Colorado Toppled By No. 12 Texas Tech

Saturday, October 3

Boulder, Colo.

5:30 p.m.

Colorado

2-3 , 0-2

Texas Tech

5-0 , 2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Texas Tech	3	0	9	17	29
Colorado	7	0	0	0	7

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Isaac Wilson

October 03, 2026 | Football

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By: Peighton Lemp, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

BOULDER - Despite a strong start and a tight game through three quarters, Colorado dropped a 29-7 decision to No. 12 Texas Tech in front of 50,106 fans at Folsom Field on Saturday night.

With the loss, Colorado falls to 2-3, 0-2 Big 12 while Texas Tech improves to 5-0, 2-0 Big 12.

"Hats off to Texas Tech, who played a wonderful game," Colorado's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders said. "[They] played a dynamic game, and did what they had to do to get the win."

The Buffaloes' only score came on the first drive. Wide receiver Joseph Williams caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Isaac Wilson. Williams recorded 93 yards and 10 receptions in the game.

The Red Raiders held a slim 12-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but went on to score three touchdowns in the final period to get the win over the Buffaloes.

"These guys are not quitting," said Sanders about Colorado's performance. "Contrary to what you may think, they fight, and until seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, it was a darn good game."

In his first start as a Buffalo, Wilson threw for 290 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions while also leading CU with 42 rushing yards.

"We have a fantastic O-line, running back group, and wide receivers," Wilson said. "I just need to give them a chance."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Buffaloes' first offensive play was a trick play – Wilson handed it off to backup quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne, playing in the wide receiver spot, who passed it back to Wilson for a gain of seven yards.

A 30-yard pass from Wilson to wide receiver Quinten Gibson and another to tight end Charlie Williams for 16 yards pushed the Buffaloes down the field before Wilson connected on his scoring pass to Williams to give the Buffaloes a 7-0 lead with 10:29 remaining in the first quarter.

During the drive, three players recorded passing attempts: Wilson, Sweetwyne, and Williams. Wilson had two receptions in the game, the most by a Colorado quarterback in a single contest since 1956.

Texas Tech immediately answered by driving down the field on its first possession thanks to a 15-yard reception by Micah Hudson and a 15-yard run by J'Koby Williams to surge to the CU 28. The Buffs defense stiffened, however, forcing Texas Tech to settle for a 52-yard field goal from Stone Harrington to make it 7-3.

Colorado looked to answer, as Wilson completed passes to Williams, DeAndre Moore Jr., and Quanell Farrakhan Jr., that pushed the Buffaloes into the Red Raiders red zone. The drive stalled at the Texas Tech 11 and Colorado was unable to add to its lead after Elliott Arnold missed a 29-yard field goal attempt.

The Buffaloes tried some more trickery with their first possession of the 2nd quarter, attempting a fake punt on fourth-and-seven at their own 46. Defensive back Naeten Mitchell took the direct snap and ran to the left but was stopped after just a four yard gain, giving Texas Tech the ball at the 50-yard line.

The defense again was up to the challenge, forcing the Red Raiders into an immediate three-and-out, but CU couldn't capitalize, punting the ball right back to Texas Tech after a three-and-out of its own.

The Red Raiders reached the CU 16-yard line when running back Quentin Joyner found a seam up the middle for a 25-yard gain, but the Buffs' defense would again rise up. On fourth-and-one from the Colorado 7-yard line, linebacker Gideon Lampron stuffed Joyner for no-gain, handing the ball back to the Buffaloes.

Colorado ultimately punted it back to the Texas Tech, who again reached into CU territory before being forced to attempt a 51-yard field goal. This time, Herrington's attempt sailed wide, helping the Buffs maintain their 7-3 lead.

With just 34 seconds on the clock, CU marched down to the Texas Tech 34, but Buffs field goal kicker Elliott Arnold failed to connect from 52 yards out, sending both teams to the half with Colorado holding a 7-3 edge.

The 3rd quarter featured more of the defensive struggle that was a hallmark of the first half. On Texas Tech's first possession of the second half, Randon Fontenette sacked quarterback Will Hammond, one of two sacks on the night for Colorado, for an 11-yard loss, forcing the Red Raiders to punt.

At that point, the Buffaloes surrendered their first turnover of the game, as wideout Joseph Williams launched a pass that was intercepted by Brice Pollack at the CU 31. Texas Tech advanced to the CU 12 before stalling again, this time thanks in part to a tackle by Lampron for a 5-yard loss that ultimately forced Harrington to try a 27-yard field goal, which he converted to narrow the score to 7-6.

Another Wilson interception set the Red Raiders up at their own 21, and Texas Tech proceeded to drive down the field before Hammond found Terrance Carter in the corner of the end zone for the Red Raiders' first touchdown, and even after the subsequent two-point try failed, their first lead of the game at 12-7.

The Buffs gave the ball right back when Wilson's pass was intercepted by Pollock, his second of the night, and returned to the Buffs' 36-yard line, setting up a Harrington 46-yard field goal in the early seconds of the 4th quarter to make the score 15-7 Red Raiders.

After a Texas Tech punt pinned the Buffs back on their own 2-yard line, Wilson's pass was intercepted by linebacker John Curry in the end zone for a Red Raiders touchdown, extending the visitors lead to 22-7 with 7:10 to go in the game.

CU turned the ball over on downs on its subsequent possession, setting Texas Tech up at the Colorado 41-yard line. Joyner then put the game out of reach, rumbling for a 30-yard touchdown run that would send Texas Tech to a 29-7 win.

Colorado's defense played valiantly, with two sacks and 11 tackles for loss, including five from Santana Hopper alone, but it wasn't enough.

Up Next: After their bye week, the Buffaloes will face Utah on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Folsom Field for Family Weekend. Tickets are currently available in what will be the Buffs' annual Gold Rush game.