress and Ian Inman in that one, but Providence brings a deeper, more complete challenge and a lineup that could look stronger by the time the teams meet. For Colorado, the question is whether that recent success carries over once the opponents full front line and backcourt are back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]