Game at a Glance
Matchup: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. MT
Where: Folsom Field in Boulder
Capacity: 51,400 (AstroTurf)
TV: ESPN
Radio: KHOW (630 AM)
Odds: Colorado by 12.5
Series: CU leads 24-2-1
Moments after his team lost at Houston on Sept. 12, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders stated the obvious that his team simply has to be better – starting with himself.
“I take full responsibility,” Sanders said after the 36-20 loss.
That has set the tone for this week’s theme in Boulder: Accountability.
With three games down and nine to go, starting Saturday night against Wyoming, the Buffs (1-2, 0-1 Big 12) have plenty ahead of them. For those nine games to be better, however, there’s a whole lot of people in the Champions Center that have to be better.
“Honestly, just accountability,” cornerback DJ McKinney said of the message from coaches this week. “Just making sure we are accountable for ourselves, but as well as our teammates.
“If we just own up to our own responsibilities, basically, and just execute to our best ability, and then make sure our teammate next to us is doing the same, and it’ll carry us on.”
Colorado Buffaloes cornerback DJ McKinney celebrates a turnover against Georgia Tech at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (Photo by Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
All year, Sanders has expressed his belief in the talent that’s been assembled. That hasn’t shown up often enough in the first three games, however.
Offensively, the Buffs have yet to establish any kind of identity, as the run and pass have been inconsistent. The depth of talent at receiver hasn’t put up numbers anywhere near what was expected.
Of course, that has coincided with rotation at quarterback. Senior Kaidon Salter started two games (but CU used a three-man rotation in the second game), and then sophomore Ryan Staub started last week. It’s expected that Salter will start Saturday.
Tight ends coach Brett Bartolone said the Buffs have to solidify the quarterback position, but repeatedly said CU’s main issue offensively comes down to players and coaches executing and being accountable for their assignments each play.
“We gotta execute better,” he said. “Coach (Sanders) talked about accountability this week; everyone needs to take accountability for their actions. I would say 1B to that is execution. We’ve got to execute a lot better. And that starts with preparing the right way and that starts with coaches.”
The same could be said for the defense, which has given up a Big 12-worst 430 yards per game. The only opponent that didn’t top 400 yards against the Buffs was Delaware, which finished with 396.
CU has given up 44 plays of 10 yards or more this season and has struggled to get off the field at times defensively. Often, it has come from missed tackles or a player or two being in the wrong spot.
“We just don’t make the play when the play is afforded to us,” Sanders said. “I feel like we could be better, and we are better.”
With belief in the talent on both sides of the ball, Sanders sees no reason why the Buffs can’t do what many other teams in the past have done by recovering from a rough start to have a great season.
“Why can’t we turn it around?” Sanders said. “Why can’t we correct the wrongs with the rights and display consistency and do those things? Because we have the talent in house. We just gotta put it to usage and do what we are capable of doing.”
Being accountable, he said, is a key step in producing the type of turnaround Sanders believes his team is capable of engineering.
“One thing about our young men, they’re understanding what accountability is, as well as us in the coaching staff,” he said. “I take full responsibility and accountability of every darn L (loss) we receive, but sometimes young men in life have to understand they’re accountable, as well, for their actions.
“They’re holding one another accountable and I like it. I really do. I love them for that.”
Originally Published: September 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM MDT