Colorado gave its supporters a reason to celebrate Friday night, defeating No. 14 Houston 42-32 after a dramatic turnaround at Folsom Field. The win also gave Deion Sanders Jr. an opportunity to respond to talk about his father’s future as the Buffaloes’ head coach.
Houston had one final chance to make the game close. A late touchdown brought the Cougars within 10 points with just under two minutes remaining, but they failed to convert the two-point attempt. Colorado held on for the victory, improving its record to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play.
Before kickoff, a sports radio discussion had raised the possibility that a poor performance might intensify questions about Coach Prime’s job security. After Colorado’s win, Sanders Jr. replied to a social media post about that conversation with five words: “I guess we’ll never know.”
The pregame discussion reflected the teams’ contrasting situations. Houston entered the matchup ranked No. 14, while Colorado had a 3-6 record after a season of inconsistent performances. Two-time Super Bowl champion Brandon Stokley said he would be watching closely if the Buffaloes remained competitive in the first half, adding that they needed to earn his attention.
Host Will Peterson suggested that a disappointing performance—and a stadium emptying late in the game—could put Sanders’ future in immediate danger. Co-host Mark Schlereth disagreed, arguing that Colorado might not have the financial flexibility to dismiss Sanders, pay off his staff, and hire a new coaching group. The discussion raised the possibility that making a change could cost about $40 million.
The financial consequences of a coaching change had also been discussed before the game. An estimate put Sanders’ potential buyout at roughly $26 million if Colorado fired him after the season. Under his contract, Sanders is entitled to 75% of the money remaining through 2029. That figure would not include any costs associated with parting ways with assistants or hiring a replacement staff.
Peterson also said that colleague Zach Bye believed Colorado had the money to make a change and predicted Sanders could be fired during the season. Friday’s result did not settle the broader debate, but it gave the Buffaloes an important win—and Sanders a more immediate answer on the field.
For much of the first half, Houston appeared to be in control. The Cougars moved ahead 20-7 late in the second quarter after Makhi Hughes scored on an eight-yard run, Amare Thomas caught a touchdown pass, and Jonathan Dimas kicked a 52-yard field goal.
Colorado responded with the kind of explosive offense it had struggled to produce for much of the season. Richard Young opened the Buffaloes’ scoring with a 38-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. DeKalon Taylor followed with a 67-yard touchdown, and JaQuail Smith broke free for a 32-yard score with 15 seconds remaining in the half. Colorado had turned a 13-point deficit into a 21-20 lead before halftime.
The Buffaloes extended their advantage after the break. Isaac Wilson connected with Joseph Williams for a 53-yard touchdown, and freshman quarterback Kaneal Sweetwyne ran for a 14-yard score after Wilson left the game with an injury. Colorado had built a 35-20 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Wilson returned in the fourth, and Young added another touchdown with a two-yard run with 3:59 left, making the score 42-26. Houston scored again late, but its unsuccessful two-point attempt left the Cougars 10 points behind.
Colorado finished with 466 yards of offense, including 249 rushing yards. Before Friday, the Buffaloes had averaged 19.8 points per game, the lowest figure in the Big 12. They also had not scored five rushing touchdowns in one game since November 2020.
The victory eased some immediate pressure, but it did not erase the season’s difficulties. Colorado still needs to win its remaining regular-season games to become bowl-eligible. Sanders’ record at the school now stands at 20-27.
The Buffaloes entered the Houston game following a loss to Arizona State. Earlier in the week, Sanders had acknowledged the frustration surrounding the program, saying, “I’m not getting it done.”
After the win, however, he cautioned against treating one result as proof that Colorado had solved its problems. “We want to win, period,” Sanders said. He added that he had not spent time claiming the team was among the nation’s best, while expressing excitement for the fanbase and former alumni.
Colorado’s next game is against Cincinnati on November 21. The Buffaloes need two more victories to reach bowl eligibility, making the matchup an important step toward playing beyond the regular season. A bowl berth could ease some of the immediate scrutiny, but the program’s broader challenges will remain.
