Colorado Buffaloes Upset No. 22 Iowa State In Key Win For Deion Sanders

Clutch plays on both sides of the ball helped coach Deion Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes upset the No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday at Folsom Field. Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw a pair of clutch touchdowns to Joseph Williams and Omarion Miller in the win.

Sep 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders walks on the field before the game against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes' first ranked win at home since 2019 couldn't have come at a better time.

Searching for their first Big 12 Conference win of the season, coach Deion Sanders' Buffs knocked off the No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones, 24-17, on Saturday afternoon. Colorado still has plenty of work ahead to reach a bowl game, but things are looking brighter heading into the 3-4 (1-3 Big 12) Buffs' first bye week.

Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including key scores to Omarion Miller and Joseph Williams in the second half. Defensively, the Buffs held Iowa State to just 177 total yards and seven points in the second half.

Oct 4, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

This article will be updated with scoring plays and key moments throughout Colorado's Week 7 game against Iowa State:

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Final: Colorado Buffaloes 24, Iowa State 17

Alejandro Mata Extends Colorado's Lead

Score Update: Colorado 24, Iowa State 17 (Q4, 5:13)

Following a massive fourth-down stop on defense, Colorado extended its lead to 24-17 on a 29-yard field goal from Alejandro Mata. Can the Buffaloes' defense hold strong in the final five minutes?

End Quarter 3 Score Update: Colorado 21, Iowa State 17

Kaidon Salter threw two touchdowns in the third quarter (Omarion Miller, Joseph Williams), helping Colorado to a 21-17 lead entering the fourth quarter. Fifteen minutes now separate the Buffs from their first Big 12 win.

Joseph Williams Scores Go-Ahead Touchdown

Score Update: Colorado 21, Iowa State 17 (Q3, 4:26)

An improved Colorado offense scored its second touchdown of the second half midway through the third quarter as Joseph Williams caught a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown. Colorado's offense totaled 130 yards, including 95 passing, in its first two drives of the second half.

Abu Sama III Puts Iowa State On Top

Score Update: Iowa State 17, Colorado 14 (Q3, 9:26)

Running back Abu Sama III's second touchdown of the game, a 1-yard score, gave the Cyclones a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter.

Kaidon Salter Throws 70-Yard Touchdown To Omarion Miller

Score Update: Colorado 14, Iowa State 10 (Q3, 14:13)

On just the second play of the second half, Kaidon Salter found a wide-open Omarion Miller for a 70-yard touchdown.

Halftime Score Update: Iowa State 10, Colorado 7

Colorado entered the locker room down 10-7 following a 57-yard missed field goal from Buck Buchanan to end the half. Quarterback Kaidon Salter completed 8-of-14 passes for 89 yards in the first half while rushing for 41 yards.

On the defensive end, linebacker Reggie Hughes led the Buffs with five total tackles and cornerback Ivan Yates recorded a pass breakup. Iowa State totaled 264 yards of offense in the first half compared to Colorado's 163.

Iowa State's Abu Sama III Scores Touchdown

Score Update: Iowa State 10, Colorado 7 (Q2, 0:22)

Iowa State took its first lead of the game late in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown from running back Abu Sama III, his third of the season. The Cylones traveled 96 yards in just 1 minute and 45 seconds for the score.

Walk-On Kicker Gets Iowa State On Board

Score Update: Colorado 7, Iowa State 3 (Q2, 6:40)

Walk-on kicker Chase Smith got Iowa State on the board midway through the second quarter on a 38-yard field goal.

End Quarter 1 Score Update: Colorado 7, Iowa State 0

For the third straight week, Colorado threw the first punch, this time on an 8-yard touchdown run from Micah Welch to close the first quarter. The Buffs' defense bent but didn't break in the first quarter, as Iowa State punted three times.

Colorado Strikes First On Micah Welch Touchdown

Score Update: Colorado 7, Iowa State 0 (Q1, 0:00)

After punting on its first two drives, Colorado's offense found its groove late in the first quarter, eating up 90 yards in 12 plays. Running back Micah Welch closed the drive with an 8-yard touchdown to give the Buffs a 7-0 lead.

Deion Sanders Preview Iowa State

Oct 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the field during warmups prior to a game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Ahead of Colorado's first matchup with the Cyclones since 2010, "Coach Prime" shared his thoughts on Iowa State.

"They're good, man," Sanders said. "They've been good for a long time. They are consistent. There are some blemishes that we can take advantage of, and I am pretty sure they are seeing the same thing. But I feel like it is going to be a good contest. What we are working on right now, we have been getting out to strong starts and relinquishing those leads. That is not going to happen, prayerfully, this week."

Sanders was referring to Colorado's past two losses to the BYU Cougars and TCU Horned Frogs. In both games, the Buffs blew an early 14-0 lead, adding on to an already frustrating season.

MORE: Deion Sanders Gives Interesting Quarterback Updates On Julian Lewis, Kaidon Salter

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What To Know About Iowa State

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Chase Sowell (0) catches a pass for a first down on fourth down as Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Logan Wilson (7) defends in the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Iowa State Cyclones at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 4, 2025. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iowa State appears ripe to be upset again due to a lengthy injury report that includes Hansen and key cornerbacks Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper. Cincinnati capitalized on Iowa State's injuries last week, and Colorado will look to do the same, although the Buffs are also dealing with a few notable ailments.

Offensively, Becht will rely heavily on running back Abu Sama III (304 rushing yards) out of the backfield and Brett Eskildsen (321 receiving yards) out wide. Defensive back Marcus Neal Jr. leads the Cyclones with 39 total tackles and defensive lineman Tamatoa McDonough owns a team-high two sacks.

Kickoff at Folsom Field is set for 1:35 p.m. MT on ESPN.