Colorado enters Saturday’s homecoming game against No. 12 Texas Tech carrying the weight of two straight ugly losses, and the Buffs are big underdogs even at home.
ESPN Analytics gives Colorado just a 13.1 percent chance to win. Still, there are a few clear paths that could keep this one interesting - and maybe even turn it into an upset.
The first one starts with Colorado’s wide receivers, which have become the team’s most dangerous group. That’s true even with injuries to the FBS’ leading receiver from 2025, Danny Scudero, and Colorado’s second-leading receiver, DeAndre Moore Jr. The room still produced against Baylor, and it did so with some force.
Joseph Williams has stepped into the spotlight as the team’s top pass catcher, leading Colorado with 361 yards and three touchdowns. He had the best game of his season against Baylor, finishing with a career-high 11 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Quanell Farrakhan Jr. also delivered, going for 117 yards on seven receptions. Add in Kam Perry and Ernest Campbell, and Colorado has enough pieces to threaten Texas Tech through the air if the offense leans into that strength.
The second issue is the quarterback decision, and how fully the team commits to it. Coach Deion Sanders moved from redshirt freshman Julian Lewis to junior Isaac Wilson after Wilson’s season got off to a slow start.
If Colorado is going to hang with a team like Texas Tech, it can’t afford uncertainty there. The staff and locker room have to get behind one quarterback and stay there.
Any split in that support could be costly against an opponent this strong.
On defense, the burden falls heavily on Colorado’s linebackers. Tyler Martinez, who had been a major presence in that group, left the Baylor game with an apparent foot injury. That leaves Gideon ESPN Lampron, Liona Lefau and either Rodney Colton Jr., Carson Crawford, Gage Goldberg or Bo LaPenna to take on a bigger load.
That assignment matters because Texas Tech brings a run game with multiple threats. J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey have combined for 512 yards and seven touchdowns, while quarterback Thomas Castellanos has added another dimension with two touchdowns on 10 carries. Colorado’s linebackers will be asked to help slow down that three-headed attack without Martinez in the mix.
If the Buffs can get those three areas right - the receivers, the quarterback situation and the linebacker play against the run - they’ll give themselves a real shot at making Saturday’s game much tighter than the odds suggest.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Turned Baylor's QB Problem Into A Bigger Big 12 Story
Julian Lewis spent part of the Baylor game on the sideline after Colorado went to Isaac Wilson at quarterback, a move that instantly turned the Buffs most watched position into the biggest question hanging over the week. Wilson finished 12-of-25 for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Deion Sanders made clear afterward that Lewis is still very much in the mix and that the room has stayed supportive through the change.
Now Colorado is heading toward a bigger decision before Texas Tech, with Wilson, Lewis and Kaneal Sweetwyne all still in play. For a team trying to find its best offensive rhythm in the Big 12, the quarterback conversation is no longer just about one game or one player. It has become the kind of week-to-week choice that can shape how the rest of the season looks. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Is Facing A Colorado Conversation Fans Never Expected
Colorados early-season stumble has put Deion Sanders in the same uneasy conversation usually reserved for coaches on the hottest seats. The scrutiny around the Buffaloes is only growing after a rough stretch, and the broader picture around college football makes the moment feel even sharper, with other high-profile coaches such as Mike Locksley, Greg Schiano and Lincoln Riley also drawing increased pressure as losses pile up and tougher games loom.
For Sanders, the disappointment is not just about one result but about how quickly expectations can shift when momentum disappears. Colorado still has games ahead that will test whether the program can steady itself, and for a fan base that never expected this kind of discussion so soon, the bigger question is whether the season can be steered back before the noise around the job gets any louder. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Face A Tougher Price To See Texas Tech
The next big home date at Folsom Field is also turning into one of the pricier ones for Colorado fans. When Texas Tech comes to Boulder for a Big 12 matchup, the secondary market is already showing tickets starting around $100, while official prices run from $100 to $303, a reflection of how much attention this game is drawing well before kickoff.
A ranked opponent tends to do that, and Texas Techs No. 11 status is a big part of the equation. Add in the games tie-in to Colorados Homecoming and Stripe Out events, and this one carries a little extra buzz for a late-season home crowd, even if the cost of getting in makes the walk up the hill a tougher sell. [Read more 🡒]