The Buffs upset the Cyclones and reignite its season.
Colorado stuns No. 22 Iowa State for first Big 12 win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Deion Sanders and the found the formula they’ve been chasing all season: a balanced attack, a confident quarterback, and a defense that closed strong as they stunned No. 22 Iowa State, 24–17, on Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field.
Quarterback Kaidon Salter led the Buffs to their first Big 12 win with three total touchdowns and a 70-yard bomb to Omarion Miller that set the tone for the second half. The win snapped Colorado’s two-game skid and marked a breakthrough performance for a unit that has struggled to find consistency since entering conference play.
Slow Start, Strong Finish
The first quarter was a defensive battle. After forcing three straight Iowa State punts, Colorado’s offense finally broke through late in the period. Salter found a rhythm on a 12-play, 90-yard drive highlighted by his own 24-yard run and capped by an eight-yard touchdown from Micah Welch. The Buffs led 7–0 after one, leaning on a ground game that produced 63 yards on 11 carries.
But Iowa State punched back. The Cyclones capitalized on a sluggish second quarter from Colorado, first with a 38-yard field goal, then a sharp two-minute drive before halftime. Quarterback Rocco Becht led a 96-yard march in under two minutes, with running back Abu Sama finishing it off from one yard out to take a 10–7 lead at the break.
Salter Sparks the Offense
Colorado wasted no time reclaiming momentum to open the third. On the first play from scrimmage, Salter connected with Miller on a busted Iowa State coverage for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Buffs back ahead, 14–10.
Sama continued to torch Colorado’s front, responding with a 75-yard drive of his own that pushed Iowa State ahead again, 17–14. But Salter kept his composure, leading a balanced 52-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown strike to Joseph Williams, giving Colorado a 21–17 edge heading into the fourth.
Defense Delivers in Crunch Time
Colorado’s defense came up big when it mattered most. Safety Tawfiq Byard snagged an interception in the red zone early in the fourth, the Buffs’ first takeaway since Week 2 and later stuffed an Iowa State fourth-and-one attempt deep in Cyclone territory.
Though Colorado settled for a field goal after the stop, extending the lead to 24–17, the defense held firm. A late Iowa State touchdown cut the deficit to three, but the Buffs’ offense iced the game when Salter found Williams again on a daring 38-yard completion on third-and-long with under two minutes to play.
Turning the Corner
Colorado finished with 395 total yards to Iowa State’s 441 but won the turnover battle and field position war. Salter’s dual-threat play and decision-making gave the Buffs the edge late, while the defense held the Cyclones scoreless on their final three possessions.
The victory gives Colorado (3–4, 1–3 Big 12) its first ranked win of the season and could mark a turning point when looking at the remainder of the season. Iowa State leaves Boulder (5–2, 2–2 Big 12)
As the Buffaloes celebrated, the message was clear: this was the version of Colorado fans had been waiting to see: resilient, disciplined, and ready for the moment.
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Category: General Sports
