Colorado football's promising start turned into another frustrating loss Saturday night at Folsom Field.
The Buffaloes led No. 10 Texas Tech 7-3 at halftime but fell 29-7 after four turnovers, two missed field goals, a failed fake punt and costly penalties. Isaac Wilson made his first start at quarterback and threw for 290 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick-six. Colorado outgained Texas Tech 375-315 but dropped its third straight game, entering the bye week at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play.
Here's everything head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders said after Colorado's loss to Texas Tech.
Opening statement
Deion Sanders: "[Texas Tech] knows how to win. They don't panic."
"It was a great game until 7:10 in the fourth,
then all hell broke loose. Hats off to Texas Tech. Played a wonderful game."
On Colorado's offense
Sanders: "We've been horrible. Can’t sugarcoat it. You know what is wrong with the offense. Just say it," Sanders said, seemingly hinting at his team's quarterback issues.
"It's execution. It’s no way you can go down there on the first drive and score like they aren’t on the field, and you can’t anymore. All execution, want and will."
Colorado scored on its opening possession when Wilson found Joseph Williams for an 8-yard touchdown. The Buffaloes did not score again.
Coach Prime on what the main contributor is to the offense not producing:
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) October 4, 2026
“You know darn well what it is. It’s blatant.” pic.twitter.com/va5yJ1gbmM
On Isaac Wilson and Julian Lewis
Sanders: "I'd love for Julian Lewis to come here and tell you what happened. I didn’t bench him. It didn't happen like that," Sanders said about Julian Lewis not starting against Texas Tech. "Julian Lewis didn't play, so I won't go there. I'm not going to say nothing derogatory about the kid."
Wilson completed 26 of 44 passes for 290 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Texas Tech returned the final interception for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
On the fourth-quarter collapse
Sanders: "We have two defensive penalties back to back; that's 30 yards. We let the ball go down the 2-yard line. That can’t happen. We catch punts every day."
"The defense broke at the end, and a great defense doesn't do that."
Texas Tech scored 17 points in the final 7:10 after Colorado's offense gave the Red Raiders extra possessions. The decisive stretch included Wilson's pick-six and a 30-yard touchdown run by Quinten Joyner.
On special teams and the fake punt
Sanders: "I'm not blaming special teams. Special teams is a team effort. "Let's change the personnel," Sanders said when asked whether it's a personnel issue.
Sanders took responsibility for Colorado's failed fake punt, which seemed like he did not know was being called. The Buffaloes also missed field-goal attempts from 29 and 52 yards.
"I take the blame for the foolishness [the fake punt failure]." Sanders said.
Coach Prime on the failed fake punt:
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) October 4, 2026
“I’m gonna take the blame for that foolishness” pic.twitter.com/EiO3vV1oH8
On Colorado's rushing attack
Sanders: "I don’t think we fared well running the ball...Everyone takes accountability for rotating backs."
Colorado finished with 76 rushing yards on 32 attempts, averaging 2.5 yards per carry. Wilson led the team with 42 rushing yards on 17 carries, while no Colorado running back received more than four carries.
On throwing the football
Sanders: "It’s 15 people in the box, you’ve got to throw the ball."
"There are a multitude of RPOs in the play-calling."
"I think we showed you who we are running the football early in the season."
"But you got to have balance in your ability to throw it downfield a little bit."
On the team's confidence
Sanders: "I'm confident in them, and the unit as a group, particularly the defense. Am I comfortable with the offense? No. Am I comfortable with certain positions, defensively as well as offensively, as well as special teams? No."
Colorado's defense limited Texas Tech to 315 yards and forced multiple fourth-down stops, but the Red Raiders turned Colorado's mistakes into 19 points.
On leadership possibly helping the team rebound
Sanders: "The linebackers are the guys out front. We lost Tyler Martinez. Other guys are leading in different ways."
On whether the problems relate to coaching staff
Sanders: "I haven’t wavered in my confidence in my staff, but the team has to score."
"All I was praying for this game was that we score."
"The score is not indicative of who these guys are."
On the bye week usage
Sanders: "We gonna practice. We gonna work. We were prepared to play today. It's not like we weren't prepared. Each unit did some phenomenal things today. It's not for lack of effort or work. I expected a win. That would've made the bye work so much better."
"We're gonna work. We're gonna right wrongs, looking to see how men respond."
Colorado returns from its bye week needing to reverse a three-game losing streak and find consistent offensive production, but faces a very talented Utah team.
On fans leaving early
Sanders: "That's on us," Coach Prime said about fans not showing up. "Why would they want to sit there until the last second? Miss Peggy, she is not a fair-weather fan."
On Colorado's final possession
Sanders: "I wanted to finish strong, which is why we tried to score at the end. I did not want to put up all negativity on the screen tomorrow when I'm going over our opportunities that we had."
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Everything Deion Sanders said after Colorado loses to Texas Tech
