Utah heads into Saturday night’s trip to Boulder with a clean-looking availability sheet, and that alone is a welcome development for a team trying to keep its perfect start rolling.
The Utes’ initial report lists only two players: cornerback JC Hart is out, and linebacker Preston Pitts is doubtful. That leaves Utah with no one tagged questionable or probable as it prepares for its second conference road game under Morgan Scalley.
Utah enters at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play, while Colorado is 2-3 and still looking for its first conference win after dropping its first two league games. Kickoff at Folsom Field is set for 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
For Utah, the short report is a good sign as it follows a 41-24 win over Kansas, the Utes’ fifth straight game with at least 30 points.
Colorado’s report tells a different story. The Buffaloes have five players out, one doubtful, one questionable and three probable, with the biggest concern coming on defense.
Lineman Lamont Lester Jr. is listed as questionable, and his status matters because he leads Colorado with four sacks and has added six tackles for loss. Those four sacks account for 40% of Colorado’s team total through five games.
Colorado’s full initial report lists WR Danny Scudero, DB Braylon Edwards, CB Preston Ashley, LB Tyler Martinez and TE Zach Atkins as out. Kam Perry is doubtful, Lester is questionable, and DE Immanuel Ezeogu, TE Fisher Clements and DL Dylan Manuel are probable.
Lester’s availability could shape how much pressure Colorado can bring on Devon Dampier without needing to blitz heavily.
The Buffaloes also lose linebacker Tyler Martinez, who has 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups. That’s a notable absence against a Utah offense that can stress linebackers with the run game, quarterback carries and play-action.
Colorado’s probable defenders - Ezeogu and Manuel - would at least help the Buffaloes keep some depth intact if Lester can’t go.
The receiving group is still banged up, too. Scudero is out and Perry is doubtful, leaving Colorado short on the pass-catching talent it brought in. Scudero led the country in regular-season receiving yards at San Jose State in 2025, while Perry earned first-team All-MAC honors after posting 43 catches for 976 yards and six touchdowns at Miami (Ohio).
So far, that production hasn’t shown up in Boulder. Scudero has five catches for 24 yards, and Perry has four receptions for 21 yards.
Colorado’s top targets, Joseph Williams and DeAndre Moore, are not on the initial report. Williams has 32 catches for 454 yards and five touchdowns, while Moore has 18 receptions for 242 yards and a score.
Tight end Zach Atkins is also out, and Fisher Clements is listed as probable. The Buffaloes’ defensive backfield takes another hit with Braylon Edwards and Preston Ashley both ruled out.
Utah’s only listed absences remain Hart and Pitts, a much shorter list than Colorado’s as the Utes head to Boulder with momentum and very few availability concerns.
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The most meaningful movement came with Martinez being removed from the report after surgery, a reminder that this is a longer-term situation rather than a near-term comeback. Lester is still questionable, keeping some of the roster uncertainty in place, and Colorados health picture will continue to be part of the backdrop for a game where every available body matters. [Read more 🡒]
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For BYU, the intrigue is as much about proving legitimacy as it is about the final score. The Cougars know they will have to earn every inch against a Notre Dame team that has been widely tagged as the favorite, and the broader conversation around the game points to a low-scoring afternoon where execution and toughness matter most. For a BYU team trying to keep building toward a higher ceiling, this is the sort of test that tends to stick with a program long after the game is over. [Read more 🡒]
