Colorado vs BYU Game Recap:
This game proved to be anything but what was expected. A tale of both teams leaning on aspects of their game not perceived as a default strength. Colorado had one of its better rushing games under Deion Sanders. BYU on the other hand, did run the ball well but that did not necessarily lead to big play action passes. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier simply proved to be too much to counter. Bachmeier combined for 277 yards combined, with almost 100 of that coming on the ground. When BYU needed a play to be made, Bachmeier answered. As for Colorado’s signal caller, Kaidon Salter seemed to lack that decisiveness he showed against Delaware.
Both BYU and Colorado now enter the difficult stretch in their respective schedules. BYU is set to face 3 ranked teams over their next six games, while Colorado faces three ranked opponents over their next four games. BYU’s outlook is still very strong and should be a significant factor in their pursuit of the Big 12 Conference title. Colorado however, has many questions with not that many concrete answers. In the post game press conference, Deion Sanders all but confirmed that Dre’lon Miller will move into a running back specific role after his performance tonight. When asked if Miller’s performance could elevate his role Sanders did not mince words. “That’s what its gonna be. That wasn’t a play play, that was real real. That is what he’s going to do for us from here on out.”
Colorado looks to improve moving forward after what should have been a big win over the BYU Cougars, but instead they have some significant questions to answer. Conversely, Kalani Sitake’s BYU team is poised to simply do more of the same and they should be a tough out in the larger Big 12 Conference title race. Up next, Colorado travels to TCU and BYU travels to Tuscon for a matchup against the Arizona Wildcats.
Team Stats BYU CU1st Downs27173rd down efficiency3-113-94th down efficiency2-30-1Total Yards387291Passing179119Comp/Att19/2911/16Yards per pass6.27.4Interceptions thrown01Rushing208172Rushing Attempts3637Yards per rush5.84.6Penalties6-346-67Turnovers01Fumbles lost00Interceptions thrown01Possession33:3526:25
BYU defeated Colorado 24-21
11:28PM – BYU lines up in victory formation. End of regulation.
11:25PM – Kaidon Salter pass intercepted Isaiah Glasker return for no gain to the COLO 40. 2nd & 5 at COLO 24
11:20PM – Sam Vander Haar punt for 30 yds. 4th & 9 at COLO 34
11:17PM – Kaidon Salter run for 2 yds to the COLO 41
2nd & 8 at COLO 39
11:15PM – Dre’lon Miller run for 2 yds to the COLO 39. 1st & 10 at COLO 37
BYU leads Colorado 24-21
11:13PM – Will Ferrin 55 yd FG MISSED. 4th & 16 at COLO 37
11:10PM – Run for 8 yds to the COLO 37 fumbled, recovered by BYU LJ Martin. 3rd & 8 at COLO 29
11:08PM – LJ Martin run for 5 yds to the COLO 26. 1st & 10 at COLO 31
11:06PM – LJ Martin run for 5 yds to the COLO 31 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 2 at COLO 36
11:04PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to LJ Martin for 8 yds to the COLO 36. 1st & 10 at COLO 44
11:03PM – Damon Greaves punt for 46 yds , Parker Kingston returns for 12 yds to the COLO 44. 4th & 25 at COLO 10
11:01PM – Kaidon Salter sacked by Isaiah Glasker for a loss of 22 yards to the COLO 10. 3rd & 3 at COLO 32
10:57PM – Micah Welch run for 6 yds to the COLO 34. 2nd & 7 at COLO 28
10:55PM – Will Ferrin kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
BYU leads Colorado 24-21
This is just FILTHY by #BYU 🔥🔥🔥 Colorado’s defense was completely fooled! pic.twitter.com/NDJPaeB7vV
— Im not a fan of your favorite team (@fsh733) September 28, 2025
10:54PM – Cody Hagen run for 32 yds for a TD (Will Ferrin KICK). 1st & 10 at COLO 32
10:52PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 13 yds to the COLO 32 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 10 at COLO 45
End of the 3rd Quarter
10:48PM – Enoch Nawahine run for 4 yds to the COLO 45 for a 1ST down. 4th & 1 at COLO 49
10:47PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 16 yds to the COLO 49. 3rd & 17 at BYU 35
10:46PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to LJ Martin for 19 yds to the BYU 42 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at BYU 23
10:44PM – Buck Buchanan kickoff for 65 yds , Cody Hagen return for 23 yds to the BYU 23.
Colorado leads BYU 21-17
10:43PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Dre’lon Miller for 19 yds for a TD (Alejandro Mata KICK). 1st & 10 at BYU 19
10:41PM – Dre’lon Miller run for 7 yds to the BYU 22. 2nd & 9 at BYU 29
10:38PM – Kaidon Salter run for 19 yds to the BYU 30 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at BYU 49
10:36PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Joseph Williams for 26 yds to the BYU 49 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 25
10:34PM – Will Ferrin kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
BYU leads Colorado 17-14
10:31PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Chase Roberts for 4 yds for a TD (Will Ferrin KICK). 4th & 2 at COLO 4
10:28PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 8 yds to the COLO 4. 2nd & 10 at COLO 12
10:27PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Parker Kingston for 8 yds to the COLO 17. 1st & 10 at COLO 25
10:25PM – Parker Kingston run for 20 yds to the COLO 25 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 45
10:24PM – PENALTY BYU False Start (Leausa) 5 yards from BYU45 to BYU40. NO PLAY. 1st & 10 at BYU 45
10:23PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Chase Roberts for 16 yds to the BYU 45 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 7 at BYU 29
10:22PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Parker Kingston for 3 yds to the BYU 29. 1st & 10 at BYU 26
10:21PM – Damon Greaves punt for 47 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the BYU 26. 4th & 1 at COLO 27
10:19PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Joseph Williams for 4 yds to the COLO 27. 3rd & 5 at COLO 23
10:18PM – Dre’lon Miller run for 3 yds to the COLO 23. 2nd & 8 at COLO 20
10:17PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Joseph Williams for 2 yds to the COLO 20. 1st & 10 at COLO 18
10:16PM – Sam Vander Haar punt for 47 yds , Quentin Gibson returns for 1 yd to the COLO 13. 4th & 4 at BYU 41
10:15PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 5 yds to the BYU 40. 2nd & 10 at BYU 35
10:13PM – LJ Martin run for 3 yds to the BYU 35 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 3 at BYU 32
10:12PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 7 yds to the BYU 32. 1st & 10 at BYU 25
10:10PM – Kickoff. Buck Buchanan kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
Colorado Leads BYU 14-10 at the half.
End of 2nd Quarter
9:50PM – Kaidon Salter pass incomplete. 4th & 2 at COLO 28
9:48PM – Micah Welch run for 8 yds to the COLO 29. 3rd & 9 at COLO 21
9:47PM -Kaidon Salter run for 1 yd to the COLO 21. 1st & 10 at COLO 20
9:46PM – Will Ferrin kickoff for 65 yds, Quentin Gibson return for 20 yds to the COLO 20
Colorado leads BYU 14-10
9:43PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Chase Roberts for 5 yds for a TD. 1st & Goal at COLO 5
9:42PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Parker Kingston for 5 yds to the COLO 5 for a 1ST down. 3rd & 3 at COLO 10
9:41PM – LJ Martin run for 4 yds to the COLO 13. 1st & 10 at COLO 17
9:39PM – Bachmeier pass incomplete deep right to Parker Kingston thrown to COLO 05 PENALTY COLO Pass Interference (Hodge) 12 yards from COLO29 to COLO17, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY. 1st & 10 at COLO 29
9:38PM – Bachmeier pass incomplete deep left to Cody Hagen thrown to COLO15 PENALTY COLO Holding (McKinney) 10 yards from COLO39 to COLO29, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
1st & 10 at COLO 39
9:36PM – LJ Martin run for 13 yds to the COLO 39 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 3 at BYU 48
9:35PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Parker Kingston for 7 yds to the BYU 48. 1st & 10 at BYU 41
9:33PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 7 yds to the BYU 41 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at BYU 31
9:32PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Parker Kingston for 15 yds to the BYU 31 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at BYU 16
9:31PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 4 yds to the BYU 10. 1st & 10 at BYU 6
9:29PM – Damon Greaves punt for 46 yds , Tiger Bachmeier returns for 5 yds to the BYU 6. 4th & 9 at BYU 47
9:28PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Joseph Williams for 13 yds to the BYU 48 for a 1ST down. 3rd & 7 at COLO 39
9:27PM – Micah Welch run for 7 yds to the COLO 39. 2nd & 14 at COLO 32
9:26PM – Kaidon Salter run for a loss of 4 yards to the COLO 32. 1st & 10 at COLO 36
9:25PM – Sam Vander Haar punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Quentin Gibson at the COLO 36. 4th & 6 at BYU 20
9:24PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to LJ Martin for 11 yds to the BYU 20. 2nd & 17 at BYU 9
9:22PM – Bachmeier pass complete short right to Chase Roberts caught at BYU27, for 9 yards to the BYU27, End Of Play PENALTY BYU Holding (Sfarcioc) 9 yards from BYU18 to BYU09. NO PLAY. 2nd & 8 at BYU 18
9:20PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 11 yds to the BYU 16 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at BYU 5
9:18PM – Damon Greaves punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Tiger Bachmeier at the BYU 5. 4th & 24 at BYU 44
9:16PM – PENALTY COLO Delay Of Game 5 yards from BYU39 to BYU44. NO PLAY. 4th & 19 at BYU 39
9:13PM – Kaidon Salter sacked by Jack Kelly for a loss of 9 yards to the BYU 393rd & 10 at BYU 30
9:11PM – Quanell Farrakhan Jr. run for 4 yds to the BYU 30. 2nd & 14 at BYU 34
9:09PM – Kaidon Salter sacked by Faletau Satuala for a loss of 4 yards to the BYU 34. 1st & 10 at BYU 30
9:07PM – Kaidon Salter run for 13 yds to the BYU 30 for a 1ST down. 1st & 5 at BYU 43
9:06PM – Kaidon Salter run for 6 yds to the BYU 48 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 2 at COLO 46
9:04PM – Dre’lon Miller run for 7 yds to the COLO 38 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 4 at COLO 31
9:02PM – Micah Welch run for 6 yds to the COLO 31. 1st & 10 at COLO 25
9:01PM – Will Ferrin kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
Colorado holds BYU to 3 pic.twitter.com/xctkRzRxgR
— NFL Paint (@NFLPaint) September 28, 2025
Colorado leads BYU 14-3
8:59PM – Will Ferrin 28 yd FG GOOD
8:57PM – LJ Martin run for 7 yds to the COLO 5. 1st & 10 at COLO 12
8:56PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Carsen Ryan for 12 yds to the COLO 12 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 24
8:54PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 11 yds to the COLO 24 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 35
8:53PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 12 yds to the COLO 35 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 47
8:52PM – Bear Bachmeier pass complete to Carsen Ryan for 28 yds to the COLO 47 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at BYU 25
8:50PM – Kickoff – Buck Buchanan kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
Colorado WR Dre’lon miller runs it for a rushing touchdown!
Colorado is up 14-0 on BYU pic.twitter.com/ZodeGDJ2o7
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) September 28, 2025
Colorado leads BYU 14-0
8:46PM – Dre’lon Miller run for 5 yds for a TD (Alejandro Mata KICK). 1st & Goal at BYU 5
8:44PM – Dre’lon Miller run for 15 yds to the BYU 11 for a 1ST down BYU Penalty, Face Mask (6 yards) (Mory Bamba) to the BYU 5 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 1 at BYU 26
8:43PM – Micah Welch run for 27 yds to the BYU 35 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 38
8:41PM – Bear Bachmeier pass incomplete to Chase Roberts. 4th & 1 at COLO 37
8:38PM – LJ Martin run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line. 2nd & 10 at BYU 46
8:36PM – Bear Bachmeier run for 5 yds to the BYU 46. 2nd & 10 at BYU 41
8:34PM – Bachmeier,Bear sacked for loss of 3 yards to the BYU23 (McNeill,Amari) PENALTY COLO Face Mask (Wade,Keaten) 15 yards from BYU26 to BYU41, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY. 2nd & 9 at BYU 26
8: 32PM – Buck Buchanan kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:28PM – Kaidon Salter run for 3 yds for a TD. 2nd & Goal at BYU 3
Colorado leads BYU 7-0
8:26PM – Kaidon Salter run for 8 yds to the BYU 24 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 8 at BYU 32
8:25PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Omarion Miller for 19 yds to the BYU 34 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 47
8:24PM – Micah Welch run for 3 yds to the COLO 47 for a 1ST down. 2nd & 2 at COLO 44
8:23PM – Kaidon Salter pass complete to Joseph Williams for 11 yds to the COLO 36 for a 1ST down. 1st & 10 at COLO 25
8:22PM – Will Ferrin kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
BYU @ CU Game Preview
This matchup is not a continuation of the Alamo Bowl game. BYU has jumped out to a 3-0 record which should come as no shock to anyone. While Colorado is trying to make course corrections to a very unexpected 2-2 start. Both teams are starting QBs new to their program. For BYU its freshman Bear Bachmeier, while Colorado has selted on senior Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter after a bit of QB musical chairs.
Each team’s respective road to this point in the season are also noticeably different. BYU blew out Portland State (69-0) as well as two sound wins against Stanford (27-3) and East Carolina (34-13). However, Colorado has faced a much different story through their four games. Colorado lost a winnable game vs Georgia Tech (27-20), took care of Delaware (31-7), loss handily to Houston (36-20), and handled Wyoming (37-20). While BYU aims to continue what they’ve started, Colorado hopes to change the narrative of their young season with its first win over a ranked team (BYU #25). If rankings hold, Colorado is set to face three ranked teams in the next three weeks (BYU, #24 TCU, and #14 Iowa State).
A night game at Folsom Field should provide the first intense atmosphere for BYU’s freshman QB. BYU under Kalani Sitake has built a very sound program and a football team that is rather balanced. With quality starters at every level of the depth chart, Bear Bachmeier doesn’t have to be a superhero. Manage the game, lean on the run and expect his defense will put up a solid showing. Colorado on the other hand, has a blueprint under Deion Sanders will some improvement in areas that have been less than a strength. Colorado still has explosive receivers, a QB that can account for chunk plays and a secondary that is talented but has not yet shut teams down through the air.
The CU defensive line and offensive lines are improved, but running the ball and stopping the run are still less than impressive. Colorado will need to be effective in both running the ball and stopping the run to beat a BYU team that runs the ball better this year than last. BYU is a top 35 team in the nation when it comes to running the football. Their rushing stats are even more impressive when looking at advanced stats, ranking 8th in run blocking, 9th in ypc, and 6th in ypc after contact.
BYU will want to establish the run with LJ Martin, utilize play action and hope to keep Bachmeier out of clear passing downs as Colorado will want to get pressure on the young QB. In their two wins the Buffaloes have 4 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. How BYU handles the QB pressure situation will also be a dynamic to track. Kaidon Salter is the starter for this game, but it will depend on which Salter Colorado gets this week. In the first two weeks, Salter seemed hesitant to run. After getting benched for third stringer Ryan Staub, week 4 Kaidon Salter reverted back to the ‘dual threat’ aspect that makes him so intriguing. If BYU can prevent Salter rushing chunk plays, this could become a very different game. For Colorado to get a ranked upset win, they will need the Kaidon Salter viewers saw vs Wyoming.
Who wins this game should come down to balanced complimentary football (BYU) vs a not quite one dimensional attack with big chunk play potential. If Colorado can run the ball at an acceptable clip, that could dramatically change how this game is played. Against Wyoming last week Colorado as a team had a 6.2 ypc on the ground for a shade under 200 yards as a team, but only saw 19 total carries by running backs. This game could come down to which team can run the ball and limit chunk plays better than the other.