HOUSTON — Colorado stumbled out of the gates early and fought to recover at TDECU Stadium Friday night, but couldn't claw its way back against Houston, falling in the Big 12 opener 36-20.
The Buffaloes' offense was good in spurts, but the Cougars were more consistent throughout the night, scoring on eight of their 12 drives. UH finished the night with 209 rushing yards and 431 total yards on offense. Colorado totaled just 96 yards on the ground and 300 total yards.
"No one could have told me that this game was going to turn out like this, head coach Deion Coach Prime Sanders expressed after the loss. With the week of preparation that we had, with the meetings we had, the film study and preparation that we had, no one could have told me that it was going to turn out like this.
"[It] wasn't good at all. I take full responsibility of the foolishness that went on out there that we tried to name football."
Houston (3-0) was paced by its junior quarterback Conner Weigman. The UH signal-caller paced the Cougars with 222 yards in the air, adding 83 rushing yards and two rushing scores. The Cougars held a decisive advantage in possession, keeping the ball for almost 37 minutes.
The Cougars had allowed just nine points in their first two games and hadn't allowed a passing touchdown in either game, leading into Friday. The Buffs' offense had its moments, including a 37-yard pass and catch in the fourth quarter from Ryan Staub to Joseph Williams, for the first touchdown allowed in the air by the Cougars, but it was too little too late.
Staub, making his first start in 699 days, and the second of his career, completed 19-of-35 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown but also threw two interceptions. He hit nine different targets throughout the night, Omarion Miller leading the way with 54 yards on three receptions in his 2025 debut. On the ground, Simeon Price added 51 rushing yards on five carries, scoring one touchdown
Tawfiq Byard had a career night on the other side of the ball for the Buffs. The sophomore defensive back totaled 14 tackles, eight of them solo, and half a sack to highlight the defensive numbers. Ben Finneseth was the team's second-leading tackler with seven total.
The Buffs (1-2) had their issue picking up first downs in bunches on Friday. Colorado moved the sticks 15 times on the night but was just 4-for-14 on third down.
"I think just third down efficiency, Staub noted about the team's offensive effort. We had those two good drives in the first half. We just were three-and-out too many times. A lot of that falls on me. We had a couple of drops, a lot of missed throws, and just put the defense out there too much. Didn't have the time of possession."
How it Happened
Houston led 10-0 after the first quarter and had a controversial offensive pass interference call overturned that resulted in a 28-yard gain to extend its third scoring drive to start the night, jumping out to a 13-0 lead.
Houston out-gained Colorado 183 yards to 45 yards in the first quarter, but the Buffs' offense ignited in the second quarter, getting CU back in contention. Simeon Price capped off a 10-play, 93-yard drive with a 38-yard rush – the first of his career – to cut into the lead, 13-7. The 93-yard drive was the longest by the Buffs since a 98-yard drive against Colorado State in 2023.
Following a Houston FG to make it 16-7, Staub shone again in the two-minute drill, going 4-for-5 on the drive that was capped off by the QB's 19-yard scramble towards the end zone. Staub was hit as he was going into the endzone, losing the ball at the goal line, but it was recovered in the end zone by Zach Atkins to finish off the score and go into the half down 16-14.
Staub finished the half 12-18, with 120 yards. Colorado totaled 93 rushing yards in the first half, led by Price's 49 yards on four carries. Miller led the team in receiving at the half with 54 yards on three catches.
CU's offensive success in the quarter was attributed to its third-down success. The Buffs went 3-for-4 on third down in the second compared to starting the night 1-for-4 in the first quarter.
Colorado's momentum at the half didn't carry over to the start of the third quarter. Houston took the opening possession of the second half and went 57 yards in 17 plays, capping the drive off with a field goal to make it 19-14 with 6:25 to play in the quarter.
"We were feeling good coming out of the half, Staub continued. But again, three-and-out in the first drive of the third quarter, and they had the ball the whole quarter. I can't do that to the defense. It's tough to win that way."
Houston controlled the clock in the quarter, limiting the Buffs to just five offensive plays in the period. The Cougars added a touchdown on a Weigman 1-yard rush, extending the UH lead to 25-14.
"As a defense, we just need to be better, and everybody needs to keep pushing, senior defensive back Preston Hodge noted about the third quarter. The game wasn't over. We easily could have came back and won that game. We just all need to keep our spirits up, even when we're down, even when the clock is almost at zero. We just need to keep pushing and try to finish."
Staub dropped back under pressure to start the fourth quarter and threw the Buffs' first interception of the season, giving Houston the ball back on the Colorado 35.
Colorado escaped the turnover unscathed, with the defense holding Houston to a 50-yard field goal attempt by UH kicker Ethan Sanchez. Sanchez, who had already hit from 52 yards out in the first quarter, pushed the attempt wide left,
The Cougars held the Buffs to another three-and-out and connected on a 54-yard pass down the Colorado sideline to set up a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Weigman.
Trailing 33-14, the Buffs tacked on to the scoreboard with Staub hitting Josephe Williams for 37 yards down the field for the score. Colorado would not convert on the two-point conversion or recover the onside kick, giving the ball back to Houston down 33-20 with 4:34 to play.
Sanchez closed the scoring with his fifth field goal of the night, this time hitting from 49 yards out to put Houston up 36-20.
Up Next
Colorado returns home next Saturday, Sept. 20, hosting Wyoming on Family Weekend. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. MT.
