The Colorado Buffaloes face a daunting task against No. 11 Utah this Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN following a bye week, according to a October 12 report. Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, who hold a 2-3 overall record and a 0-2 record in the Big 12, are entering the second of three straight games against ranked opponents.
The matchup against the Utes follows a difficult stretch for Colorado, including a recent 29-7 loss to then-No. 12 Texas Tech. Utah enters the game with a 5-0 record and a 2-0 record in the Big 12 under head coach Morgan Scalley. The Utes are coming off a 41-24 conference win against Kansas on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Salt Lake City, a game in which Utah outscored Kansas 28-0 in both the first and fourth quarters.
Utah's offense ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 in scoring offense and offensive efficiency, and No. 2 in yards per game and rushing. Quarterback Devon Dampier has completed over 70% of his passes with 1,100 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Running back Wayshawn Parker has recorded 499 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. On the defensive side, the Utes rank No. 1 in the Big 12 in scoring defense and defensive efficiency, and No. 1 in red zone defense.
Colorado faces a significant challenge according to the 15.5-point spread favoring Utah. The Buffaloes' previous attempt to use a bye week to prepare for Utah resulted in a 53-7 loss in Salt Lake City during the 2025 season, which triggered a five-game losing streak to end that year. Colorado's next ranked opponent is No. 18 Oklahoma State next week.
The game is scheduled for Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN. The betting line currently favors Utah by 15.5 points.
