With about a month left in the regular season, the top teams in college football have either clinched a bowl game or are hunting for a College Football Playoff spot. Colorado is one of those teams.
The Buffaloes have won six-plus games in a season for the first time since 2016 and aren’t done. The Big 12 Conference hasn’t been as strong as experts thought it would be in the preseason. Utah, Oklahoma State and Arizona ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. None of them are currently ranked in the top 25 and they are three of the bottom four teams in the Big 12.
Now, BYU, Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado are in the top 25. It’s Colorado’s first time ranked in the AP Top 25 since week four of last year. Colorado doesn’t play any of those other ranked teams to finish the regular season but has a tough road test against Texas Tech this weekend. Here’s a look at what matchups Colorado Division I college football teams have this weekend:
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
How to Watch: FOX
Records: Colorado is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12 after beating Cincinnati 34-23 on Oct. 26. Texas Tech is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12 after beating No. 17 Iowa State 23-22 on the road on Saturday.
Line: Colorado is favored by four or 4.5 points, depending on the sportsbook.
Notes: Colorado is currently one game out of first place in the Big 12 as BYU is undefeated at 5-0 and in first place. Texas Tech isn’t far behind and is tied for third. The Red Raiders are 7-2 in November under head coach Joey McGuire. Texas Tech and Colorado both beat Arizona and Cincinnati. Colorado beat Baylor 38-31 and Texas Tech lost to the Bears 59-35.
Texas Tech beat Iowa State despite being outgained by Iowa State 432 yards to 366 yards. Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton got the win after he finished 21/40 passing for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Morton has 19 touchdown passes and five interceptions on the year.
Colorado beat Cincinnati thanks to its star players. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders finished 25/30 passing, 323 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter had nine receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders has 21 touchdowns and six interceptions this year.
Where: Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy
How to Watch: FOX
Records: Fresno State is 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain West Conference after a 21-20 loss at Hawaii last Saturday. Air Force is 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the Mountain West after a 20-3 loss at Army on last Saturday.
Line: Fresno State is either a 10 or a 10.5-point favorite depending on the sportsbook.
Notes: Air Force’s two quarterbacks who played against Army accounted for three interceptions and 92 passing yards. Army rushed for 207 yards as a team. Running back Kanye Udoh had 22 carries for 158 yards and two touchdowns for the Black Knights.
Fresno State allowed Hawaii quarterback Brayden Schager to throw for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Fresno State only had 19 yards rushing. Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene went 25/31 passing for 157 yards and a touchdown.
Where: Nottingham Field, Greeley
How to Watch: ESPN+
Records: FCS Division I Eastern Washington is 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Big Sky Conference after a 42-28 loss against FCS Division I No.2 Montana State last Saturday. FCS Division I Northern Colorado is 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the Big Sky Conference after losing at No.4 UC Davis 59-7 on Saturday.
Line: No line
Notes: Northern Colorado was outscored 52-0 in the first three quarters against UC Davis. The Bears have scored seven points in their last two games. Northern Colorado is tied for last in the Big Sky.
Bears quarterback Kia’i Keone has one passing touchdown and six interceptions in seven games played this season. He finished 13/24 for 99 yards and two interceptions against UC Davis. Northern Colorado allowed UC Davis to pass for 313 yards and four touchdowns. UC Davis also rushed for 309 yards and four touchdowns.
Eastern Washington ran for 225 yards and two touchdowns against Montana State. The Eagles also allowed Montana State to run for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Eagles’ quarterback Jared Taylor went 20/27 passing for 144 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss.
