The Colorado Buffaloes cruised to a 52-21 victory over Weber State on Saturday at Folsom Field, improving to 2-0 to open the season for the first time since 2023 under coach Deion Sanders. Second-year quarterback Julian Lewis delivered a career-best performance, completing 17 of 23 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns as the Buffaloes overwhelmed the Wildcats early and rarely relented.
Explosive start sets the tone
Colorado wasted no time putting the game out of reach. The Buffaloes struck on the first play from scrimmage with a 66-yard touchdown pass, the first of five rapid-fire scoring plays that covered 63, 48, 55 and 32 yards. By the time the second quarter ended, Colorado led 42-14, with momentum firmly in the home side’s favor.
Receiver Joseph Williams was a key target in the early barrage, catching four passes for 123 yards and two first-half touchdowns. The performance helped open up space for long gains and quick scoring drives that put Weber State on its heels.
Quarterback performance and offensive balance
Lewis’ efficiency — 17 completions on 23 attempts — produced big plays and points. His four touchdown passes were the centerpiece of an offense that repeatedly broke through Weber State’s secondary. Colorado’s ability to strike quickly on long plays quelled any chance of a sustained Wildcats comeback.
While the Buffs piled up points, the game also offered a test of depth and consistency. After a one-point opener at Georgia Tech last week, when Colorado escaped with a 14-13 win thanks to a blocked 45-yard field-goal attempt in the final seconds, Saturday’s outcome supplied a far more comfortable margin and clearer answers about the offense’s potential.
Context and next steps
The win moves Colorado to 2-0 after back-to-back victories that have already altered early-season perceptions. The Buffaloes will leave Boulder for a stretch of consecutive road games — visiting Northwestern on Sept. 19 and Baylor on Sept. 26 — opportunities that should provide a clearer gauge of how legitimate this hot start might be over the long run.
- Final score: Colorado 52, Weber State 21
- Standout performance: Julian Lewis — 17-for-23, 366 yards, 4 TDs
- Notable receiver: Joseph Williams — 4 catches, 123 yards, 2 TDs (first half)
- Attendance: 49,363
Saturday’s game was streamed on ESPN+, marking a return to the home field spotlight for Sanders’ program after last week’s dramatic finish in Atlanta.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | Folsom Field, Boulder |
| Date | Sept. 12 |
| Halftime score | Colorado 42, Weber State 14 |
| Attendance | 49,363 |
Although Weber State competes in the Football Championship Subdivision, the Wildcats opened with a strong effort earlier in the season and are not without playmakers. Still, Colorado’s offense was able to convert explosive opportunities into early and repeated scoring, preventing any sustained Wildcats rally.
Following a 3-9 season in 2025, preseason expectations for the Buffaloes were modest, with many analysts and oddsmakers projecting a lower-tier Big 12 finish. Consecutive wins to start the 2026 campaign — a one-point escape at Georgia Tech followed by a comprehensive home victory — complicate that narrative and put a brighter early-season spotlight on Deion Sanders' roster and coaching staff.
How Colorado performs in the upcoming road tests at Northwestern and Baylor will be scrutinized closely. Those games will offer more telling measures about whether the Buffaloes’ early success represents sustainable improvement or simply a favorable start fueled by big plays and nonconference matchups.
For now, Colorado leaves Boulder with momentum and a clear offensive identity: quick strikes, explosive plays and an ascending young quarterback capable of producing big numbers when the passing game clicks.
