Quarterback Kaidon Salter runs with the ball during the game against Iowa State University at Folsom Field on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Rebecca Schima/CU Independent)
The Colorado Buffaloes (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) delivered a critical victory on Saturday afternoon, stunning the college football world by taking down No. 22 Iowa State University (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) with a 24-17 win. Although on paper CU’s defense allowed 236 rushing yards and 441 total, the unit came up big when it mattered most. Safety transfer Tawfiq Byard made a late interception at the goal line and the defense held Iowa State to 2-for-12 on third down conversions.
After forcing three Iowa State punts on their first three drives, Salter got the Buffs their initial first down by finding sophomore wide receiver Joseph Williams for a pickup of 13-yards. That catch started the best game from Williams’ since transferring to Colorado, ending with eight catches, 128 yards and his third touchdown of the season.
The first down got things rolling for the Buffs, as they marched 90 yards downfield to take the first lead of the game. Sophomore running back Micah Welch punched it in for his second score of the season, giving CU a 7-0 advantage as time expired in the first quarter.
Iowa State’s junior running back Abu Sama III was a pathfinder for the Cyclones’ offense early in the second quarter. He ran them to their first red zone appearance, resulting in a field goal. In the closing moments of the first half, once CU’s defense shifted to focusing on Sama, the Cyclones repositioned to move the ball through the air. The attack worked as Iowa State took its first lead of the game with 25 seconds left in the half, going up 10-7.
After a resolute end to the half from the Cyclones, they gave up any momentum they had with a blunder on defense, allowing a free 70-yard touchdown strike to junior wideout Omarion Miller.
The Buffs ended up trailing for exactly one minute of game time, going back up 14-10.
The Cyclones and Buffs then traded touchdown drives for the rest of the third quarter, leaving a 21-17 advantage for CU. Sama put the scoring drive on his shoulders, accounting for an impressive 60 of Iowa State’s total 75 yards, before pounding it in for his second touchdown of the game. Colorado forged downfield with yards from junior running back Dallan Hayden, but Salter found Williams for a touchdown to go back up by four.
Colorado’s defense shined in the fourth quarter to seal the game. Iowa State was driving the ball efficiently and looked poised to take back the lead just seven yards shy of the end zone. Earlier, Byard exited the game with a hand injury, but undauntedly returned with his entire left hand wrapped up into a club. Despite one hand being immobile, Byard made an impressive over-the-head interception at the goal line to prevent Iowa State from scoring.
“I had the same injury last year,” Byard said. “I came back [and] we had to finish. He threw the ball right to me [and I] made a play.”
Colorado kicker Alejandro Mata attempts a field goal at the game against Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Folsom Field. (Rachel Glazer/CU Independent)
From that point on, the Buffs’ defense forced a turnover on downs and a brief four-play drive from the Cyclones to put them away. Senior kicker Alejandro Mata smoked a 29-yarder to make it 24-17, and the rest was history as CU fans stormed the field.
The victory marked head coach Deion Sanders’ second win against a ranked opponent since joining Colorado, and the Buffs first at Folsom Field since 2019. Coming off Salter’s worst game as a Buff against Texas Christian University last week, he rebounded for one of his cleanest performances, finishing with two passing touchdowns for 255 yards.
“It felt great just going out there and being able to execute the game plan,” Salter said. “Doing everything the coaches wanted us to do, we played really good as a team this week.”
The Buffaloes have a well-deserved bye week before traveling to Rice-Eccles Stadium for a match-up with the University of Utah on Saturday, Oct. 25. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. and will stream on ESPN.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu.
