University of Colorado Boulder quarterback Kaidon Salter runs the ball during the football game against Brigham Young University at Folsom Field on September 28, 2025. (Linus Loughry/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado football team returns to Folsom Field Saturday, Oct. 11, to host the No. 22 University of Iowa State Cyclones. Iowa State visits Colorado for the second leg of the team’s midseason road trip, the beginning of which, during an away game at the University of Cincinnati last week, the Cyclones suffered their first loss of 2025. Colorado limps back to Boulder following their second straight Big 12 loss to Texas Christian University a week ago.
In back to back weeks, against TCU and Brigham Young University the week prior, quarterback Kaidon Salter gave Colorado a 14-0 first half lead over favored opponents. In both games, however, the Colorado lead evaporated quickly in the second half. While Salter has gotten the initially lackluster Buffs offense moving in a positive direction the past two weeks by involving playmakers such as Omarion Miller and Dallan Hayden while running the ball proficiently himself, Salter’s costly interceptions and limited throwing ability have derailed consecutive upset bids. The senior quarterback and Buffs fans alike will hope that the third time’s a charm this weekend.
Oct. 4, the Cyclones got punched in the mouth early against Cincinnati, going down at one point in the first half 7-31. Iowa State fought their way to within a score with two minutes left in the game, and even managed to get the ball back, but their last play from scrimmage was thwarted by Cincinnati, resulting in a 30-38 loss and an end to ISU’s undefeated season. Cincinnati had by far the most success out of any team to play the Iowa State defense, running for 260 rushing yards and keeping the ball out of the hands of Iowa State defenders, who had combined for six interceptions through five games.
On the bright side for ISU, junior quarterback Rocco Becht put forward his best statistical game of the season last week with 314 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Becht has produced an impressive 2025 season despite losing his top two receivers from a year ago, with 1,415 passing yards and 16 total touchdowns on the year.
Storylines to watch out for on Saturday:
An unlocked Colorado run game?- Since Deion Sanders took the helm as head coach of the Colorado football program in 2023, Colorado hasn’t seen much success on the ground. In both full seasons of the Sanders regime, Colorado has yet to produce a 400 yard rusher. In a surprising turn of events, Colorado has already rushed for 863 yards as a team in 2025, with running back Micah Welch already at 250 yards through six games. Much of this has to do with Salter, a more dual threat quarterback than Shedeur Sanders, heading the offense combined with improved offensive line play.
Coach Sanders commented on the Buffs’ rushing success to begin his press conference on Tuesday, “100 yards rushing in five games. Just had the six in the previous two years combined, that’s pathetic. 12 rushes over 20 yards this season, which is unbelievable,” he said.
One of the major elements introduced to the Colorado run game this season has been big play ability. Senior running back Simeon Price ran for a 38-yard touchdown against the University of Houston, while Salter broke off for a 35-yard touchdown run versus the University of Wyoming, Welch slashed through the BYU defense for 27 yards and Hayden had multiple 20+ yard rushes last week at TCU. In particular, Hayden and Welch have come on recently as a formidable backfield duo deserving of a consolidation of carries going forward for the Buffs’ offense.
Powered by a newly productive run game, Colorado has the opportunity to repeat Cincinnati’s strategy during their win against Iowa State last week.
Big 12 conference play bloodbath- With Cincinnati’s upset win over Iowa State last week, TCU falling to Arizona State University two weeks ago and Texas Tech upsetting the University of Utah three weeks ago, the Big 12 conference has cannibalized its undefeated members left and right. The conference has always been characterized by small gaps in talent between member programs but that closeness of competition is exaggerated in 2025. At the halfway point of the season, all but five of the 16 Big 12 teams still have realistic shots at winning the conference with either zero or one conference loss combined with a winning overall record. Since Big 12 conference play started, an upset has occurred each week and no clear favorite has been established.
At 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12, Colorado is one of the teams without a realistic shot at winning the Big 12 this year. With only six games remaining on the schedule, the best the Buffs can hope for is a .667 Big 12 win percentage, certainly not enough for a title game appearance. That being said, nothing’s stopping Colorado from joining the Big 12 upset party.
Iowa State reeling from an upset a week ago provides Colorado with the perfect opportunity for a first conference win and to deliver a statement to the rest of the Big 12.
“The reason I’m still excited about this team is because I don’t feel we’ve gotten our butt kicked,” said Sanders on Tuesday. “I feel like we’ve just wrapped it up and given it to them, and that’s frustrating. But, also, there’s hope in that.”
The Buffs will take on Iowa State at 1:30 p.m MDT on Saturday. The game will be played at Folsom Field and be live on ESPN.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Charlie Hewitt at charles.hewitt@colorado.edu.
