Colorado had ample opportunities to head into Fort Worth and knock off the TCU Horned Frogs for their first conference win of the season. Unfortunately, that’s not quite what happened.
While the Buffaloes’
defense finally found their footing and put on their best performance of the year, untimely turnovers and poor execution by the offense are sending them back to Boulder with a 35-21 loss.
First Half –
Colorado started out strong, as their defense was able to clamp down on TCU quarterback Josh Hoover and the Frogs’ pass attack. On fourth-and-five at midfield, Preston Hodge clogged up the middle of the lane to force a quick turnover on downs on the opening drive of the game.
After being gifted with phenomenal field position by the defense, quarterback Kaidon Salter and the offense bungled it almost immediately, throwing an interception on their third play and first pass attempt of the game. After rolling out, Salter didn’t see TCU safety Jamel Johnson lurking, as he was able to easily undercut the route for an easy takeaway.
Put in a bad situation, CU’s defense would have to step up in a big way, and they didn’t disappoint. Hoover and the Frogs would seemingly hit their stride, driving all the week to the CU one-yard line on first-and-goal. The Buffaloes didn’t panic, stopping the run on both first and second down. An offensive pass interference call would doom TCU on third down, and the Frogs’ kicker missed a chipshot field goal from 30-yards out. Miraculously, the Buffs managed to escape their own one yard line unscathed.
Salter would quickly make up for his mistake, leading Colorado on a methodical 80-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a six-yard reception by Omarion Miller in the endzone. This drive gave Colorado fans an appetizer of what CU’s offense is like when things are firing on all cylinders. The run game was clicking, as Drelon Miller and Micah Welch picked up chunk yardage, and the offensive line gave Salter a clean pocket to work with.
The defense would follow up the touchdown drive by once again stepping up, managing to stop TCU at the line of scrimmage on first and second down. Arden Walker would put the cherry on top with 14-yard sack that forced the Frogs to punt from their own endzone.
Taking over at the TCU 45, the offense would once again battle their way downfield by picking up short but steady gains in the run game. After reaching the redzone, Salter eventually punched it into the endzone himself on a 10-yard rushing TD to cap off the 12-play drive and put the Buffs up 14-0.
With their backs against the wall, Hoover and TCU would finally catch a lucky break. A questionable defensive pass interference call on Hodge on third down would set the Frogs up on the CU one yard line, and Hoover would punch it in on a sneak to cut the lead to 14-7.
Unfortunately for Colorado, disaster would strike again shortly after getting the ball back. On the second play of the drive, Salter would once again roll out under pressure and try to force a sidearmed throw in between TCU safety Bud Clark and receiver Sincere Brown. Salter’s pass would be off-target and behind Brown, leaving Clark in a position to extend and pick the ball off, which is exactly what he did, leading to Salter’s second interception of the game.
TCU would waste no time to punish the Buffs for that turnover, as Hoover would connect with receiver Eric McAlister for an athletic one-handed, over the shoulder touchdown catch only two plays after the interception. McAlister’s touchdown tied things up at 14-14.
After McAlister’s touchdown, Colorado would have 1:32 minutes and one timeout to try to drive and take the lead into halftime. Running back Dallan Hayden took matters into his own hands, ripping off a 25 yard run to open the drive. Salter and Omarion Miller would connect for a 34-yard catch to put the Buffs in the red zone on the very next play. A pass interference call on TCU’s Vernon Glover would put CU on the TCU two-yard line with eight seconds to play. With a golden opportunity to go into the locker rooms up seven, Salter would once again try to force a ball into coverage. A Frog got a hand on Salter’s pass and popped it up, landing in the hands of TCU’s Namdi Obiazor, sending the Buffs to the break empty handed on Salter’s third pick of the half.
Colorado – 14
TCU – 14
Second Half –
Halftime proved to rejuvenate both defenses, as the Buffs and Horned Frogs proceeded to rock-fight for the entire third quarter.
TCU would deny CU on their opening drive after Salter nearly threw his fourth pick of the game, while the Buffs would follow that up with yet another stop against Hoover and his squad. A long sack on Salter would kill Colorado’s second drive of the half.
Finally, somebody’s offense got going. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Colorado’s. The Frogs started driving right at the conclusion of the third quarter. Some clever misdirection by Hoover on fourth down would leave Lafayette Kaiuway wide open in the end zone for a touchdown, as the Frogs took a 21-14 to open the fourth quarter.
After finding themselves trailing for the first time, Salter would provide Colorado with a spark through the long passing game. TCU made the choice to put Omarion Miller in a one-on-one situation and Salter recognized, throwing a moonball for Miller in the end zone, as CU’s number one receiver reeled in the 31-yard contested catch for a touchdown to tie the game at 21.
Colorado’s defense would once again ace their assignment, forcing a big stop midway through the fourth quarter to give the Buffs the opportunity to take control of the game. Unfortunately, Buffs returner Quentin Gibson didn’t call for fair catch and the ball bounced right off the back of CU specialist Kam Mikell, and the Frogs were able to jump on the football to retain possession. Three plays later, Colorado would once again get burned by another miracle one-handed touchdown catch from the Frogs, this time by Joseph Manjack, as the Frogs took a 28-21 lead.
Colorado would still have an opportunity to tie the game late into the fourth, but the offense sputtered and killed any chance of Colorado leaving Fort Worth with a win. Just to add insult to injury, Hoover would connect with McAlister for another 24-yard touchdown to extend TCU’s lead to 35-21 with :24 left.
Final score:
TCU – 35
CU – 21
Players of the game –
- Omarion Miller: Miller was undoubtedly the highlight of the game for Colorado fans. CU’s top receiver finished the contest with two receiving touchdowns and 89 yards on six catches. Without Miller’s heroics, CU wouldn’t have stood a chance at coming back.
- Keaten Wade: Wade shined in moments in 2024, but tonight in Fort Worth was his coming out party for this season. The senior defensive end tallied seven total tackles, two TFLs, a sack and a forced fumble. Statlines don’t get much better than that.
- Dallan Hayden: Hayden has been battling an injury earlier this season, but finally got his opportunity to show out against TCU and made the most of it. Hayden picked up 61 yards on the ground on nine carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt. Hayden had the juice tonight and probably would have broken CU’s 100-yard rusher curse if the wheels didn’t fall off at the end.
Outlook –
The Buffs had a plethora of opportunities to run away with this game. Their defense played by far their best game of the season thus far, but those four turnovers were simply too much to overcome.
Mental mistakes have been this team’s enemy. When the lights get bright and the moment gets big, the Buffaloes have folded, which is a major problem, especially when you play on national television every week.
Colorado has managed to keep things close against quality opponents two weeks ago, but they need to find a way to finish the job before it’s too late. Now with a record of 2-4 and 0-3 in Big 12 play, it’s now or never for this Colorado Buffaloes team.
