No. 25 BYU (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)
When/where: 8:15 p.m. Saturday/Folsom Field
TV/Radio: ESPN/KOA 850 AM
BetMGM Line: CU +6.5, 48.5 over/under
Weather: 55 degrees, partly cloudy
Series History: CU leads 8-4-1, but lost last three matchups, including 36-14 in last year’s Alamo Bowl
Three storylines
Cougars return to Boulder: The last time BYU came to Folsom Field was 1981 — a 41-20 victory for the visitors in which Jim McMahon threw three TDs and Steve Young tossed two more. This time, the Cougars feature a true freshman at QB in Bear Bachmeier, who has looked sharp throwing for 518 yards and four TDs as BYU breezed through non-conference play. It will be up to the CU pass rush to make Bachmeier uncomfortable and not let the young QB find his confidence.
Buffs’ offensive rhythm: With Kaidon Salter grabbing ahold of the starting QB job in last week’s win over Wyoming, it’s time for the CU offense to take off. CU ranks 72nd of 134 FBS teams with a 39.6 third-down conversion percentage and is 82nd in scoring offense at 27.0 points per game. It will take a cohesive offensive effort to beat BYU, which has allowed only 16 points through three games. But the BYU defense was hardly tested in wins over Portland State, struggling Stanford and East Carolina.
Another toughness test: After getting pushed around in losses to Georgia Tech and Houston, CU needs to prove it can hold its own in the trenches against a Power 4 opponent. That was not the case in last year’s Alamo Bowl, when BYU had four sacks and 331 total yards on offense. Deion Sanders said left tackle Jordan Seaton, who watched the second half of the Wyoming game in sweats, is expected to play. Questions remain about CU’s ability to protect the QB and its rushing defense (194.5 yards allowed per game).
Predictions
Kyle Newman, sportswriter: BYU 34, CU 24
CU isn’t equipped up front to match up against its conference foes this season. BYU QB Bear Bachmeier will make some freshman mistakes that keep CU in the game, including two interceptions. But ultimately, the Cougars control possession in the second half, and the Buffs don’t have enough big-play potential on offense to rally. Saturday starts a very tough stretch for CU as the 2025 season begins to look more like ’23 than the bowl season of ’24.
Sean Keeler, sports columnist: BYU 30, CU 24
If you wondered what last year’s K-State game would have looked like without Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, you’ll probably get your answer late Saturday. Even if Jordan Seaton’s at 70%, it’s hard to picture Buffs running backs making a dent on the ground against the Cougars’ front. This puts the fate of the entire offense in the hands of Kaidon Salter, by land or by air. One problem: The Buffs won’t have quite as big of a speed advantage on the perimeter. Wyoming has already given up 22 passes this season of 15 yards or more. BYU has allowed 15. Take away those home-run balls from last week, and Salter might look mortal again.
Matt Schubert, sports editor: BYU 20, CU 17
BYU looks a lot like the sort of team that traditionally gives Coach Prime’s Buffs problems. Big, nasty and physical, Kalani Sitake’s bunch controls the ball on offense and gets it back quickly on defense. That’s a bad recipe for a CU team that’s yet to solve its deficiencies in the trenches. Still, with a freshman taking snaps for BYU, an opportunistic CU defense cannot be counted out.
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