Colorado’s 27-point showing against No. 11 Utah won’t erase the first-half mistakes, but the way the Buffaloes finished the game gave them something to build on.
For much of the opening half in Week 7, Colorado looked a lot like the team that had been stuck in a four-game losing streak: sloppy on offense, derailed by penalties, and hard to trust. Then the script flipped after halftime. The Buffaloes came out sharp, answered with 17 unanswered points, and pushed Utah far closer than many expected before falling just three points short of what would have been the biggest win of the Coach Prime Era.
That second-half surge matters, and it starts with Isaac Wilson.
Wilson has been volatile since taking over as the starting quarterback at halftime against Baylor. The highs have been real - quick strikes, efficient drives, moments where he’s looked like he can steer the offense.
The lows have been costly, too. He’s thrown five interceptions in three appearances, a rate that would usually land a quarterback on the bench.
But that’s not how this situation is playing out in Boulder.
The Buffs have stayed behind him, and the Utah game showed why. Wilson helped fuel the comeback after halftime, and his quick thinking on the lateral with five seconds left has drawn praise from both fans and the coaching staff. If he cleans up the turnovers, Colorado has an offense that can stay in games against strong Big 12 opponents.
The bigger reason for optimism, though, might be the defense.
Colorado gave up 27 points to Utah, but it also did a solid job against Devon Dampier, one of the top quarterbacks in the country. Dampier finished 24-for-41 for 278 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
He also had no room to run, ending the night with negative eight rushing yards and no rushing scores. Colorado got him on the ground three times for sacks.
The front seven was again a reliable part of the Buffaloes’ identity. Santana Hopper and Gideon ESPN Lampron helped keep pressure on Utah throughout the game, and while Wayshawn Parker had a strong night, neither Dampier nor Byrd Ficklin found much success under center. That kind of defensive resistance gives Colorado a chance no matter who’s on the other side.
There’s also help on the way.
Star edge rusher Lamont Lester Jr. returned against Utah, a encouraging development even with his limited snap count after being listed as questionable until kickoff. Colorado is also still waiting on wide receivers Kam Perry and Danny Scudero, with both working back toward health, while defensive back Preston Ashley is expected to return this season as well.
Getting those players back would matter. It would deepen the rotation and give Colorado more ways to build on what it showed in the second half against Utah.
In Other News...
Colorado Just Exposed A Concern Hanging Over Utahs Big Stage
Utah is heading into a pivotal stretch with real attention on it again, and the timing could not be much sharper. The Utes have unbeaten momentum, but their recent close call against Colorado offered a reminder that even when the record looks clean, the margins can get thin fast. With Houston next, then Cincinnati before the looming BYU matchup, this part of the schedule is going to say plenty about how ready Utah is for the kind of stage it has earned.
The concern is less about style points than about whether Utah can keep the game on its terms. Colorado showed how quickly a comfortable lead can turn into a grind when the defense slips, and Houston figures to test that same discipline if the Utes are not sharp from start to finish. Avoiding a shootout matters here, as does keeping the focus intact for all four quarters, because the next few weeks will tell whether Utah is simply winning or truly controlling the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Utahs Undefeated Start Nearly Slipped Away To A Familiar Problem
Utahs unbeaten run came with a tense reminder of how slim the margin can be in conference play, and it was Isaac Wilson who helped make it interesting late. The former Utah quarterback, now at Colorado, spent the night pushing a comeback against his old program and finished with 18 completions for 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Utahs 27-24 win.
Wilson had extra motivation in the matchup, and Colorado kept chipping away until the game reached the kind of late pressure Utah has seen too often in recent seasons. The Utes survived this one, but only after weathering a final surge that forced them to sweat until the closing moments. [Read more 🡒]
Utah Gets A National Showcase In A Huge Test For The Utes
ESPNs College GameDay setting up on the University of Utah campus says plenty about what Saturday means in Salt Lake City. The Utes are getting a national spotlight ahead of their meeting with Houston at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and it is the kind of stage that comes only when a game carries both immediate stakes and broader attention around the sport.
Utah comes in unbeaten and has already built a profile as one of the more complete teams in the country, while Houston arrives with an offense that can put stress on anyone in the AP Top 25. With two ranked teams in the building and the atmosphere expected to match the moment, this one has the feel of a defining early test for a Utah team trying to prove it belongs in the biggest conversations. [Read more 🡒]