The Colorado Buffaloes are back at Folsom Field for their 2026 home opener, and the number next to this one is hard to miss: ESPN Analytics gives Colorado a 97.9 percent chance to beat Weber State.
That doesn’t mean the Wildcats are showing up just to make up the numbers.
Weber State comes in from the Big Sky Conference with a freshman quarterback in Nate Dahle, who has already put together a sharp start to his career after taking over from former five-star recruit Devin Brown in Week 1. Dahle has thrown for 336 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while completing 27 of 52 passes.
He’s also leaning on a major weapon in Noah Kjar, the head coach’s son, who has been one of the most productive receivers at the FCS level early on. Kjar has 264 receiving yards, which ranks second in the FCS, and he’s tied for the national lead with four touchdown catches.
There’s production on the ground, too, even if Weber State hasn’t featured it heavily. Spencer Ferguson has turned 28 carries into 165 yards and two touchdowns, good for 5.9 yards per carry.
Colorado, though, has had extra time to get ready after its Thursday win in Week 1, and Deion Sanders said the Buffaloes used that stretch to clean up what needed cleaning up.
"We were able to work out some things. You know, you want to fix what was broken.
You want to fix the things that you weren't necessarily successful at doing,” said Colorado coach Deion Sanders in his Tuesday press conference. “You want to call attention to some of the things that you need to really develop with some of the players as well, and it just gives you an extra couple of days to do so.
And we took full advantage of it. Trust me, we really took full advantage of those days.”
That extra prep time could matter if Colorado wants to do more than just survive this matchup. With every other opponent on the schedule coming from the Power Four, the Buffaloes may get a rare chance here to work through their depth and give snaps to players who barely saw the field against Georgia Tech.
That’s especially relevant for a roster that brought in 42 transfers and 62 total newcomers for the 2026 season. Colorado had to lean on its established pieces in a tight Week 1 game, but if it can build a comfortable lead against Weber State, this could turn into a valuable look at some of the new faces.
In Other News...
Colorado Still Has One Receiver Problem To Solve Fast
Quanell Farrakhan Jr. arrived at Colorado with plenty of recruiting buzz, but his first game showed how much work remains before he becomes a bigger part of the Buffs plan. Through the season opener, the former four-star recruit had only a limited role on offense and special teams, a quiet start for a player the staff clearly expects more from as the season unfolds.
Jason Phillips and Deion Sanders have both addressed Farrakhans need to sharpen his game, while also pointing to personnel choices that have shaped the special teams picture. Colorado could be looking for a way to get him more involved soon, and the Week 2 meeting with Weber State feels like the kind of game where those touches might start to come. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Has A New Game Day Twist As Its Firepower Keeps Growing
Georgia is adding a fresh look to a week already defined by depth and momentum, and the timing only makes the Bulldogs more interesting to watch. After rolling past Tennessee State 63-3, the offense kept stacking productive drives with Gunner Stockton steering five straight touchdown marches before giving way to the backups, a reminder that the programs firepower is not limited to one quarterback or one pace.
Ryan Puglisi got into the act with 109 passing yards and a touchdown, and Ryan Montgomery showed why the staff feels comfortable expanding the rotation when he connected on a long scoring strike. Now the focus shifts to Western Kentucky, where the uniform change will grab attention, but the deeper storyline is whether Georgia can keep stretching what its offense can do while bringing more of its depth into the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Faces A Brutal Reality Heading Into Tennessee Test
Georgia Tech gets a huge-stage chance tonight, hosting Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN in a matchup that already looks uphill on paper. The Vols are favored, and plenty of the pregame conversation has leaned their way, but that only adds to the attention around what Brent Keys team is walking into at home.
Key spent part of the buildup pointing to the challenge Tennessee presents on both sides of the ball, singling out quarterback Faizon Brandon and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. It is the kind of test that can expose a team quickly if it is not ready from the opening series, and Georgia Tech will need to settle in fast if it wants to make this more than the kind of night most observers expect. [Read more 🡒]