BOULDER, CO – This is the kind of game that can make or break a season for Deion Sanders.
After starting his third year at Colorado at 2-2, the Colorado football coach now faces undefeated No. 24 Brigham Young in another late home game on ESPN.
A loss would severely damage his team’s chances to play in the postseason, especially with tough games coming up at No. 25 TCU Oct. 4, at home against No. 13 Iowa State Oct. 11 and then at Utah Oct. 25.
But a win against the Cougars would dare the Buffaloes to dream bigger, keeping them near the top of the race for the Big 12 Conference championship.
It’s a rematch of the Alamo Bowl last December, when BYU won 36-14. But both teams have different quarterbacks now. And it might just come down to that. Can Colorado veteran signal-caller Kaidon Salter outplay BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier?
Follow along here for updates, news and highlights.
Colorado now up 14-0
OK everybody, the Buffs are clicking tonight under the direction of quarterback Kaidon Salter. He just led the team on another touchdown drive, this time ending on a 5-yard run from Dre’Lon Miller with 5:08 left in the first quarter. Colorado is up 14-0 after the four-play, 62-yard drive, which started with a 27-yard run from running back Micah Welch.
BYU’s first possession ended on fourth down and 2 when quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw an incomplete pass with 6:31 left in the first quarter. The Cougars ran eight plays for 38 yards, but the Colorado defense held and gave the ball back to Salter to work his magic.
Colorado takes 7-0 lead
Quarterback Kaidon Salter showed his two strengths in the game’s opening drive, running and passing his way to a 7-0 lead for Colorado. He scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 5:16. He is 3-for-3 passing for 39 yards and has five rushes for 31 yards.
Watch Ralphie VII run
This is Ralphie VII’s second game-opening run. She made her debut last week against Wyoming, running before the game and before the second half.
When is BYU vs Colorado?
Kickoff is at 10:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 27 from Folsom Field in Boulder, CO.
How to watch BYU vs. Colorado
The game will be televised on ESPN and also is available on Fubo. It began showing on ESPNews but will move to ESPN upon conclusion of the Arizona-Iowa State game.
Big quarterback recruit at the game for Colorado
Kavian Bryant, a five-star quarterback recruit for 2027, is in town for an unofficial recruiting visit with the Buffaloes. He ranks as the No. 2 quarterback for the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
“I will be at Colorado today and tomorrow for an unofficial visit!!!! #GoBuffs,” Bryant wrote on social media site X.
If the Buffs can get him, he would be the second big quarterback to commit to the Buffs under Sanders since last year. Current freshman Julian Lewis is the other and would be in his third year at Colorado by the time Byrant arrived in 2027.
Why is BYU vs Colorado an Alamo Bowl rematch?
BYU and Colorado both are now members of the Big 12 but still faced each other in the Alamo Bowl last December because of a quirk in the bowl selection process. After the College Football Playoff field was finalized, the Alamo Bowl had the first pick among remaining bowl-eligible teams from the Big 12 (BYU) and former Pac-12 Conference (Colorado), according to agreements that predated the breakup of the Pac-12 in 2024.
It worked out because the two had not played each other in the 2024 season and had not played each other at all since 1988. Tonight’s game will be their first conference matchup since 1947.
What is Deion Sanders’ record in night games?
It’s 6-9 after a 37-20 victory last week against Wyoming. In games that start before 7:30 p.m. ET, his record in three seasons is 9-5. After that time, it’s 6-9. Sanders generally dislikes night games because he’s an early riser and his team usually practices in the morning. But before the Wyoming night game, the Buffs had two evening practices to better prepare for the late kickoff. He indicated the team would do something similar before tonight’s game.
Quarterback issues at BYU and Colorado
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff led BYU to victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl last December but he left the team before the season after he allegedly violated the school’s honor code for having premarital sex. Retzlaff is now playing at Tulane. In his place, freshman Bear Bachmeier has emerged to lead the Cougars to a 3-0 start after spending the spring at Stanford.
Deion Sanders’ son Shedeur played his last college game in the Alamo Bowl before getting drafted in the fifth round by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. He has been replaced by two different starting quarterbacks this year before the Buffaloes finally settled on one – Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter, who is playing out his final year of college eligibility.
Key matchup: LJ Martin vs Colorado defense
BYU’s LJ Martin, a junior from El Paso, Texas, ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Now here he comes again possibly better than last year while Colorado’s defense might be worse. Martin ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards per game with 114. Colorado ranks 121st in rushing yards allowed per game with 194.5, according to NCAA statistics.
Deion Sanders wants his team to be more physical in this regard.
“Physicality is an attitude,” he said this week.
Colorado has two running backs out
Two of Colorado’s top three running backs were injured in last week’s 37-20 win against Wyoming and will not play: Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor.
Colorado still has options at that position, especially after Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden recently returned from a hand injury.
“We’ve made adjustments in the running back room” Sanders said Tuesday.
Quarterback Kaidon Salter leads the team in rushing with 153 yards. Price and sophomore Micah Welch both have 143.
Before Saturday, Colorado ranked 88th nationally in rushing yards per game with 141.3. The Buffaloes ranked last nationally in that category the past two seasons.
Who is Colorado’s backup QB now?
After some shuffling among three quarterbacks in the first three games, Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter is the undisputed starter at quarterback for Colorado. But what happens if Salter falters or gets injured? The backup spot is not exactly settled, according to the team depth chart for the BYU game. It lists the No. 2 QB as Ryan Staub “OR” Julian Lewis.
Staub, a redshirt sophomore, has started two games since 2023, including the 36-20 loss at Houston Sept. 12. Lewis, a celebrated freshman, only saw action off the bench in a 31-7 win against Delaware on Sept. 6. He was 2-for-4 passing for 8 yards.
Announcers for BYU vs Colorado game
ESPN announcer Mark Jones will handle the play by play and will be joined by color analyst Roddy Jones. Sideline reporter Quint Kessenich will provide updates from the field.
BYU vs Colorado odds
College football odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook; Odds updated Sept. 26. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Spread: BYU (-6.5)
- Moneyline: BYU (-250), Colorado (+)200
- Total: 49.5 points
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com