Utah at Colorado: Live updates, score, highlights
Iowa State fell out of the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday night, but Colorado is still in the driver’s seat to make the playoff. The Buffaloes are in second place in the Big 12 with three games remaining. If they win out, they’ll be in the conference title game with a CFP berth on the line.
Colorado is 5-1 in league play and hosts Utah on Saturday before finishing the season with Kansas and Oklahoma State, which are a combined 10-18. On3’s Ari Wasserman had the Buffaloes listed as the No. 4 seed in Sunday’s College Football Playoff Bubble Watch. ESPN’s FPI currently gives the Buffaloes a 24.4% chance to make the College Football Playoff.
Utah at Colorado kicks off at Noon ET on FOX. Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt are on the call.
Final: Colorado 49, Utah 24
11/16/2024 02:37:04 PMColorado won 49-24 over Utah, positioning the Buffaloes for a run at the College Football Playoff. Now 8-2, just two wins stand between a berth in the Big 12 championship game. Saturday was also another game where Travis Hunter reminded the nation why he is the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, with a rushing touchdown and interception.
“Travis is the epitome of a football player,” Deion Sanders said after the win.
Colorado sets record against Utah
11/16/2024 02:36:03 PMColorado is the first team to score 49-plus points against Utah since 2014. The last team to do it? Oregon, which went to the national championship game.
Colorado up 49-24 late in fourth
11/16/2024 02:29:08 PMAfter the strip sack put Colorado in position for another score, quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw a 14-yard pass to LaJohntay Wester. Travis Hunter rushed for a 5-yard touchdown on the next play, marking his first career rushing touchdown.
Colorado leads 49-24 with two minutes remaining.
Colorado’s strip sack seals win
11/16/2024 02:26:52 PMUtah quarterback Isaac Wilson was sacked by Shilo Sanders and the ball popped out, scooped up by Keaten Wade.
Colorado makes it three-score game
11/16/2024 02:22:00 PMColorado running back Charlie Offerdahl’s 4-yard touchdown run was the exclamation point on a 5-play, 63-yard drive that was under 90 seconds. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders found Drelon Miller for a 49-yard pass earlier on the drive.
The Buffaloes lead 42-24 with 4:32 remaining in the game.
Isaac Wilson picked off again
11/16/2024 02:14:13 PMUtah quarterback Isaac Wilson was picked off for the third time on Saturday, this time by Colorado cornerback D.J. McKinney. The Buffaloes will take over possession at their 37-yard line. Colorado leads 35-24 with 5:54 remaining.
Colorado fumbles
11/16/2024 02:12:29 PMRunning across the middle of the field with the ball, Will Sheppard fumbled the ball as Tao Johnson popped the ball loose to give Utah possession late in the fourth quarter.
“The fact this is ruled as a catch and a fumble … I don’t see how you can rule this an incomplete pass,” FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira said.
Utah makes it 35-26
11/16/2024 02:03:49 PMUtah quarterback Isaac Wilson led the Utes on an 8-play, 75-yard drive over five minutes long capped off by a 3-yard pass to Caleb Lohner. Utah converted its two-point conversion, making it a two-score game with 8:34 remaining.
Shedeur Sanders tosses 47-yard touchdown
11/16/2024 01:53:16 PMColorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw a 47-yard touchdown pass, connecting with Drelon Miller over the middle to extend the Buffaloes’ lead to 35-16 with 13:58 remaining in the game. Sanders is now 24 of 35 for 243 yards and three interceptions.
Travis Hunter catch ruled incomplete
11/16/2024 01:51:16 PMShedeur Sanders closed the third quarter finding Travis Hunter down the right sideline for a 28-yard pass. The play was later ruled incomplete.
End of third quarter
11/16/2024 01:46:38 PMShedeur Sanders closed the third quarter finding Travis Hunter down the right sideline for a 28-yard pass. Colorado enters the fourth quarter with a 28-16 lead.
The Buffaloes have two more games on the schedule with Kansas and Oklahoma State. If they win out, they’ll earn a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game with a College Football Playoff berth up for grabs.
Isaac Wilson connects with Dorian Singer
11/16/2024 01:30:25 PMUtah quarterback Isaac Wilson connected with Dorian Singer for a 40-yard touchdown pass, finding Singer open streaking down the left side of the field. It is the first touchdown Travis Hunter has allowed this season.
Colorado now leads 28-16 with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Buffaloes extend lead with 37-yard touchdown run
11/16/2024 01:14:12 PMOn the first play after Colorado picked off Utah, Buffaloes running back Isaiah Augustave broke off a 37-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-9 with 11:43 remaining in the third quarter.
Colorado picks off Isaac Wilson
11/16/2024 01:12:11 PMColorado linebacker Nikahi Hill-Green picked off Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson, giving the ball back to the Buffaloes. Wilson is now 9 of 22.
Second half underway
11/16/2024 01:07:07 PMUtah will start with the ball from its 25-yard line.
Buffaloes take 21-9 lead into halftime
11/16/2024 12:45:29 PMUtah kicker Cole Becker knocked in a 47-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, giving Colorado 21-9 going into the half.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has thrown an interception and fumbled the ball, but he enters the half 18 of 25 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Hunter has an interception and an eye-catching 28-yard catch. Utah has just 83 yards of total offense going into the half.
Colorado extends lead to 21-6
11/16/2024 12:39:10 PMColorado pieced together a 14-play, 85-yard drive over 4 minutes longs, capped off by Shedeur Sanders finding Will Sheppard on a fade route in the back of the end zone. The Buffaloes are up 21-6 with less than a minute to play in the first half.
Travis Hunter beats out double coverage
11/16/2024 12:38:05 PMColorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders found wide receiver Travis Hunter in double coverage for a 28-yard completion on fourth down. Hunter jumped up and grabbed the ball, beating out the two Utah defenders to put the Buffaloes in the red zone.
Joel Klatt’s reaction: “Holy cow. … He has the best ball skills in college football.”
Utah chips away at Colorado’s lead
11/16/2024 12:24:48 PMUtah kicker Cole Becker converted a 34-yard field goal to chip away at Colorado’s lead, making it a 14-6 game with 5:29 to play in the second quarter. The Utes went three-and-out after Shedeur Sanders’ fumble.
Shedeur Sanders fumbles in Colorado territory
11/16/2024 12:22:30 PMFacing a 3rd-and-11 after multiple penalties at the start of the drive, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders fumbled the ball on the snap. Utah defensive tackle Junior Tafuna recovered the ball, giving the Utes the ball at Colorado’s 23-yard line. The Buffaloes lead 14-3 with 6:10 remaining in the first half.
Travis Hunter hits Heisman pose
11/16/2024 11:57:10 AMThe Colorado wide receiver and defensive back is a frontrunner for to win the Heisman Trophy. After picking off Isaac Wilson, Travis Hunter hit the Heisman pose. He has nine touchdown catches and three interceptions on the season.
End of first quarter
11/16/2024 11:55:25 AMColorado leads 14-3 at the end of the first quarter, with its defense and special teams making big plays. The Buffaloes allowed just 33 yards in the first quarter.
Travis Hunter picks off Isaac Wilson
11/16/2024 11:52:19 AMWith Utah facing 3rd-and-7, quarterback Isaac Wilson looked deep but was picked off by Travis Hunter. The ball was deflected by Colton Hood, with Hunter grabbing it on the bounce and returning it 21 yards to the Utah 48-yard line. The pick marked Hunter’s third interception of the year.
LaJohntay Wester houses punt return
11/16/2024 11:38:00 AMColorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester returned Utah’s punt 76 yards for a touchdown to put the Buffaloes up 14-3 with 5:49 remaining in the first quarter. The former Florida Atlantic transfer has over 3,280 receiving yards.
Shedeur Sanders’ 40-yard touchdown pass
11/16/2024 11:32:53 AMFacing a 4th-and-5 from Utah’s 49-yard line, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders found Will Sheppard for a 40-yard touchdown pass. The Buffaloes lead 7-3 with 7:51 remaining in the first quarter.
Sanders, expected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft, has now thrown 25 touchdowns this season. Shedeur Sanders has hit 12 40+ yard passes this season. Among all Power Four passers, only Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (16) has more.
Colorado forces field goal
11/16/2024 11:29:30 AMColorado defensive linemen BJ Green and Arden Walker sacked Isaac Wilson on third down for an 11-yard loss. Utah kicker Cole Becker converted a 32-yard field goal on fourth down with 10:08 remaining in the first quarter to put the Utes up 3-0.
Micah Bernard injured, returns to game
11/16/2024 11:20:26 AMUtah running back Micah Bernard injured his right shoulder after catching an 8-yard pass. The senior has carried the ball for 860 yards on 147 carries with three touchdowns this year. He’s averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
After a timeout, Bernard returned to the field.
Utah picks off Shedeur Sanders
11/16/2024 11:13:32 AMOn the first play of the game, Utah linebacker Lander Barton picked off Shedeur Sanders and returned it to the Colorado 21-yard line.
Kickoff
11/16/2024 11:12:18 AMUtah won the coin toss and defers to the second half. Colorado to receive the opening kickoff.
Travis Hunter discusses relationship with Deion Sanders
11/16/2024 11:00:36 AMTravis Hunter initially committed to Deion Sanders at Jackson State. The wide receiver and defensive back then followed his head coach to Colorado and has become a Heisman Trophy favorite.
Update on Utah QB Isaac Wilson
11/16/2024 10:37:03 AMUtah has dealt with multiple injuries at the quarterback position this season. Brandon Rose took BYU down to the wire last Saturday, but he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn ligament in his foot this week. And Cam Rising is shut down for the season.
Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson is going through warmups with the first-team offense.
Colorado WR Jimmy Horn Jr. out
11/16/2024 10:34:54 AMColorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is not dressed and going through warmups. The former USF transfer has emerged as one of Shedeur Sanders’ top targets in the last two seasons. Horn has 33 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown this season. He missed the Texas Tech game, too.
Final line set in Utah-Colorado
11/16/2024 10:31:19 AMColorado is a 13.5-point favorite at home, according to FanDuel. The over-under is set at 43.5. Colorado and Utah have met 70 times, with Saturday marking the first Big 12 conference game in the series history. Utah has the overall edge in the series at 35-32-3.