Remember the Alamo!!!
Game Details
- Kickoff: Saturday, September 27, 8:15 p.m. MT
- Venue: Folsom Field, Boulder, CO; Capacity – 52,000
- TV: ESPN (National)
- Weather: Clear skies, mid-60’s
- Tickets: Average ticket price $242.60
Vegas Odds and Betting Watch
- Spread: BYU favored by 6.5 points
- Over/Under: ~48.5 total points
- Moneyline: BYU (-249), Colorado (+201)
History: A Drubbing in San Antonio
The Buffaloes (2–2, 0–1 Big 12) welcome the 25th-ranked BYU Cougars (3–0) to Boulder on Saturday for the 12th chapter in the series. Colorado owns a narrow edge all-time (7–4–1), but it was BYU who had the last laugh, a 36–14 beatdown in last year’s Alamo Bowl. That night, the Cougars dominated the line of scrimmage, with running back LJ Martin ripping off 93 yards and two touchdowns, while linebacker Isaiah Glasker terrorized the Buffs with eight tackles, a TFL, and a pick. Both Martin and Glasker return, though quarterback Jake Retzlaff has since traded Provo for Bourbon Street, leaving BYU to reload under center.
When CU has the Ball
Buff Nation finally exhaled last week thanks to Kaidon Salter’s breakout performance against Wyoming. The dual-threat transfer looked every bit the playmaker Colorado hoped for, completing 18-of-28 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while piling on another 86 yards with his legs. His highlight reel was electric: a 68-yard bomb to Sincere Brown, who hit a blistering 22.3 mph on the play, a 47-yard strike to Joseph Williams, and, perhaps most importantly, a gorgeous 29-yard TD to Omarion Miller, whose quiet start to the season had frustrated fans.
Still, it’s not all good news. Jordan Seaton, the sophomore star who PFF calls the nation’s top pass-blocking tackle, is battling a hamstring injury. Seaton hasn’t allowed a sack and has given up just one hurry all year, making his status critical. Fellow lineman Zy Crisler is also dinged up, though Coach Prime sounded optimistic Tuesday that both might be available. The bigger concern is in the backfield: injuries to Simeon Price and Dekalon Taylor have thinned the running back rotation. Don’t be surprised if Drelon Miller shifts into the backfield. He was an effective weapon there a year ago.
All of that sets-up a clash with one of the country’s nastiest defenses. Jay Hill’s BYU unit has been downright suffocating, ranking No. 1 nationally in yards allowed per play (3.5) and points allowed per game (5.3), and second in total defense, rush defense, and scoring defense. Most staggering of all? Through three weeks, BYU’s defense and special teams have nearly matched their opponents’ scoring, 12–16.
In short: Salter’s resurgence has reignited belief in Boulder, but BYU’s physical, swarming defense will make every yard Saturday night feel like a fistfight.
When BYU has the Ball
BYU turns the keys over to freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who has wasted little time proving he belongs. Steady and efficient through three weeks, Bachmeier showcased his poise against East Carolina, completing 25 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground. He doesn’t try to do too much; he simply keeps the offense on schedule and lets the Cougars’ power run game set the tone.
That run game has been bludgeoning opponents. LJ Martin is the centerpiece, piling up 342 rushing yards at nearly nine yards per carry, marks that leads the Big 12 and sit among the top 15 nationally. Behind him, BYU as a team boasts the nation’s 15th-ranked rushing attack, ranking 7th in yards per game and 11th in yards per carry. Complementing Martin is Sione Moa, a bruiser who brings both toughness as a pass protector and reliability as a short-yardage option, giving the young QB a trusted outlet.
With Bachmeier’s efficiency and BYU’s punishing ground game, slowing the Cougars will be a monumental task for a Colorado defense that sits 121st nationally in rush defense. But hey, anything’s possible, right? Right???
Keys to Victory
- Offense: It all starts with Kaidon Salter. If the Buffs’ QB can stack another efficient, dynamic performance that threatens BYU both through the air and on the ground, Colorado has a real shot at cracking the Cougars’ defense. Salter doesn’t need to be perfect, but he has to be the engine that keeps drives alive and finishes in the red zone. CU’s best chance to move the ball may be “chaos plays” where Salter is forced to tuck the ball and run.
- Defense: The mission is simple: make the freshman beat you. BYU’s offense runs through LJ Martin and the Cougars’ bruising ground game. If Colorado allows them to dictate tempo and churn out yards on the ground, it’s going to be a long night. But if the Buffs can slow Martin, take away the easy lanes, and put the game on Bear Bachmeier’s shoulders, they’ll create chances for turnovers and tilt the momentum. Move Tawfiq Byard up into the box to put 7 or 8 players in the box. If CU sits back in a deep 2 safety look, then we need to re-examine our defensive coordinator.
Winning the Tailgate
BOTW (Beer of the Week): Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro (Longmont, CO)
A Boulder County classic that tastes like dessert in a glass. Smooth, creamy, and rich without being heavy, it’s the beer that put Left Hand on the map. Crack one under the lights at Folsom, and you’ll swear the chocolate and coffee notes were brewed just for football weather.
WOTW (Wine of the Week): Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert (California Red Blend)
For something bolder: dark berries, mocha, and spice in a bottle with attitude. It’s rich without being overbearing, and pairs perfectly with BBQ smoke hanging in the fall air. A wine built for storytelling after the fourth quarter.
What Our Opponents Are Drinking: Nothing.
Nothing at all.
Nothing at all.
Nothing at all.
And as always:
Go Buffs – Beat the Cougars!
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