Late Mistakes Cost Colorado Buffaloes In Near-Upset Of BYU Cougars

BOULDER — About nine months after falling to the BYU Cougars in last season's Alamo Bowl, the Colorado Buffaloes came up just short of flipping the script against their respected Big 12 Conference counterpart on Saturday night.

Now sitting 2-3, the Buffs got off to a quick start with two early touchdowns from quarterback Kaidon Salter and wide receiver Dre'lon Miller before letting No. 25 BYU back into things in the second quarter. Colorado had an opportunity to go ahead late, but an interception by BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker sealed the win for the Cougars.

Live Score Updates Colorado Buffaloes BYU Cougars Meet Alamo Bowl Rematch Big 12 Kaidon Salter Deion Sanders Folsom Field CU — Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Kaidon Salter (3) carries the ball for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

This article will be updated with scoring plays and key moments during Colorado's Saturday night game (8:15 p.m. MT, ESPN) against BYU:

Kaidon Salter Throws Interception

Score Update: BYU 24, Colorado 21 (Q4, 0:50)

BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker sealed the win with an interception of Kaidon Salter in the game's final minute.

BYU's Cody Hagen Scores 32-Yard Touchdown

Score Update: BYU 24, Colorado 21 (Q4, 14:02)

Wide receiver Cody Hagen capped off an eight-play, 77-yard BYU drive with a 32-yard rushing touchdown, giving BYU another three-point lead.

End Quarter 3 Score Update: Colorado 21, BYU 17

Colorado and BYU each scored a touchdown in the third quarter, setting up what should be an exciting finish at Folsom Field.

Colorado Regains Lead On Dre'lon Miller Touchdown

Score Update: Colorado 21, BYU 17 (Q3, 2:42)

Colorado didn't trail for long, as Kaidon Salter found Dre'lon Miller for a 19-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. Miller now has 77 total yards and two touchdowns.

A DIME from Salter to Miller for 6⃣@DrelonMiller x #GoBuffs

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/BYSt8yK797
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 28, 2025

BYU Strikes First In Second Half

Score Update: BYU 17, Colorado 14 (Q3, 5:26)

BYU took its first lead of the game midway though the third quarter when Bear Bachmeier hit wide receiver Chase Robert for a 4-yard touchdown on 4th-and-2.

Halftime Score Update: Colorado 14, BYU 10

Despite holding a four-point lead entering the break, BYU has considerable momentum after scoring 10 unanswered points to close the half.

Numbers-wise, Colorado and BYU each totaled 188 yards in the first half. Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw for 60 yards, running back Micah Welch rushed for 53 and wide receiver Joseph Williams led the Buffs with two catches for 24 yards. Cornerback Teon Parks totaled a team-high four tackles in the first half.

Perhaps most encouraging, the Buffs held BYU running back LJ Martin to just 31 rushing yards on seven carries.

BYU Draws Closer on Chase Roberts Touchdown

Score Update: Colorado 14, BYU 10 (Q2, 0:46)

BYU scored its first touchdown of the night late in the first half on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bear Bachmeier to Chase Roberts. Defensive backs DJ McKinney and Preston Hodge both committed penalties to aid the Cougars' progress.

End Quarter 1 Score Update: Colorado 14, BYU 3

The Buffs couldn't have gotten off to a much better start against the favored Cougars. Wide receiver Dre'lon Miller and quarterback Kaidon Salter each scored a rushing touchdown in the opening quarter, and Colorado's defense held BYU to 32 rushing yards.

BYU Cougars Score Field Goal

Score Update: Colorado 14, BYU 3 (Q1, 0:45)

BYU scored its first points of the game late in the opening quarter on a 28-yard field goal from Will Ferrin. Defensively, Keaten Wade leads the Buffs with two quarterback hurries.

Wildcat Dre'lon Miller Puts Colorado Up Two Touchdowns

Score Update: Colorado 14, BYU 0 (Q1, 5:08)

Colorado's impressive start continued with the help of wide receiver Dre'lon Miller, who scored a 5-yard rushing touchdown on a direct snap.

Kaidon Salter Rushes In Colorado's First Touchdown

Score Update: Colorado 7, BYU 0 (Q1, 9:44)

Led by quarterback Kaidon Salter, Colorado's offense looked exceptionally sharp in its first drive, storming 75 yards in just over five minutes. Salter threw for 39 yards and rushed for 31, including a 3-yard touchdown.

Colorado Buffaloes vs. BYU Cougars Pregame Injury Report

Colorado's most notable losses include cornerback RJ Johnson, running backs Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor, defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas and EDGE Samuel Okunlola. For BYU, second-leading rusher Sione Moa and three others are out.

Official pregame injury report for #BYU at #CUBuffs --> pic.twitter.com/XFCbRUwvur
— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) September 28, 2025

Scouting The BYU Cougars

The aforementioned Bachmeier has performed well through his first three college games, throwing for 518 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in wins over Portland State, Stanford and East Carolina. BYU's offense has leaned heavily on running back LJ Martin, whose 342 rushing yards rank third in the Big 12 entering Saturday.

Defensively, the Cougars are physical up front and feature one of the Big 12's best linebacker duos in Jack Kelly and Isaiah Glasker. Cornerback Evan Johnson leads BYU with two interceptions, and safeties Raider Damuni and Faletau Satuala each have one pick.

"They have been shutting down things and doing the darn thing," Sanders said of BYU's defense. "They are physical and tough. That's the team I know we're going to face — a tough, physical team. I admire him (BYU coach Kalani Sitake) so much. He played at the university, had an opportunity to play pro ball, just a straight-up winner."

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Colorado Keys To Victory

Along with keeping Martin quiet in BYU's backfield, Colorado's defense will be challenged to slow the Cougars' often creative offense. Expect BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick to open things up and challenge a somewhat depleted CU front.

On offense, the Buffs need running backs Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch to step up in place of the injured DeKalon Taylor and Simeon Price. Getting wide receiver Dre'lon Miller active early and continuing to feed Sincere Brown throughout will also help Colorado complete the upset.