Colorado gets a difficult test back at Folsom Field, where the Buffaloes will try to snap a three-game skid against No. 11 Utah. The setups are stark: Colorado is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play, while the Utes arrive at 5-0 and 2-0 in the conference, riding the kind of balance that has kept them unbeaten.
Utah has been efficient and steady on both sides of the ball, averaging 42.8 points per game while allowing just 13. That sort of consistency is exactly what Colorado has lacked, and it’s why the Buffaloes will need a clean performance just to make this interesting. If Utah gets comfortable early, the pressure on Colorado only grows.
For the Buffaloes, the path to staying in the game starts on the ground. If they can establish their run game, move the chains on third down and stay away from turnovers, they can keep the score tight into the fourth quarter. Colorado could even be within one possession late, and even if it falls short of an upset, a competitive showing would still matter after the bye week.
At quarterback, Isaac Wilson has a chance to turn in a defining performance against his former team. After replacing Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis, Wilson is trying to build his Colorado résumé while making a statement in a familiar matchup. Against Texas Tech, he threw for 290 yards and a touchdown, but three interceptions undercut that effort and once again highlighted protection problems up front.
Colorado wide receiver Joseph Williams could be central to what Wilson does next. Williams has emerged as one of the Buffaloes’ most dependable and productive offensive weapons, and if he and Wilson connect early, Colorado can stress Utah’s secondary and open space for other receivers. The challenge will be finding that balance between pushing the ball downfield and avoiding the kind of reckless throws that can swing a game.
A big night from Wilson would likely mean more than just yardage. If he reaches 250 passing yards and adds two touchdowns, Colorado would have a real shot to keep pace. But the passing numbers only matter if the decision-making holds up.
Utah’s offense brings problems from every angle. Running back Wayshawn Parker has already piled up 499 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns, while quarterback Devon Dampier can hurt defenses as both a passer and a runner.
Colorado can’t afford to zero in on just one threat. If Dampier is allowed to extend drives and keep the Buffaloes’ defense on the field, Utah can settle in and control the game.
That’s why pressure matters so much for Colorado. The Buffaloes need to force tougher third downs and create takeaways, whether that comes through an interception or a fumble. Those are the kinds of plays that can tilt a game and give the offense another chance to strike.
Utah enters as the clear favorite, but Colorado does have a path to making this uncomfortable. Protect the football, get Williams involved, ask Wilson to deliver, and hope the defense can deliver a few momentum-changing stops. If the Buffaloes can do that, they may not just hang around - they could make this one a real fight.
In Other News...
Utahs Playoff Path May Be About To Get A Lot Easier
The College Football Playoff appears headed for another major shake-up, and for programs like Utah, the timing could matter a lot. The latest proposal would push the field from 12 teams to 24, giving more room for high-level teams from leagues such as the Big 12 and, in a broader sense, the kind of West Coast programs that have long had to navigate a narrower path to the postseason.
The format under discussion would lock in spots for the four Power Four champions, the top Group of Six team and a deep pool of at-large bids, while shifting the first two rounds to campus sites before the later rounds move to New Years Six bowls. It is still moving through the approval process, but the direction of travel is clear, and it could change not just Utahs margin for error, but the way the Utes are judged in any given season. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Volatile Punt Return Spot Just Took Another Turn
Utahs punt return job has been one of the quieter moving parts on the roster, but it shifted again in the win over Kansas when receiver Creed Whittemore handled two punts. The change came after Mana Carvalho briefly stepped out of the role, giving the Utes another look at a spot that has already seen some turnover this season.
Morgan Scalley later clarified that Carvalho has passed concussion protocol and is still Utahs primary punt returner, which settles at least the immediate question at the position. The timing matters for a team trying to keep its special teams steady, and it came during a week when the program also had bigger-picture news off the field, with the Board of Trustees approving plans for stadium improvements. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Is Winning Big 12 Respect Without Spending Like A Contender
Utahs rise in the Big 12 has been built on more than just results on the field. Even as the sports spending arms race keeps reshaping expectations, the Utes have stayed unbeaten and climbed to No. 11 while reportedly working with an NIL payroll in the $18 million to $20 million range, well below the kind of money many people associate with a true contender. Morgan Scalley has helped steady the program through a coaching transition, and Devon Dampier has given Utah the kind of quarterback play that can keep a team in every conversation that matters.
What makes the Utes start so notable is the broader picture around them. Other programs operating with smaller NIL budgets have found ways to stay competitive, while some of the biggest spenders have not matched the hype attached to their payrolls. Utah has still found a way to look like a team built for the top of the league, and the next question is whether this version of the Utes can keep turning restraint into staying power as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]