This was a game between Utah, the team selected in the preseason Big-12 Media Poll to finish first, against a No. 17 Colorado team that was picked to come in 11th but has a good chance to be the team that actually comes in first. The winner of the Big-12 will get one of the automatic top four spots, regardless of national ranking, and first round bye in the inaugural twelve team college football national championship.
Getting the ball first, Colorado stumbled coming out of the gate in this one as QB Shedeur Sanders, after getting bumped, threw up one of his rare interceptions right at the edge of their own red zone. But credit the Buffaloes improved defense—who has been getting help from the great Warren Sapp—for holding the damage to just a field goal which Utah’s place kicker Cole Becker hit from 32 yards out seven plays later to go up 3-0. After a 61 yard kickoff and 38 yard return by Colorado’s Colton Hood the Buffaloes set up at their own 42 yard line. One run and two passes later Colorado was in the end zone on a 40 yard pass from Sanders to Will Sheppard to go up 7-3. Holding Utah to a three-and-out on their next possession, Colorado’s LaJohntay Wester would field their 41 yard punt and return it 76 yards to the house to go up 14-3 with just under six minutes left in the 1st Qtr.
Both teams were held to a three-and-out on their next possessions and then the Buffaloes got another golden opportunity to extend their lead when Colorado’s two-way phenom Travis Hunter intercepted Isaac Wilson and returned it 21 yards to the Utah 48 yard line. But hindered by a Utah sack of Sanders and a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty, Colorado had to punt it back to the Utes who went three-and-out that possession and the next. They finally put some more points up on the board after Shedeur Sanders second turnover of the game—a fumble at his own 27 yard line. Four plays later Cole Becker would pick up his second field goal of the game—this one from 34 yards out to make it 14-6 with less than six minutes left in the 2nd Qtr. Fourteen plays and 85 yards later Will Sheppard would collect his second TD pass from Sanders on the night to make it 21-6 with under a minute to play in the half. Knowing that Colorado would get the ball to start the second half and wanting to put some more points on the board, Utah worked the ball down to the Buffalo 30 yard line in just 44 seconds and Cole Becker hit his third field goal with time expiring to make it 21-9 at the break.
Utah would start the 3rd Qtr the same way Colorado started the first, with an interception down at their own 37 yard line. It only took the Buffaloes one play to capitalize as Isaiah Augustave took a handoff from Sanders and ran it in for a TD to go up 28-9. Utah’s subsequent drive would stall out at mid-field but after holding the Buffaloes to a three-and-out on their next possession Isaac Wilson would hit Dorian Singer with a 40 yard TD pass to make it a 28-16 game with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter. Both teams would end up have to punt on their next possessions but would score a TD each on the next ones with Utah also successful on a 2-point conversion to make 35-24 with over eight minutes left in the 4th Qtr. Another mistake and turnover by Colorado would give the Utes a chance to make it a real tight game but they were intercepted four plays into their drive and Colorado would put seven more points up on the scoreboard on a Charlie Offerdahl 4 yard TD run to make it 42-24. Down by two possessions Utah had no choice but to try and convert a 4th and 13 from their own 19 yard line—but failed. Sanders and Travis Hunter would make them pay two plays later on a 14 yard pass from Shedeur to LaJohntay Wester followed by a Travis Hunter 5 yard scamper into the end zone to wrap it up at 49-24.