Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium was a reality check for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. Just two weeks after pulling off a stunning upset over then-ranked No. 22 Iowa State, Colorado traveled to Salt Lake City hoping to carry momentum forward. Instead, they were completely overpowered by the Utah Utes in a one-sided affair that ended 53-7 — a margin that barely tells the full story of the dominance displayed by Utah.
From the opening kickoff, Utah established control. Freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin, who has been quietly making a name for himself, accounted for 151 rushing yards and two passing touchdowns, demonstrating both poise and explosiveness. Colorado’s offense, by contrast, struggled to even move the chains. Quarterback Kaidon Salter, who had shone against Iowa State with a balanced passing and rushing performance, was 9-for-22 for just 37 yards with an interception. On the ground, Colorado was pushed back for negative two yards on six carries, with Salter himself losing four yards due to sacks. By halftime, the Buffaloes had amassed a total of negative 18 yards, while Utah racked up 398 yards, leaving Colorado trailing 43-0.
Head coach Deion Sanders didn’t sugarcoat the performance after the game. “All three phases, we got our butts kicked. Kicked,” he said, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the loss. “The way we practiced and the effort we put in this week should have carried over, but it didn’t. We have to learn and adjust.” Even the special teams, often a point of pride for teams trying to stay competitive, faltered. A blocked punt led directly to another Utah score, further illustrating Colorado’s inability to find rhythm anywhere on the field.
Colorado’s defense, which has been inconsistent throughout the season, was unable to stop Utah’s relentless ground attack. The Utes finished with 422 rushing yards, combining power running and timely QB scrambles to keep the Buffaloes off balance. Colorado’s offensive line, which had already shown signs of weakness against strong opponents, simply could not contain Utah’s pressure. Five sacks on Salter contributed to the negative rushing totals and highlighted the structural challenges still facing Sanders’ squad.
The Buffaloes now sit at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play, a stark contrast to the optimism following their Iowa State victory. The early-season wins and high-profile transfers had created excitement around the program, but this loss shows that talent alone cannot compensate for gaps in experience and depth. Particularly at the line of scrimmage, where Colorado has struggled to field a robust, experienced group, the deficiencies were glaring.
The contrast between the Iowa State game and the Utah defeat is stark. Against Iowa State, Colorado’s offense looked balanced and capable, with Salter making smart decisions and the running backs contributing meaningful yardage. Against Utah, however, the offensive game plan broke down completely. Poor protection, misreads, and a failure to establish the run made it easy for the Utes to dominate in every phase of the game. Even when Colorado attempted to find a spark in the second half, the results were minimal, with backup QB Ryan Staub leading the team to its lone touchdown late in the game.
Deion Sanders faces a significant challenge moving forward. The hype surrounding Colorado’s program was initially fueled by big-name transfers and high expectations, but structural issues and roster depth have become more apparent as the season progresses. With a struggling offense and a defense that cannot consistently stop strong opponents, the Buffaloes must find ways to adapt their approach. Sanders will need to show that his system can succeed beyond marquee names and that he can develop a team capable of competing week in and week out in a tough Big 12 environment.
Colorado will have a chance to rebound when they return home to face the Arizona Wildcats next weekend. A strong performance will be essential to salvage confidence and momentum for the remainder of the season. For now, however, the Buffaloes are left to reflect on one of the most difficult nights of Sanders’ tenure — a game that exposed weaknesses across the board and provided a sobering reminder of the challenges ahead.
In the high-stakes world of college football, teams are often defined not just by their victories but by how they respond to crushing defeats. For Colorado, this loss to Utah is more than just a setback; it is a critical turning point. The remainder of the season will reveal whether the Buffaloes can correct course or if this game marks the start of a deeper struggle for a program still finding its identity under one of the sport’s most recognizable coaches.