Deion's Bye-Week Fix-It List 3 Things Colorado Must Fix Before Utah

Deion’s Bye-Week Fix-It List: 3 Things Colorado Must Fix Before Utah

ByJim Balz
Colorado vs Utah 2026
Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash

Jim Balz here, and I’ll keep the victory lap short. Last week on The Hairy Times, my brother Harry and I argued about Colorado vs. Texas Tech. I made two calls. First, Isaac Wilson’s interception history would hurt him against a defense full of ballhawks. Second, Tech would score more than the 24.5 points per game CU’s defense allows. Final score: 29-7. That’s two-for-two. Harry, the 115th-ranked pass defense was a real point, and I said I wouldn’t say it twice. Now the bye week is here, and Colorado vs. Utah 2026 is coming fast. So here’s what Deion has to fix.

What Went Right: The First Quarter Had Hope

For about 15 minutes, Folsom Field believed. Wilson led the team down the field and connected with Joseph Williams on an 8-yard TD. Wilson completed 8 of 10 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. And the Buffaloes led 7-3 at halftime, their first halftime lead over an FBS team in more than a year.

The defense was the real story. The Red Raiders were held to just 3-for-12 on third down, and Will Hammond threw for just 134 yards. Santana Hopper wrecked the game: 10 total tackles, five TFLs and four QB hits. In my opinion, that front is good enough to win Big 12 games. The other two-thirds of the roster needs to catch up.

Fix No. 1: Special Teams

This is my No. 1 problem, and it’s not close. The Buffs had to burn a timeout in the first quarter because they only had six players on the field to block a Texas Tech field goal. Then they only had nine players on the field after the timeout as the Red Raiders kicked a 52-yard field goal. (The Gazette counted eight before the timeout. Either number is too low.) Kicker Elliot Arnold also missed two field goals (52 yards, 29 yards) in the first half, and the Buffs tried a fake punt on 4th and 11 to no avail.

The root cause: the Buffs do not currently have a dedicated special-teams coordinator, and it is showing. My take: name one this week, even an interim one. When you can’t get 11 guys on the field, it’s a problem with who’s in charge, not with talent.

Fix No. 2: Stop Giving the Ball Away

Wilson finished 26/44 for 292 yards, 1 TD and 3 INTs. Then WR Joseph Williams also tossed an INT on a trick play early in the third quarter. All three third-quarter Colorado drives ended in interceptions, and the last one came in the fourth quarter by Curry, who read the short pass and plucked it out of the air for the score. The damage: Texas Tech cashed the turnovers into 19 points.

Here’s what stings. The Buffaloes outgained Texas Tech offensively and still lost by 22. That’s the same thing I complained about after the Baylor game: lots of yards, too few points. My opinion: keep Wilson as the starter, but cut the trick plays and stop asking a receiver to make throws.

Fix No. 3: Penalties

Colorado, the most penalized team in the Big 12, was flagged eight times for 84 yards. You can’t spot a ranked team almost a full field of free yards and expect your defense to hold up for 60 minutes. Even DC Chris Marve’s unit began to break down a bit in the second half due to penalties and their own offense’s mistakes.

What’s Next: Utah, Then Stillwater

CU is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play in year four of the Deion Sanders era. After the Oct. 10 bye, Utah comes to Boulder for Family Weekend on Oct. 17 — the 73rd edition of the Rumble in the Rockies and 15th straight season the two have faced each other. Last year was ugly: Utah avenged a 49-24 loss in 2024 with a 53-7 win. After that, it’s a road trip to No. 19 Oklahoma State on Oct. 24.

Jim’s Pick (Opinion, Full Volume)

My opinion: Utah wins, but it’s closer than last year’s beatdown, and Colorado covers if the defense plays like it did against Tech. I’m not picking an upset from a team that loses the turnover battle 4-0 and can’t line up for a field goal until it shows me those fixes in a real game. Harry will probably take the Buffs because of the Family Weekend crowd. Fine. I’m still two-for-two.

Your turn: which fix decides Colorado vs. Utah: special teams, turnovers or penalties? And does Wilson keep the job after the bye? Tell me in the comments.

Your turn: Think Jim or Harry got it wrong? Make your case in the comments (join the Balz Fan Club free to comment and like the best takes). Want the bigger picture beyond the box score? Read The Hairy Times, our sister paper.

Sources we checked (11)

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