Senior quarterback Kaidon Salter runs toward the end zone during the game against Iowa State University at Folsom Field on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2025. (Rebecca Schima/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado football team crawls back to Boulder to take on the University of Arizona this week after suffering the program’s worst loss under head coach Deion Sanders just a week ago. The 46-point loss at the University of Utah last Saturday was reminiscent of past beatdowns, with the 2023 losses to the University of Oregon (36 points) and Washington State University (42 points) or the 22-point Alamo Bowl defeat to Brigham Young University coming to mind. All three games were away games for Colorado or played at a neutral venue.
Furthermore, the Utah loss cements worrisome trends already present in the Sanders regime. The Buffs are 1-3 coming off a bye in the last three seasons and seem impervious to positive momentum shifts. In fact, this is the third time under Sanders that a possible season-turning point win, examples include the win over Colorado State University in 2023, last year’s domination of Utah, and this year’s of Iowa State University not even three weeks ago, have been followed by a double-digit loss.
Regardless of the current climate of the team, the Buffs prepare to host yet another tough Big 12 opponent, with the Wildcats coming into town riding a winning season temporarily stalled by back-to-back losses to currently ranked teams. Arizona is led by junior quarterback and three-year starter Noah Fifita, who is on pace for his best statistical season as a Wildcat. This is the third straight season Colorado will face Fifita and the Wildcats, with the score tied at 1-1.
Sanders had high praise for Fifita during his press conference this week, stating, “This kid, to me, he’s a pro. He can play. He can throw it, you give him time, he’s gonna make things happen.”
Fifita is supported by a deep receivers room. Chattanooga transfer Javin Whatley, Washington State transfer Kris Hutson, New Mexico transfer Luke Wysong, sophomore Chris Hunter and Kansas State transfer Tre Spivey have all produced at least 200 receiving yards. The spread-out passing attack is supported by a strong run game led by Texas State transfer Ismail Mahdi, producing 5.8 yards per carry.
Storylines to follow Saturday night-
Continuity among the Arizona secondary- On the other side of the football, Arizona boasts one of the best defenses in the Big 12. The unit is fourth in the conference in yards allowed per game, at just under 300, and is especially strong against the pass, allowing just 153 passing yards per game, third best in the conference. The Arizona defense is anchored by its backend playmakers, the safety duo of Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith, both career Wildcats, who are active around the ball and have already combined for 94 total tackles on the season. Additionally, Arizona cornerbacks Treydan Stukes, in his sixth year at Arizona, and West Virginia sophomore transfer Ayden Garnes have impressed thus far in 2025. Stukes leads the team in interceptions, while Garnes leads the team in passes defended.
Impressively, this Wildcat secondary went five full games in 2025 before conceding a passing touchdown to an opponent. A likely contributing factor is the built-up chemistry between Johnson, Smith and Stukes. The veteran trio, Smith being the youngest as a third-year Wildcat, has remained at Arizona despite a coaching transition after head coach Jedd Fisher left the program two seasons ago and Brett Brennan was hired in his place.
This loyalty paid during the first five games’ success, yet during Arizona’s recent losses, the secondary has been uncharacteristically porous, allowing 330 passing yards and four total passing touchdowns combined to BYU and Houston. Colorado’s own talented group of receivers, led by junior Omarion Miller and sophomore Joseph Williams, each with over 350 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season, must continue this trend to stay lockstep with the Arizona offense.
“[Colorado]’s lost to two top ten teams at home, but they’ve gotten everyone else there. We know what kind of atmosphere we’re walking into,” said Arizona head coach Brett Brennan earlier this week.
Can Kaidon Salter figure it out before it’s too late?– It had seemed Colorado quarterback Kaidon Slater had taken a massive step forward during the team’s home win over Iowa State just before the bye week. Salter easily put forward one of his top two passing performances of the season and established serious chemistry with receiver Joseph Williams; the two connected for eight completions, 128 yards, and a touchdown. Not to mention, Salter led the team to its first-ranked win of the season. The quarterback followed the performance with an absolute dud at Utah, managing only nine completions on 22 pass attempts for an almost unbelievably low 37 yards. The dual-threat quarterback was a non-factor on the ground too, getting sacked enough to produce negative four rushing yards on the stat sheet.
Through this up-and-down season, the sixth-year quarterback has felt the constant pressure of a benching looming. Colorado’s longtime backup quarterback Ryan Staub has already started a game this season and seen action during three games this season, while true freshman and former five-star recruit Julian Lewis awaits his turn. Salter is expected to start again at Arizona, but another less-than-stellar performance against a stingy defense might sit Salter for the rest of the season, and his college career.
Colorado will host Arizona this Saturday, Nov. 1, at 5:00 p.m. MDT at Folsom Field. The game will be broadcast live on FS1.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Charlie Hewitt at charles.hewitt@colorado.edu.
