The Colorado Buffaloes are back in Boulder this weekend, and the stakes are getting bigger. Deion Sanders and his team are eager to secure their first Big 12 victory of the season after they let another 14-point lead slip away against TCU last week. But this time, the challenge is real; they must defeat the No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones, who have just suffered the first loss of the season. CU will need to clean up turnovers, remain focused in the second half, and perhaps find a little magic in front of their home fans if they hope to avoid another devastating collapse.

Last Saturday, Iowa State fell 17-0 in the first quarter against Cincinnati, and they are eager to get back on track. The Cyclones are still focused on going back to Arlington for the conference championship game in December, and quarterback Rocco Becht has been dominating the Big 12 this season. But if the Buffs can maintain their momentum, this game might be the ideal chance for them to pull off the biggest shock of their season, especially since Colorado is at +3.

Mike Monaco, who is a truly multi-talented guy in the play-by-play world, will be calling the action for this game. Monaco has covered every sporting event since joining ESPN in 2019: college football, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, as well as MLB and NHL games. Before joining ESPN, he worked for the Big Ten Network, FOX Sports, and NBC Sports as a college basketball analyst. Monaco, who was born and raised in Massachusetts, began his career as a minor league baseball player and intern at NESN before landing a job at ESPN. It’s quite obvious that he has been working hard for years.

Louis Riddick, who is an excellent analyst of both college football and the NFL, will be joining Moanco in the booth. After working in NFL front offices for more than ten years and playing in the NFL, Riddick now contributes his experience to ESPN and ABC broadcasts. Riddick has extensive knowledge of the game, whether he’s analyzing college games, providing his thoughts on NFL Live, or breaking down game plays on Monday Night Football. Riddick and Monaco together guarantee a combo of expert analysis and excellent play-by-play for each snap.

How can the Colorado Buffaloes pull off a Big 12 upset?

The Colorado Buffaloes, who are currently 2-4 and still seeking their first Big 12 victory, have had a tough start to 2025. Last Saturday, they lost a 14-point lead against TCU. All is not lost, though, as the Buffaloes still have a chance to pull off a massive upset against No. 22 Iowa State at home if they can just stay focused in the second half, prevent slips, and allow their offensive players to shine.

Colorado must take advantage from the start of the game in order to pull off an upset. Their pass rush appeared to be alive last week, putting TCU quarterback Josh Hoover under relentless pressure and taking him down three times. They will need that sort of disruption against Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht, who has already passed for more than 1,400 yards this season. Kaidon Salter will need to play smarter, not just tougher, on offense. Checkdowns, quick slants, and getting the ball to Colorado’s fastest players will all be crucial. In the meantime, the Buffaloes need to control the line of scrimmage so that running backs like Micah Welch and Dallan Hayden have room to break big plays and control the clock.

Lastly, in big moments, the Buffaloes’ best players will have to perform. If the offensive line can sustain drives and keep the pressure off Salter, Dallan Hayden may be able to carry the ground game. Salter has the ability to impact the game, but he needs to play with efficiency and make fewer mistakes. London Merritt, a freshman, has the potential to have an immense impact on defense with his edge pressure, especially now that a number of defensive ends are injured or questionable. The Buffaloes might make Folsom Field a destination Iowa State regrets visiting if these three can perform well.