Prime Time’s ticker in Boulder is down to the final seconds. After another tough loss to Utah, Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter admitted the 53-7 disaster was a tough one to process as the Buffaloes fell to 3-5 on the season. Behind a struggling offensive line, Salter finished with just 37 passing yards and an interception before being replaced by Ryan Staub. Speaking after the game, the Liberty transfer made a heartbreaking confession, acknowledging how difficult it has been to find rhythm this season and how the team’s struggles have weighed on him personally.

At the post-game press conference, Kaidon Salter said, “I felt like I had a great week of practice … today was blindsiding.” He admitted to watching 10+ hours of film, preparing for Utah. But the Utes brought the kind of pressure Colorado hadn’t prepared for. “A lot of the pressures we saw today were nowhere to be seen on tape,” added Salter. And the second quarter in that game set the tone for Colorado’s nightmare.

Early on, Salter was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, gifting Utah a safety. Then on the very next play, Ficklin exploded through the CU defense for a 63-yard TD run. While Colorado’s offense sputtered, Ficklin finished with 140 passing yards and two TDs. But with top WRs Omarion Miller and Joseph Williams sidelined for disciplinary reasons, Salter went 9 of 22 with zero TDs. Now outplayed by a Utah freshman, his inconsistent performance highlighted the offensive struggles.

Although the Buffs showed a flicker of life in the second half. But by then, the game was already out of reach. With the Buffs trailing 46-0 in the 4th quarter, Staub took over. Then Staub orchestrated a 59-yard drive, finishing it off with a 1-yard TD run. It finally put Colorado on the scoreboard. However, Utah promptly answered back, as WR Nate Johnson dashed 56 yards for a TD, sealing the blowout. Now, while Colorado’s offensive line didn’t show potential, the defense hit a shocking low.

Yes, Utah needed just two plays to cover 75 yards and score on the opening drive. By halftime, the Utes had scored on seven of 10 possessions, racking up 398 yards, while the Buffs managed a staggering -18 total yards. Pretty evident that the Buffs were unprepared for Utah’s punishing rushing attack. Even worse, Utah barely had to throw the ball, grinding out yards on the ground. Despite being given two full weeks of prep, such a performance by the Buffs is unacceptable.

Colorado’s disastrous outing can’t fall on one player alone, but the message is clear. The head coach must either overhaul the team or step aside as fan pressure mounts.

Deion Sanders’ next step could be crucial

Deion Sanders was left reeling after Saturday’s drubbing. While the offense didn’t find rhythm, the defense was shredded, giving up 587 total yards. And Sanders didn’t sugarcoat it. “This is bad,” he said. “This is probably the worst beating we’ve ever had… Four hundred twenty yards rushing… You’re not winning.” Although on the bright side, WR Omarion Miller, benched in the first half, led the team with 59 yards, while safety Tawfiq Byard tallied a team-high 10 tackles.

But this kind of loss demands big changes. While OC Pat Shurmur has been on the hot seat all season, Saturday’s blowout only added fuel to the fire. Under Shurmur, Kaidon Salter hasn’t clicked consistently in back-to-back games against BYU and TCU, throwing interceptions. Now, the question arises: will Deion Sanders make the call to move on, like he did in 2023?

With the Buffs sitting at 1-4 in conference play and just four games left, it might be time to hand the keys to true freshman QB Julian Lewis. Colorado may not finish with a great score this season, but giving young talent like Lewis more reps could pay dividends for the future.