Colorado beat Weber State 52-21 in its home opener at Folsom Field on September 12, improving to 2-0 for the first time since Sanders’s first season leading the program in 2023, yet Sanders opened his postgame press conference visibly agitated, saying he needed to calm himself down before taking questions. His frustration centered on penalties and what he saw as a lack of complete dominance against an opponent from the lower resourced Football Championship Subdivision, rather than on the final score itself.
How dominant was Colorado actually on offense?
Extremely, at least for stretches. The Buffaloes opened the game with a 66-yard touchdown pass on their very first play from scrimmage and scored five touchdowns across their first 26 offensive snaps, hitting from 66, 63, 48, 55 and 32 yards out. Quarterback Julian Lewis delivered his best performance yet in a Colorado uniform, completing 17 of 23 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns in front of an announced crowd of 49,363, while extending his interception free streak to 144 career pass attempts, a school record to start a career.
So why wasn’t Sanders satisfied?
Because his internal bar for the team sits well above simply winning games comfortably. Sanders said the Buffaloes are trying to win a championship, not just individual matchups, and pointed specifically to 13 penalties for 112 yards, including a holding call that wiped out a 73-yard touchdown run from walk-on running back Titus Bautista in the fourth quarter. He also noted that offensive coordinator Brennan Marion had promised extra conditioning drills as punishment if the offense failed to reach 70 points, a threshold Colorado fell 18 points short of despite the lopsided final score.
Did Sanders take any personal responsibility for the mistakes?
Yes, specifically regarding special teams. He said a missed opportunity to get a field goal attempt off before the clock expired was on him directly, along with acknowledging flaws across every phase of the game, offense, defense and special teams alike. He described the entire performance as flawed on both sides of the ball and among the coaching staff, himself included, while also stressing that the team needs to do a better job preparing players for these moments given how many are experiencing high stakes college football for the first time.
Did Colorado get meaningful playing time for backups and younger players?
Less than Sanders wanted. He said the coaching staff had specifically discussed wanting freshmen and reserve players to see the field given how hard they work in practice and on special teams during the week, and expressed some regret that the lopsided scoreline didn’t create more opportunities to rotate in less experienced players the way the staff had hoped heading into the game.
How does this fit into Colorado’s broader season expectations?
The Buffaloes entered Saturday as five touchdown favorites over Weber State, yet oddsmakers and analysts largely projected Colorado to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 this season following a 3-9 record in 2025. Colorado’s players echoed Sanders’s frustration after the game, with linebacker Tyler Martinez saying the team’s goal was never just to win two games, and that the sloppy elements from Saturday’s win need to be fixed before Colorado can realistically compete for the conference title it’s actually chasing. The win follows a tighter opening week victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta, 14-13, secured only after Colorado blocked a potential game winning 45-yard field goal attempt on the final play.
What’s next for Colorado?
Two consecutive road games that will offer a clearer read on whether this team is a genuine Big 12 contender or simply beating overmatched competition. The Buffaloes travel to Northwestern on September 19 before facing Baylor on September 26, both tests against Big Ten and Big 12 competition respectively that carry more weight than an FCS home opener.
How did the broader Week 2 slate play out elsewhere in college football?
With plenty of chaos. In the sport’s marquee matchup Saturday night, No. 4 Texas overcame a 20-point fourth quarter deficit to stun top ranked Ohio State 24-23 in Austin, with running back Hollywood Smothers scoring the go ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run with 25 seconds remaining after quarterback Arch Manning led a furious late rally. The result handed Ohio State its first regular season loss since 2024 and instantly reshaped the sport’s national title conversation, a reminder that Colorado’s own championship ambitions will ultimately be measured against results like that one rather than lopsided wins over FCS opponents.
