Colorado’s second trip to Texas ends like first as Buffs fall to Horned Frogs
- Liam Howard
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
The Colorado Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) fell at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) 35-21 on Saturday. In a sloppy matchup that featured record turnovers, the Buffaloes continued their abysmal start to conference play.
Early on, TCU saw the pendulum of momentum swing in its direction. Buffs QB Kaidon Salter threw an early interception and the Horned Frogs found themselves in field goal range. However, kicker Nate McCashland missed a 31-yard attempt.
This gave the Buffaloes new life and that was exemplified by their offensive play. After a huge gain by WR Terrell Timmons Jr., Salter completed a touchdown pass to WR Omarion Miller to put the Buffs ahead early.
After a defensive stand, the Buffaloes got the ball back and picked up on their offensive momentum. Colorado converted on 4th down before Salter took a designed quarterback run to the house.
With 3:49 to play until halftime, TCU found its stride on offense. A good kick return and a slipped tackle on an outside run by RB Kevorian Barnes set the Horned Frogs up at the 2-yard line.
Quarterback Josh Hoover then took a sneak over the goal line and secured TCU’s first points of the game.
With an opportunity to add to their lead, the Buffs took to the air early in their next drive. Alas, Salter threw into tight coverage once again as TCU safety Bud Clark hauled in an interception.
Hoover and company quickly capitalized on the turnover. WR Eric McAlister got open on a corner route to the back of the end zone, and his quarterback quickly found him for a game-tying touchdown.
The Buffaloes had one more opportunity to take the lead before halftime. They drove the ball down to the red zone before a TCU pass interference set them up at the 2-yard line.
Horror struck the Colorado bench once again as Salter threw to another covered receiver. The ball was batted in the air and picked off to end the quarter.
The game was tied at 14 at halftime.
Any locker room adjustments made weren’t immediately evident as the offense sputtered early in the third quarter. Salter overshot a wide-open Joseph Williams and had another near-interception dropped by a defender on the Buffs’ opening drive.
Luckily for the Buffs, though, these offensive struggles were shared by TCU. No points were scored by either team in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was set for a storybook ending in the 14-point deadlock and it delivered early on.
On fourth and two in the red zone, TCU left its offense on the field. Hoover faked a handoff before floating the ball to wide-open TE Lafayette Kaiuway for the touchdown and the Horned Frogs’ first lead of the game.
Colorado continued its habit of response as the offense marched down the field before Salter threw a missile to Miller for a game-tying touchdown.
Colorado put together a defensive stop, but before they could get the ball back, a punt hit special teamer Kam Mikell in the back, thereby being muffed and recovered by the Horned Frogs.
"That was just a freshman mistake," Colorado head coach Deion Sanders said postgame. "You've got to run up and fair catch that, get all your guys out of the way, but they've got to know that ball is coming."
The blunder led to another TCU touchdown. This fourth turnover marked the most in a single contest for CU since the infamous 2022 season.
It also proved to be the nail in the coffin for the Buffaloes as they never regained the lead. Two more drives of salting away the clock, one of which ended in a touchdown, sealed the game for the Horned Frogs.
"The mentality and the attitude," Coach Prime said on what needs to change in practice, "but if I'm tolerating it, that means I'm a part of it, I've got to do a better job."
The Buffaloes return to Folsom Field on Saturday to take on the No. 14 Iowa State Cyclones at 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN).
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