Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter runs down the field in the game against Brigham Young University At Folsom field on September 28th, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado Buffaloes carried two Big 12 losses into Fort Worth, Texas, but left with three after falling to Texas Christian University Saturday night.
The Buffs jumped to a two-touchdown lead early in the first half, but surrendered 21 unanswered points en route to the 35-21 defeat.
Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter had a bumpy start to the evening, throwing an interception on his first pass attempt after the Buffs drove into TCU territory. Despite the turnover, the Horned Frogs were unable to capitalize off the early mistake and missed a 30-yard field goal.
The Buffs took over with 5:27 remaining in the opening quarter and executed a just under seven-minute drive that ran into the second quarter for the game’s first touchdown. Salter found a wide open Omarion Miller for the junior wide receiver’s second score of the season.
Colorado forced a quick three-and-out before scoring on a short, 45-yard drive that was capped off by Salter keeping the ball himself and diving for the end zone, his fifth touchdown on the ground this year.
The Buffs were sitting pretty up 14-0 but let TCU punch back and tie it up before halftime. With just five minutes left, the Horned Frogs moved 76 yards in 3:49 of game time to make it a one score game.
The Buffs began their next possession only for Salter to give the ball right back for his second interception of the game. After that, it took TCU three plays to find the endzone and within the blink of an eye the score was even.
Undaunted, the Buffs charged down the field to try and take the lead before the break. With the ball on the two-yard line and with six seconds left, a pass by Salter got tipped and picked off for his third interception of the first half.
“I saw that you saw. We’ve got to do better. And we will,” said head coach Deion Sanders after the game about Salter’s costly turnovers.
Both defenses came out sharp in the third quarter and only allowed eight total first downs in the period as both units punted back and forth. With a tie game headed into the final 15 minutes, the Horned Frogs quickly found the end zone to take their first lead and go up 21-14.
Colorado didn’t let the score affect them, as Salter found Miller for a 31-yard touchdown strike to level the score once again. Miller, a budding star, made a great adjustment to an underthrown ball for his first multi-touchdown game of his collegiate career.
The Buffaloes seemed to be turning the tides of this match in the fourth quarter, forcing a late punt from TCU with a chance to put the game away. Instead, Colorado’s return man Quentin Gibson allowed the punt to hit the back of freshman Kam Mikell to be pounced on by TCU for the Buffs fourth turnover of the game.
From that point with under seven minutes left, the Horned Frogs rattled off back-to-back scoring drives to put the Buffs to sleep, 35-21.
“It’s one thing to lose, then it’s another thing to feel like you beat yourselves,” declared coach Sanders after the game.
“We were beaten in Houston, these other games we had opportunities, ample opportunities to win the games,” finished coach Sanders.
Colorado seeks their first conference victory against No. 22 Iowa State University next Saturday. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. at Folsom Field, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu.
