Colorado Buffaloes vs. Utah Utes Live Score Updates

The Colorado Buffaloes take on the No. 11 Utah Utes at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

Oct 17, 2026; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders against the game against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Colorado Buffaloes are faced with a test immediately after their Week 6 bye, as they take on the No. 11 Utah Utes in Week 7. The undefeated Utes come into this game off a 41-24 win over the Kansas Jayhawks.

As for the Buffaloes, they come into this game off a tumultuous bye week that raised more questions than it answered. From a leaked offensive playbook to a quarterback controversy, Colorado hopes to have navigated it all prior to their late-night kickoff against the Utes.

Oct 17, 2026; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

FINAL: Utah 27, Colorado 24

Fourth quarter:

0:00 - Wilson's Hail Mary pass falls incomplete.

0:06 - Wilson scrambles out of the pocket and laterals the ball, but the play is reviewed and determined to be an illegal forward pass. Colorado gains the first down with a few seconds left to bring home the win.

0:14 - After an incompletion, Colorado's offense faces a fourth down with the game on the line.

0:56 - Utah punts the ball back to Colorado. Touchback, so the Buffs will take over at the 25-yard line.

1:10 - Colorado spends its last timeout before third down for Utah's offense.

1:20 - Utah recovers the onside kick.

1:21 - TOUCHDOWN Colorado. Wilson finds receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. for a two-yard touchdown. Buffaloes trail 27-24.

2:00 - Two minute timeout as the Buffaloes have the ball near midfield.

2:46 - First down for Colorado's offense after a 14-yard gain.

3:43 - TOUCHDOWN: Utah extends the lead to 27-17 with a three-play touchdown drive.

5:23 - Wilson's pass is intercepted by Utah, giving the ball back to the Utes offense.

6:03 - Colorado stuffs running back Wayshon Parker in the backfield, forcing a punt as the momentum shifts.

8:43 - Colorado elects to punt on 4th-and-1 in its own territory. A good punt by Damon Greaves sets Utah up at its own 24-yard line.

11:08 - Utah attempts to get quarterback Byrd Ficklin involved in the receiving game again, but he drops a pass on third down, forcing the Utes to punt the ball away to Colorado.

14:11 - Colorado's drive stalls out after Isaac Wilson's pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage. Damon Greaves punts the ball away for Colorado, pinning the Utes back at their own 10-yard line.

Third quarter:

1:00 - TOUCHDOWN UTAH: A 43-yard completion to Creed Whittemore sets the Utes up in Colorado territory. Then, Devon Dampier finds Braden Pegan in the back of the end zone to jump out to a 20-17 lead.

4:45 - FIELD GOAL COLORADO: Colorado opts to play it safe after Isaac Wilson is sacked for a loss of five yards. The Buffs check down to receiver Quanell Farrakhan Jr. for a short gain, setting up kicker Eliiot Arnold for a 32-yard field goal. Colorado leads 17-13.

Nate Mitchell interception. pic.twitter.com/EOoywDl5LA

— GUCCE (@gucceCU) October 18, 2026

8:02 - INTERCEPTION COLORADO: Devon Dampier throws late over the middle of the field and the pass is picked off by safety Naeten Mitchell.

9:45 - TOUCHDOWN COLORADO - The Buffaloes march down the field off the back of an illegal hands-to-face penalty on Utah. DeKalon Taylor bursts to the right side of the field for an 18-yard touchdown on his first carry of the game.

12:03 - Colorado forces a three-and-out, taking over in their own territory after a punt.

Huge TOUCHDOWN for Colorado pic.twitter.com/Vl5JvnRHAW

— Life and Football (@LifeandBall) October 18, 2026

13:20 - TOUCHDOWN COLORADO: A pair of busted plays leave holes in the Utes' defense. JaQuail Smith leaks out to the right side of the field and is left all alone for a 68-yard touchdown. Utah leads 13-7.

Second quarter:

0:01 - FIELD GOAL UTAH: A first-down completion to wide receiver Noah Bennee and a roughing-the-passer call set up Utah at the Buffs' 15-yard line. Colorado's defense holds firm, preventing a touchdown. However, the Utes knock down a field goal to extend their lead to 13-0.

1:07 - INTERCEPTION UTAH: Isaac Wilson forces a pass to tight end Charlie Williams, but Utah safety Rabbit Evans jumps the route and intercepts it. Utah takes over at the Colorado 42-yard line.

Colorado forces the turnover really needed that 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/TF3tVovm86

— BuffBoy 🦬 (@skobuffss) October 18, 2026

2:13 - INTERCEPTION COLORADO: The Utes establish an efficient drive, marching from their 25-yard line down to the Buffs' one-yard line. However, a batted pass on 2nd and Goal finds its way into the hands of defensive lineman Dylan Manuel. The Buffaloes take over at their own 7-yard line.

Colorado currently has more penalty yards (62) than total yards (42) midway through the second quarter.

Buffs have just one first down after three drives.

— Scott Procter (@ScottProcter_) October 18, 2026

7:16 - Colorado gets set back by an offensive pass interference. After a nice 12-yard gain on a screen pass to wide receiver Quentin Gibson, Colorado fails to convert on third down on a hitch route to DeAndre Moore Jr.

Bad call on Boo Carter 💔 pic.twitter.com/OiascqC5Q9

— BuffBoy 🦬 (@skobuffss) October 18, 2026

8:58 - FIELD GOAL UTAH: A late hit-out-of-bounds penalty sets up the Utes at the Buffs' 13-yard line, and an offsides penalty gives them a fresh set of downs. Yet, the Utes fail to reach paydirt after three-straight incomplete passes. They settle for a field goal to take a 10-0 lead.

First quarter:

3:10 - A facemask penalty on running back Micah Welch sets the Buffaloes up behind the chains. They fail to convert on a 3rd-and-20 attempt, but Damon Greaves pins the Utes back at their own 6-yard line.

5:36 - After one first down, Devon Dampier ducks out of a sack attempt from edge rusher Toby Anene, but sails an incomplete pass nonetheless. An arrant punt from Orion Phillips goes out of bounds after just 14 yards of air, setting the Buffs up with great field position.

7:57 - Colorado goes for it on fourth down in its first drive, but an illegal shift penalty forces the Buffs to punt it away. A three-and-out for CU on the opening drive.

Utah scores first…. pic.twitter.com/BUBn6FOAL4

— GUCCE (@gucceCU) October 18, 2026

9:39 - TOUCHDOWN UTAH: Quarterback Devon Dampier completes four of his first six passes to march the Utes down the field. He dances around the pocket before eventually finding tight end Hunter Andrews for an opening-drive touchdown. Colorado had 12 players on the field when the Utes scored. Utah leads 7-0.

Pregame:

The Colorado Buffaloes’ starting quarterback

Sep 26, 2026; Waco, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Isaac Wilson (16) drops back to pass against the Baylor Bears during the second half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Buffaloes elected to start quarterback Isaac Wilson for the second-straight game, with coach Deion Sanders announcing him as the starter during his Tuesday press conference.

Wilson formerly played for the Utes, playing in 10 games for them while starting seven. All seven of his starts came as a true freshman, as he threw for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns to 11 interceptions on 127-of-225 passing that season. 

The Utes moved on from him as the starter the following year, giving him a chance to prove them wrong in today’s game. But he’ll have to overcome his turnover habits, as his three interceptions in Week 5 against the then-No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders proved fatal.

“I saw a guy that could go out there and accumulate 350 yards in his first start in two years," said offensive coordinator Brennan Marion on Wednesday. "We continue to have confidence in Isaac and continue to move forward with him. But I thought he played a decent game. If you take away the turnovers, he would be one of the hottest QBs in the country.”

The Colorado Buffaloes’ playbook controversy

Oct 3, 2026; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders following a touchdown scored in the first quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But the Buffaloes’ offense as a whole will have more than just turnover concerns to overcome. Unfortunately for them, the biggest storyline of the bye week was their offensive playbook finding its way into the hands of Texas Tech fans the night before their Week 5 matchup.

It happened after someone left the playbook in the team hotel’s bar, and a group of Texas Tech fans found it and analyzed it side-by-side with the first drive of each half the next day to test its legitimacy. They attempted to get the playbook into the hands of the Red Raiders by leaking it on fan message boards, but they were ultimately unsuccessful.

Still, the 25-page play sheet became public information, something any of Colorado’s future opponents can use against them. While it's unclear if Colorado did anything to address this issue in the bye week, Coach Prime didn’t see it as a major issue during his Tuesday press conference.

“Why would we [be concerned]? It’s over. The game’s over. Why would we do that? We probably know a lot more than you think we do. But a whole playbook? Come on, man,” Sanders said.

The Utah Utes’ dual-quarterback offense

Oct 10, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier (4) warms up prior to game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But regardless of how Colorado’s offense adapts, that of the Utes will come to play as it has all year. Utah is led by two quarterbacks who have been X-factors in its offense this season.

Senior Devon Dampier has taken the majority of the snaps and played incredibly efficient football. He’s thrown for 1,134 yards and 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions this season. 

On many running downs, Utah has favored sophomore Byrd Ficklin. He’s tallied 21 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown, good for an average of 7.1 yards per carry. He’s also thrown for 186 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions on 10-of-18 passing. 

Those two, in addition to running back Wayshawn Parker in the backfield, will pose a major challenge for the Buffs’ defense. Colorado defensive coordinator Chris Marve proved that his unit was up to the task against Texas Tech; now, they’ll have something to prove all over again.

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