Deion Sanders said before the Buffaloes played Iowa State that he felt like the team was on the verge of turning a corner, and it appears that Coach Prime was unquestionably correct.
The Colorado Buffaloes flipped the script of their recent games, holding on late to earn a 24-17 upset over No. 21 Iowa State. Not only is it the Buffaloes’ first win in the Big 12 Conference, but also their first win over a Power 4 opponent in 2025, a hurdle it looked like they might never clear.
It was Sanders’ second win over a ranked opponent in his coaching career, coming at a time when his team needed it the most. Here’s everything we learned from Colorado’s stunning win over Iowa State.
This is what we’ve been waiting for
Ever since the Georgia Tech game, the Buffaloes’ immense potential was obvious, but it became increasingly difficult to believe they would become their best selves. On Saturday, everyone played lights out, finally playing a complete game on both sides of the ball. They didn’t turn the ball over and converted on third downs when they needed to. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop like we’ve seen recently, and it didn’t happen.
It’s a credit to the coaching staff for keeping their players believing and working on themselves through what was a disastrous six-game stretch.
Short-term memory
Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter was a major contributor to the offense’s struggles the last month, but today, he was the panacea that the Buffaloes needed. So many times today, Salter stepped up in key moments to make throws that he just hasn’t made this season.
From his touch pass to the back of the end zone to Joseph Williams, which we’ve seen go wrong so many times before, to his deep strike to put the game on ice, he was near perfect. If Salter can continually show up, the Buffaloes can be a dangerous team to play down the stretch.
Doesn’t hurt to catch a break
I don’t want to take away from what the Buffaloes did today, but it was quite helpful that Iowa State seemed determined to beat itself. It started with crucial drops on the Cyclones’ opening drives, and it simply never ended, a comedy of errors put them behind the sticks and let the Buffaloes’ defense do what it does best: rush the passer. Capped off with a horrible quarterback draw on third-and-10 to give up a possession, Iowa State had a nightmare day on its own.
Chasing edges
Colorado’s pass rush destroyed an impressive Iowa State offensive line today; there’s no other way to say it. With stunts and twists, the Buffaloes consistently got after Rocco Becht and didn’t let him push the ball down the field. Two freshmen, Alexander McPherson and London Merritt, were standouts, finally giving some help to a battered secondary.
It wasn’t just the pass rush; however, the Buffaloes contained the outside runs so much better than in past weeks. The group struggled with inside runs, but it’s a gigantic improvement from where they were in Week 1.
Prepare for takeoff
Omarion Miller had by far the flashiest touchdown, breaking free for a 70-yarder to shake off the Buffaloes’ second-half demons, but there was another hero in the wideout room Saturday. Williams was utterly fantastic, from his first snag, which ignited Colorado’s first scoring drive, to his last.
The Buffaloes do not win this game without Williams stepping up in nearly every moment they needed him to. He has to be a focus in the offense moving forward, especially with how injured and weak the running game looked today.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football Iowa State upset takeaways
