Colorado may have taken another hit in the standings on Saturday night, but the Buffaloes still delivered a strong number on television.
FOX’s primetime broadcast of Colorado’s homecoming game against Texas Tech averaged 2.51 million viewers, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel figures reported by On3. That placed the matchup 10th among college football games in Week 5, even with Colorado coming in on a two-game losing skid.
The audience also kept Colorado in familiar company. The Buffs finished just behind Washington vs.
USC on NBC, which drew 2.56 million viewers. The two games were separated by only about 50,000 viewers, and both kicked off at 7:30 p.m.
ET on Saturday.
Ohio State vs. Iowa led the week with 5.97 million viewers, so Colorado was nowhere near the top of the pile. Still, cracking the top 10 is a reminder that Sanders’ team continues to command attention, even when the product on the field has been rough to watch.
That attention, of course, isn’t all about Colorado. Texas Tech came in unbeaten and left Boulder at 5-0, and the viewership number reflects the full matchup rather than just the Buffaloes or Sanders individually. It was also an average audience figure, which means it doesn’t show how many people stayed through the finish or tuned out as the Red Raiders pulled away.
Colorado’s TV draw has held up despite the results. The Buffs opened the season with about 3.7 million viewers for their Thursday night win at Georgia Tech on ESPN, per ESPN figures reported by Denver Sports. Saturday’s total was down by more than a million from that opener.
The comparison only goes so far. Different opponent, different network, different night - all of that matters. And while a losing streak can dent interest, those two games alone don’t explain the entire drop.
The bigger picture shows the decline has been building for a while. In November 2025, USA TODAY reported Colorado averaging roughly about 2 million viewers to that point, compared with about 4 million in 2024 and 6 million in 2023. Those were reported averages, with unrated Pac-12 Networks games excluded from the 2023 figure.
That makes Saturday’s audience a positive sign, but not a return to the fever pitch of Sanders’ first season. Colorado still has a following. The challenge is giving that audience something worth sticking around for.
Former Penn State tight end and college football analyst Adam Breneman summed up that reality to USA TODAY last November:
“There will always be a floor with Deion on TV; you may always get 2 million viewers,” Breneman said.
Colorado did not exactly help its cause against Texas Tech. Quarterback Isaac Wilson threw three of the Buffaloes’ four interceptions, and Joseph Williams accounted for the team’s only touchdown. Those turnovers and missed chances tell the story of a game that drew plenty of eyes without giving those viewers much payoff.
Next up is Utah, and that gives Colorado another shot to give its fans something better to watch.
In Other News...
Colorados Offense Just Raised A Bigger Concern For Deion Sanders
The Red Raiders left Boulder with more than just a road win, they left with a defensive statement. After Colorado opened with a touchdown, Texas Tech settled in fast and turned the rest of the night into a showcase for its secondary and its adjustments, forcing four interceptions that directly produced 20 points. John Curry and Brice Pollock were among the defenders making plays as Joey McGuires group erased any early doubt and kept Colorado off the board the rest of the way.
For Texas Tech, the result said as much about the defense as it did about the final score. Shutting out Colorado after that first drive gave the Red Raiders a clear formula on the road, one built on tightening up quickly and taking advantage of mistakes when they come. McGuire was quick to credit the way his team adapted, and it was hard not to see the bigger takeaway for Colorado in the process, since the offense never found an answer once Texas Tech started to close the door. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Still Has One Reason To Believe After Texas Tech
Colorado is using its Week 6 bye to get healthy and clean up the issues that showed up in a 29-7 loss to Texas Tech, a game in which the Buffaloes defense held up far better than the final score suggested. Defensive lineman Santana Hopper stood out on that side of the ball, and the overall performance offered at least one reminder that this team still has a foundation to build on even after a frustrating setback.
The bigger concern was on offense, where the Buffaloes never found enough answers to stay with the Red Raiders. Hopper said the group is focused on correcting mistakes and taking advantage of the extra time to improve before a Week 7 matchup with Utah, and that next stretch should tell plenty about whether Colorado can turn one encouraging defensive effort into a more complete performance. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa State Is Showing Promise But One Concern Could Change Everything
Five weeks into the Big 12 race, the leagues unbeaten group is still crowded, with BYU, Utah, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Baylor all standing out early. Baylor has made one of the clearest statements lately with its win over Arizona State, while Houstons victory over UCF pointed to a program that may be settling in. Even Texas Techs own profile fits the leagues split personality right now, with a defense that has traveled well enough to keep the Red Raiders in the mix even as the offense has not matched that same standard.
Iowa State has entered that conversation as one of the more interesting teams to watch because the Cyclones have moved the ball well enough to stay dangerous. The issue, though, is what happens when the other side gets the ball back. In a conference where Baylor is gaining traction and Colorado is still searching for answers on offense, Iowa States defense is the piece that could determine whether its promise becomes something bigger or fades into another what-if by midseason. [Read more 🡒]