Giveaways Costly As Buffs Suffer Defeat To Northwestern

Saturday, September 19

Evanston, Ill.

5:30 PM

Colorado

2-1 , 0-0

Northwestern

2-0 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Colorado	0	0	7	0	7
Northwestern	7	14	14	6	41

Stats Quotes

Joseph Williams sprints for Colorado's lone score of the game.

Giveaways Costly As Buffs Suffer Defeat To Northwestern

September 19, 2026 | Football

Box Score Buy Tickets Donate To Football Stats Quotes Highlights Postgame Press Conference

By: Marcelo Brant, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

EVANSTON, Ill. – The Colorado Buffaloes football team lost its first game of the 2026 season, falling to Northwestern 41-7 on Saturday at Martin Stadium.

Colorado's offense moved the ball well, totaling 348 yards, but seven drives ended suddenly, with four turnovers and three failed fourth-down conversions as the Buffaloes dropped to 2-1. It was Colorado's first game with four or more turnovers since its loss to Arizona on Nov. 1, 2025.

"They played a heck of a game, forced us to turn the ball over, forced us into bad decisions," Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders said. "(They) forced us into doing things that are not truly who we are."

Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis finished 19-of-29, passing for 168 yards and a touchdown throw, accounting for CU's lone score of the game: a 50-yard catch-and-run by Joseph Williams in the third quarter.

Lewis also had two interceptions, snapping a streak of 150 consecutive throws without a pick, the third-longest streak in Colorado history and the longest to begin a career.

"It all starts with the quarterback, right?" Lewis said after the game. "It starts with me. I have to do better, just getting the ball to the open guys, just keeping everybody motivated to continue to drive."

It was the longest streak by a CU quarterback without an interception in nine years.

"That's going to happen," Sanders said. "You didn't think we were going to go through the whole darn season without a pick like that? We just don't want him getting afraid to go out there and hang it out. Just go do your thing. If it happens, it happens."

Colorado's defense also struggled to stop the Northwestern attack. Quarterback Aidan Chiles accounted for five touchdowns, three through the air and another pair on the ground to lead the Wildcats. Running back Joseph Himon II was also a key contributor, totaling 78 yards and three receiving touchdowns for Northwestern.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado started on defense and forced Northwestern to punt with 12:21 left in the first quarter.

On the Buffs' first drive, Lewis hit Williams on a flea-flicker for a 20-yard gain. Colorado was forced to punt shortly after, with team captain Damon Greaves pinning the ball at the 6-yard line, marking the third time the Colorado punter pinned an opponent inside the 10 this season.

The Buffaloes got another stop on defense, but the ensuing drive led to the first turnover of the night. Running back Micah Welch fumbled on a run play, and Wildcats safety Robert Fitzgerald recovered the ball for Northwestern with five minutes left in the first.

With 43 seconds left in the first period, Chiles ran into the endzone for the game's first score. The extra point attempt was good, and the Wildcats secured a 7-0 lead.

After CU got the ball back, the offense advanced 55 yards before another turnover ended the possession. Running back Damian Henderson II fumbled the handoff, and Northwestern recovered at the 20-yard line. The Black and Gold defense forced a three-and-out on the following drive.

With eight minutes remaining in the first quarter, Lewis threw the ball over the middle of the field, where Northwestern defensive back Braden Turner intercepted the pass. Chiles then threw a touchdown pass to Himon to extend Northwestern's lead to 14-0.

Colorado marched to the Northwestern 27-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. The Wildcats responded to CU's fourth straight turnover with an 11-play, 72-yard drive that ended in a rushing touchdown by Chiles with 59 seconds remaining, giving Northwestern a 21-0 halftime lead.

At the break, Colorado had amassed 199 total yards to Northwestern's 189. However, the Buffs' four turnovers kept them off the scoreboard.

The Buffaloes' first third-quarter drive ended in a turnover on downs. Northwestern got the ball back, but Colorado cornerback Jason Stokes Jr. forced a fumble, and defensive back Naeten Mitchell recovered it.

"It's a game of momentum," Michell said. "So once they got the turnovers — our defense, every time we go out there, we're trying to take the ball back. That's our job. We're trying to get the offense the ball back."

On the next drive, CU finally got on the board when Lewis connected with Williams for a 50-yard touchdown, making it 21-7 after kicker Elliot Arnold made the extra point.

Northwestern responded with an eight-play drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown reception by Himon on a pass from Chiles, extending the lead to 28-7.

"It just wasn't to the standard," Mitchell said. "A lot of penalties that we shouldn't have had, a lot of explosive plays. Just not what we wanted — not what anybody wanted. We work our tail off to be out there, be able to go out there and make plays. So just not to our standard, and we're gonna come out next game ready."

CU again marched to midfield but was stopped on fourth down. Chiles then connected with Himon for another Wildcat touchdown, extending their lead to 35-7, as the third quarter wound down.
Early in the fourth quarter, Northwestern kicker Jackson Kleather made a 36-yard field goal to extend the lead to 38-7.

Lewis was picked off for a second time with 10 minutes left in the fourth. The Wildcats again drove down the field to score a 21-yard field goal, bringing the game to a final score of 41-7.

UP NEXT: Colorado opens Big 12 Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Baylor with a 10 a.m. MT kickoff scheduled for ESPN or ESPN2 and the Colorado Football Radio Network.