The undefeated Utah Utes came into Boulder on Saturday, October 17, looking to keep their perfect season alive. Colorado was looking for a win that could help turn its season around. And for a stretch in the second half, it looked like the Buffaloes might get it.
Instead, Utah escaped with a 27–24 victory, improving to 6–0 while dropping Colorado to 2–4.
The Buffaloes entered as 14.5-point underdogs, but you wouldn’t have known it from the energy around the stadium. On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado fans showed up ready to roll. There was hope that this could be the game where things finally came together. A decent number of Utah fans made the trip, too, adding to an already great atmosphere.
That’s something I appreciate about Colorado. Whether the team is winning or struggling, fans still make coming to these games an experience. Deion Sanders has brought a level of attention and excitement to this program that I think will leave a lasting impact, regardless of how long he stays.
Recapturing the excitement of his arrival has been difficult, though, and replacing a Heisman Trophy winner certainly doesn’t make things easier. From what I saw Saturday, Colorado has talent. The bigger issues are the mental mistakes, discipline and attention to detail that keep putting this team in tough situations.
Those problems showed up early against Utah.
The Utes built a 13–0 halftime lead while Colorado struggled to get out of its own way. Miscues kept piling up, and the Buffaloes couldn’t find much rhythm. Against an undefeated team, those mistakes can be enough to take you out of a game.
But Colorado came out of halftime with a response.
Isaac Wilson connected with Ja’Quil Smith for a 68-yard touchdown, giving the Buffaloes a much-needed spark. DeKaylon Taylor followed with an 18-yard touchdown run, putting Colorado ahead 14–13. A field goal extended that lead to 17–13, and suddenly, the upset felt very real.
The crowd had been waiting for something to get behind, and Colorado had given it to them.
Utah, however, answered. Devin Dampier found Braden Pagan for a 16-yard touchdown to put the Utes back in front. Later, another touchdown connection between Dampier and Pagan pushed Utah’s lead to 27–17 with 3:43 remaining.
That second touchdown felt like the deciding blow.
Wilson kept Colorado alive with another touchdown pass with 1:21 left, cutting the deficit to three. But the Buffaloes couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick, and Utah closed it out.
The final score reflected a close game, although Colorado needed that late touchdown to get back within striking distance. Still, the Buffaloes had a second-half lead and a real opportunity to pull off the upset. That’s what makes this loss frustrating. They showed what they were capable of, but couldn’t sustain it long enough to finish.
My takeaway is that the talent is there for Colorado to be more competitive. The Buffaloes need to clean up the small details, eliminate the avoidable mistakes and play with more consistent toughness. Those things keep showing up, and they continue to make the difference in games like this.
For Utah, this was a win that kept its bigger goals intact. The Utes remain undefeated and firmly in the Big 12 championship conversation, with a matchup against BYU looming. That game could carry major implications for the conference race and the College Football Playoff.
Colorado’s focus is getting back on track and keeping its bowl hopes alive. There are still opportunities left on the schedule, but the Buffaloes have to turn stretches of good football into complete performances.
And a big thank you to Deion Sanders and the Colorado football program for the incredible hospitality. Boulder delivered a beautiful afternoon, an energetic crowd and a game that gave fans plenty to cheer about, even if the home team couldn’t quite finish the job.