Boulder, Colo.—Folsom Field was painted in gold on Saturday night as Colorado fans turned out in force for the Buffaloes’ highly anticipated matchup with BYU — their first meeting in Boulder in 44 years. Under a crisp fall sky, the energy was electric as the two programs renewed a rivalry that dates back to 1923.
Colorado opened fast, fueled by quarterback Kaidon Salter, who looked to avenge last year’s Alamo Bowl loss to the Cougars. Salter capped the Buffaloes’ opening 11-play, 75-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown, then watched freshman Dre’lon Miller punch in another score minutes later to give CU a commanding 14–0 lead just 10 minutes into the contest.
BYU settled in late in the first quarter, answering with an Enoch Gota field goal to trim the deficit to 14–3. The Cougars gained further momentum before halftime as a pair of pass interference calls helped extend a drive that ended with quarterback Bear Bachmeier finding Chase Roberts from five yards out. At the break, Colorado led 14–10, but the tide had shifted.
Second Half: Back-and-Forth Battle
The Cougars carried their momentum into the second half. After trading punts, Bachmeier orchestrated a nine-play, 74-yard drive and connected with Roberts again for a four-yard touchdown — BYU’s first lead of the night at 17–14.
Colorado answered immediately. Salter marched the Buffaloes 75 yards in six plays, finishing with a 19-yard strike to Miller in the back of the end zone, reclaiming the lead at 21–17.
But BYU wasn’t done. On the next possession, Cody Hagen broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run, giving the Cougars a 24–21 edge. After a missed 55-yard field goal, BYU’s defense held firm, forcing Coach Deion “Prime” Sanders into a tough fourth-down punt decision late in the fourth quarter.
With under five minutes left, Roberts hauled in a key third-down catch to move the chains, and LJ Martin pushed the Cougars closer to field-goal range. Though BYU ultimately punted, they pinned Colorado deep inside its own five-yard line. The Buffs had one last chance with 1:34 left and two timeouts, but a tipped pass derailed the drive, and BYU ran out the clock to secure the road victory.
By the Numbers
Bear Bachmeier (BYU): 179 passing yards, 2 TDs; 98 rushing yards on 15 carries
Chase Roberts (BYU): 5 receptions, 49 yards, 2 TDs
LJ Martin (BYU): 15 carries, 58 yards
Kaidon Salter (CU): 119 passing yards, 1 TD; 49 rushing yards on 17 carries
Micah Welch (CU): 11 carries, 67 yards
Joseph Williams (CU): 5 catches, 56 yards
What’s Next:
Colorado (now 2–2) will look to regroup when they travel to face TCU on October 4. BYU (3–1) heads home to Provo for a primetime showdown with West Virginia on Friday night, live on ESPN.
