Texas Tech and Colorado football players clash before the game against Texas Tech University at Folsom Field on Oct 3rd, 2026. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
For a half, Colorado looked capable of pulling off the upset.
Then the Buffaloes became their own worst enemy.
Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) fell 29-7 to No. 12 Texas Tech (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) on Saturday night at Folsom Field, turning an encouraging 7-3 halftime lead into its third straight loss behind turnovers, penalties and another offense that struggled to finish drives.
The final score makes the game look less competitive than it was. Colorado outgained Texas Tech 375-315, finished with a 22-19 advantage in first downs and held the Red Raiders to 134 passing yards.
But four interceptions, two missed field goals and eight penalties for 84 yards eventually erased nearly everything the Buffs did well.
For a team that has repeatedly found ways to beat itself, Saturday may have been its clearest example yet.
A different offense shows up early
Quarterback Isaac Wilson made his first start for Colorado after replacing Julian “JuJu” Lewis at halftime of the Buffs’ 23-13 loss to Baylor a week earlier. Initially, the change looked like exactly what the offense needed.
Wilson was decisive with the football, willing to use his legs and less hesitant when the pocket began to collapse. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion immediately took advantage.
Colorado opened with one of its most varied drives of the season. Kaneal Sweetwyne completed a 7-yard pass to Wilson on the first play before Wilson connected with wide reciever Quentin Gibson for 30 yards. Marion continued mixing formations, receivers and misdirection before Wilson found Joseph “JoJo” Williams for an 8-yard touchdown to finish a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
Williams even completed a pass to Wilson during the possession, giving Colorado multiple looks before Texas Tech could settle in.
The opening drive featured three different Colorado players completing a pass: Sweetwyne, Wilson and Williams. The diversity continued throughout the quarter. Seven Buffs recorded a reception in the first 15 minutes, while Wilson completed passes to six different targets and caught two passes himself.
For once, Colorado did not look predictable.
Then came the part the Buffs continue to struggle with: finishing.
Colorado drove to the Texas Tech 10 later in the first quarter, but Wilson was stopped for a 1-yard loss on third-and-2. Elliott Arnold then missed a 29-yard field goal.
A 12-play, 64-yard drive that could have extended Colorado’s lead instead produced nothing.
That became the theme of the night.
Colorado’s defense refuses to break
Colorado tried a fake punt early in the second quarter, giving the ball to Naeten Mitchell on fourth-and-7. Mitchell gained 4 yards, and Texas Tech took over at midfield.
Fortunately for Colorado, its defense refused to let the mistake turn into points.
Four plays later, Texas Tech went for it on fourth-and-1. Mitchell dropped J’Koby Williams for a 4-yard loss to give the Buffs the ball back.
Later in the quarter, the Red Raiders drove to Colorado’s 7-yard line before Gideon Lampron stuffed Quinten Joyner on another fourth-and-1 attempt.
Those two stops left Texas Tech 0 for 2 on fourth down for the game. Colorado’s defense did not allow points after either failed conversion.
Whenever Texas Tech threatened to take control, Colorado’s defense found a way to respond.
Randon Fontenette was everywhere. Santana Hopper consistently created pressure. Toby Anene recorded a sack. Lampron and Hopper each finished with 10 tackles, while Fontenette added nine tackles, an 11-yard sack and a pass breakup. Hopper also recorded four quarterback hurries.
Yet the offense continuously sent them back onto the field.
Senior defensive back Randon Fontenette celebrates a blocked pass with teammate Toby Anene in the game against Texas Tech University at Folsom Field on Oct 3rd, 2026. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
Six points left on the field
Colorado had another opportunity just before halftime after Texas Tech missed a 51-yard field goal. Wilson quickly moved the Buffs into Red Raiders territory, including a 17-yard completion to DeKalon Taylor, but Arnold’s 52-yard attempt missed as time expired.
Six potential points had been left on the field.
Colorado still entered halftime leading 7-3.
The Buffs had held an undefeated, nationally ranked Texas Tech team to three points. They had moved the football. The defense was winning important situations. A crowd of 50,106 at Folsom Field had every reason to believe Colorado could finish the upset.
Colorado’s first-half advantage went beyond the scoreboard. The Buffs outgained Texas Tech 149-51 in the first quarter and entered halftime with a 220-147 advantage in total offense.
Then the second half started.
And everything unraveled.
Creativity turns costly
The defense opened the half by forcing Texas Tech backward. Fontenette recorded an 11-yard sack on third down, and a false-start penalty left the Red Raiders facing fourth-and-27 before they punted.
Colorado took over at its own 13.
Two plays later, Marion dialed up another trick play.
Williams, Colorado’s leading receiver, attempted a pass from the Buffs’ 15-yard line. Texas Tech cornerback Brice Pollock intercepted it.
In a game Colorado led by four points, backed up deep in its own territory, the Buffs put the ball in the hands of someone other than their quarterback.
Texas Tech turned the interception into a 27-yard field goal, cutting Colorado’s lead to 7-6.
The creativity that made Marion’s offense so effective early had become costly. Colorado no longer needed to create chaos. It needed to sustain drives and score.
Instead, the turnovers multiplied.
Wilson threw three interceptions in the second half. Malik Esquerra grabbed the first, Pollock added another and linebacker John Curry delivered the biggest blow when he intercepted Wilson in the Colorado end zone and returned it for a touchdown.
Combined with Williams’ interception, Colorado turned the ball over four times after halftime. Texas Tech scored 19 points off those turnovers.
All four interceptions came in the second half, with three coming in the third quarter. It was Texas Tech’s first four-interception game since its 2021 season opener against Houston. Pollock accounted for two of the four picks, his second career game with multiple interceptions.
Texas Tech did not need an explosive passing performance to take control.
Quarterback Will Hammond finished 17 of 26 for 134 yards and one touchdown. His 11-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Carter Jr. with 3:01 remaining in the third quarter gave Texas Tech its first lead of the game.
The Red Raiders missed the ensuing 2-point conversion but never gave the lead back.
Wilson’s final numbers — 26 of 44 for 290 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, along with a team-high 42 rushing yards — tell both sides of his performance.
There were real flashes.
His mobility gave Colorado something different. He showed a willingness to push the ball downfield, and his connection with Williams remained productive. Williams caught 10 passes for 93 yards and Colorado’s lone touchdown.
Wilson’s willingness to spread the ball around never disappeared, either. He completed passes to 11 teammates over the course of the game, with Williams the only Buff to reach double-digit receptions.
But as the game tightened, Wilson’s decision-making deteriorated.
“We kept stalling out and I take full blame on that,” Wilson said after the game. “I did not make smart decisions tonight.”
Colorado’s problems extended beyond Wilson.
The Buffs rushed for only 78 yards. The kicking game left six points on the field. Penalties repeatedly erased positive plays or extended Texas Tech possessions.
And an offense that looked explosive on its opening possession failed to score on its final 12 drives.
Those possessions ended with two missed field goals, four interceptions, three punts, two turnovers on downs and the failed fake punt.
That may be the most concerning part.
The Buffs beat themselves again
Colorado proved on its opening possession that it could move the ball against Texas Tech. The Buffs proved throughout the first half that their defense could compete with one of the better teams in the Big 12.
They simply could not sustain either advantage.
Curry’s interception return extended Texas Tech’s lead to 22-7 with 7:10 remaining. Joyner added a 30-yard touchdown run with 3:06 left to turn what had been a one-possession game entering the fourth quarter into a 22-point loss.
“Hats off to Texas Tech, who played a wonderful game,” coach Deion Sanders said afterward.
But this did not feel like a game Texas Tech simply took from Colorado.
Colorado handed over pieces of it until there was nothing left.
The defense gave the Buffs chance after chance. Marion’s offense showed glimpses of what it can become. Wilson showed why Colorado was willing to make a change at quarterback.
None of it mattered without execution.
Colorado fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play heading into its bye week. The Buffs return to Folsom Field to face Utah on Oct. 17.
For Texas Tech, the win carried some history of its own. The Red Raiders improved to 5-0 for the second consecutive season, marking the first time in program history they have opened back-to-back seasons with five straight wins. The victory also evened the all-time series with Colorado at 6-6 and gave Texas Tech consecutive wins at Folsom Field for the first time.
Before Saturday, the Red Raiders had won just once in five trips to Boulder, a 27-24 victory in 2010 during their last visit to Folsom. Sixteen years later, Texas Tech made it two straight in Boulder while extending the road team’s winning streak in the series to four games.
After Saturday, the biggest question is no longer whether Colorado has enough talent to compete.
It is whether the Buffaloes can stop beating themselves long enough to win.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Shruthi Rajesh at shra3446@colorado.edu
