Seventy-eight years after their last regular-season clash, Colorado and BYU face off again. But this time, as Big 12 foes at Folsom Field. Now the Buffs are desperate for traction after losses to Georgia Tech and Houston, while the Cougars arrive at 3-0 after dismantling East Carolina on the road. So, the matchup feels like strength against weakness, and the numbers don’t lie. Colorado’s rush defense is a disaster, giving up 194.5 YPG, ranking No. 121. But BYU’s strength? Running the football. Junior RB LJ Martin is tearing it up, averaging 8.55 yards per carry (No. 5 in the nation) and 114.0 YPG (No. 9). Now, if the Buffs don’t find answers fast, Saturday could turn into the LJ Martin show. But he isn’t the only danger, because another Cougar looms for Deion Sanders‘ Buffs.

On the September 26 episode of the Cover 3 Podcast, CBS Sports’ Hailey Sutton, Bud Elliott, and Shehan Jeyarajah broke down Colorado vs. BYU. And Elliott didn’t mince words. “I think this is a really hard matchup for Colorado because of all the varying blitzes that BYU is going to bring,” he explained, noting how the linebackers set the tone. But then Elliott shifted his focus elsewhere. “I’ll actually go with the safety when I pop on this BYU tape, No. 11, Faletau Satuala.”

The sophomore is electric. “What he gets right is going downhill and lighting people up. He’s a really fun watch. That guy looks like he’s moving at a different speed than everybody else on the field,” added Elliott. From Elliott’s expectation, one thing is clear: Satuala’s impact isn’t slowing down anytime soon, especially not against CU. If you need proof, just rewind the tape to his game against Stanford.

The sophomore made his presence felt everywhere: four tackles, a TLF, and a game-changing safety. And when Stanford finally threatened, marching 67 yards for their only points of the season, Satuala struck. He jumped a pass at the 14-yard line, returned it 24 yards, and helped lock up BYU’s 27–3 victory in front of a roaring LaVell Edwards Stadium. “A shutout would’ve been ideal,” said Satuala. “But holding them to just three points—that’s a win for the defense.” So his performance wasn’t just big; it set the tone for what BYU can expect from this rising star. But the highlights didn’t stop there.

Early in the game, he exploded out of zone coverage to bring down Marcus Brown in the end zone, giving BYU its first safety since 2022. Following that, PFF rewarded his dominance with a career-high 90.5 grade: a statement showing why the former U.S. Army All-American is one to watch. “I definitely had probably one of my best games in college,” said Satuala. “But still a lot to improve on.” And if this game is any indication, No. 11 is just getting started. That’s why Hailey Sutton, along with linebacker Isaiah Glasker, says safety Satuala is one to watch. But who’s really got a shot at taking this one?

No surprises here. BYU, sitting at No. 25, rolls into this game favored by six and a half points. But Sutton threw out the question: “What’s your wager when it comes to this game?” And Shehan Jeyarajah was quick with his answer: “BYU to win. BYU to cover the spread.” Although across the breakdown, one player kept rising to the top, Faletau Satuala. So the takeaway? He’s BYU’s game-changer. But now, all that’s left to see is if the hype becomes reality. And that’s exactly why BYU keeps showing steady improvement.

BYU’s game plan against Colorado

Once known for its explosive passing attacks, BYU is now making a name with a dominant ground game. The Cougars head into their Big 12 opener against Colorado leading the league with 265.6 rushing YPG, ranking among the nation’s top 15. But just two years ago, BYU ranked near the bottom of the conference in rushing, so a steady climb has transformed their offense. And now their running game is firing on all cylinders.

Martin has been the driving force behind BYU’s ground game. He’s opened the season with 3 consecutive 100-yard performances. And he is a nightmare for defenders, often needing two or three tacklers to slow him down. “It breeds confidence knowing I can break tackles and not shy away from contact,” stated Martin. And HC Kalani Sitake called him “a complete back” and praised his leadership, noting Martin does all the little things right even when the ball isn’t in his hands. But the running game isn’t just about Martin.

Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier is easing into the offense while keeping defenses honest, completing 66.7% of his passes. And his decision-making makes BYU’s ground attack even more dangerous. So the result? A balanced, efficient offense that’s averaging 43.3 PPG: 2nd only to Texas Tech in the Big 12. Now, against Colorado, BYU’s revamped running game could be the X-factor that keeps the Cougars rolling.