Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
3-5 , 1-4
Utah
6-2 , 3-2
Buffs Fall at Utah
October 25, 2025 | Football
SALT LAKE CITY — Colorado's return from the bye week did not go the way it would have liked Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Buffaloes got down early and were unable to recover, falling to Utah, 53-7.
Utah (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) put points on the board early and often, scoring on the game's second play from scrimmage, forcing the Buffs to play catch-up the rest of the night.
He [Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham] kicked my butt today, head coach Deion Coach Prime Sanders stated after the loss. It was 1-on-1 with me and him, and he won by a significant margin. Love him, appreciate him. Love his endurance and his longevity. The attitude of his team resembles the attitude that he has for himself.
The Utes scored on seven of their 10 first-half drives, and the defense dialed up the pressure all night, registering seven sacks, an interception and one safety.
True freshman Byrd Ficklin led Utah in his first career start, totaling 151 rushing yards and 140 passing with three total touchdowns. The Utes outgained the Buffs on the ground with 422 yards to 38 yards rushing and 587 total yards to Colorado's 140. The Utes also doubled up CU in first downs, 25-12.
This was bad, Coach Prime continued. It's probably the worst beating I've ever had. Four hundred twenty-two yards rushing. You ain't winning. Three hundred yards, you're not winning. Two hundred fifty, you're not winning. It's not capable. Total offense, 140 yards, you're not winning. Five hundred eighty-seven yards of total offense, you're not winning. Special teams gave up a fake punt as well as a blocked punt; you're not winning. So, all three phases, we got our butts kicked.
Colorado (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) struggled to move the ball against the Utah defense. The offensive issues mounted all night, resulting in just 140 total yards. Quarterback Kaidon Salter closed his night with just 37 yards in the air. Backup quarterback Ryan Staub got in on the action as well, totaling 65 yards on four completions.
Defensively, Tawfiq Byard recorded his third double-digit tackle game of the season, leading the team with 10 total stops. Jeremiah Brown recorded CU's lone sack of the night, closing with two tackles for loss and nine total tackles.
The way we practice, the way we prepared, there is no way that should happen, Coach Prime noted about coming off the bye week. There's no way the physicalness that we exuded all week long—it's no way. The only thing we were consistent in, I guess, was penalties. We had two penalties [for 15 yards]. That was great. That's the only thing I'm proud of.
How it Happened
Ficklin opened the night for Utah with a 63-yard run on the second offensive snap of the night, setting the tone for the rest of the night. A 58-yard rush to the endzone by Wayshawn Parker pushed the Utah lead to 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The flip of the field to start the second quarter didn't result in a new life for the Buffs. Salter was called for intentional grounding in the endzone, resulting in a safety that put Utah up 19-0. The Utes found the endzone on their next three possessions following the safety and added a field goal before the end of the half to take a 43-0 lead.
Utah totaled 398 yards on 49 plays in the first half, while Colorado was negative on offense with -18 total yards on its 33 snaps.
They blitzed us to death, Coach Prime expressed. They're still blitzing us right now, and we're inside. They are still blitzing us right now. And guess what? I just told them, be ready for next week. Cat's out of the bag. Be ready for it.
Colorado opened the third quarter with its best sustained drive to that point, going 49 yards in eight plays. But the drive stalled as Salter came up short on a 4th-and-1, turning the ball over on downs at the Utes' 26-yard line.
I watched over 10 hours of film [on Utah], Salter explained. A lot of pressures that came up today were nowhere to be found. I feel like today they schemed up the pressure just for this game. The offensive line has been giving us great protection [this season]. They had to find ways to throw us off.
Utah tacked on a 45-yard field goal inside of two minutes to play in the third quarter for the only score in the frame, growing the lead to 46-0.
Staub spelled Salter early in the fourth quarter, leading CU down the field in a nine-play 59-yard drive, capped off by a QB sneak, for the Buffs' only score of the night.
We've got to figure this out like now, Coach Prime lamented. Now.
Nate Johnson closed the scoring for the Utes with a 56-yard sprint to the endzone, the Utes' third rush of 50-plus yards, putting the finishing touches on the 46-point win.
Up Next
Looking ahead, Colorado will return home to take on Arizona on Nov. 1. Kickoff is still to be determined.
Team Stats
COL 0, UTA 7
UTA - Ficklin,Byrd 63 yd run (Curtis,Dillon kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:37
COL 0, UTA 10
UTA - Curtis,Dillon 53 yd field goal 11 plays, 40 yards, TOP 04:30
COL 0, UTA 17
UTA - Parker,Wayshawn 58 yd run (Curtis,Dillon kick), 1 plays, 58 yards, TOP 00:13
COL 0, UTA 19
UTA - 0 yd safety
COL 0, UTA 26
UTA - Buchanan,JJ 22 yd pass from Ficklin,Byrd (Curtis,Dillon kick) 4 plays, 72 yards, TOP 01:39
COL 0, UTA 33
UTA - Rogers,NaQuari 2 yd run (Curtis,Dillon kick), 16 plays, 60 yards, TOP 07:21
COL 0, UTA 40
UTA - Simmons,Larry 20 yd pass from Ficklin,Byrd (Curtis,Dillon kick) 2 plays, 21 yards, TOP 00:34
COL 0, UTA 43
UTA - Curtis,Dillon 23 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 00:41
COL 0, UTA 46
UTA - Curtis,Dillon 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 27 yards, TOP 03:48
COL 7, UTA 46
COL - Staub,Ryan 1 yd run (Mata,Alejandro kick), 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 03:52
COL 7, UTA 53
UTA - Johnson,Nate 56 yd run (Curtis,Dillon kick), 2 plays, 70 yards, TOP 00:53
