Deion Sanders returns to where it all started for him two years ago as coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
His team faces TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, the same place where Sanders and the Buffs shocked the college football world with a 45-42 win in his first game in charge of the team on Sept. 2, 2023.
But just about everything about his team has changed since then – his quarterback, his roster, his outlook. Only 12 scholarship players are still on the team from then, according to Colorado records. Instead of starting the season with a bang, like they did then, the Buffs now just want to right the ship after starting the season with a 2-3 record, including 0-2 in Big 12 Conference play.
Doing so will require consistent, elevated play from Liberty transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter, who has played well so far only in spurts. If Salter falters and the Buffs lose, they’ll need to win four of their final six games to become eligible for a postseason bowl game.
Follow along here for game updates, highlights and news.
Colorado takes 7-0 lead
Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter found receiver Omarion Miller on third-and-3 for a 6-yard touchdown pass with 13:33 left before halftime. Colorado now leads 7-0 after its drive went 80 yards on 13 plays on its second possession of the game. Salter is 6-for-7 passing for 62 yards.
End of first quarter: Colorado 0, TCU 0
Colorado will face third down and 3 at the TCU 22-yard line to start the second quarter. TCU has outgained Colorado 95-76 yards, led by 68 yards passing from TCU quarterback Josh Hoover. Both teams have had the ball twice with Colorado now threatening to score on its second drive.
TCU misses field goal
Colorado stuffed TCU at its own goal line, preventing the Horned Frogs from scoring even after they gained a first down at the 1-yard line. After 15-yard penalty for pass interference against TCU, Horned Frogs kicker Nate McCashland attempted a 30-yard field goal that missed wide right. It’s still 0-0 with 5:27 left in the first quarter.
Inauspicious start for Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter
Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter is playing in front of a bunch of friends and family as a native of Cedar Hill, Texas. But he’s off to a poor start. He threw an interception on the third play of the game for a the Buffaloes, a second-down pass that landed in the hands of TCU safety Jamel Johnson. TCU now takes over at its own 36-yard line early in the first quarter. Colorado 0, TCU 0.
TCU offensive lineman injured
TCU offensive lineman Ryan Hughes left the game with an apparent leg injury on the second play of the game, leading to stoppage of play. The Horned Frogs later got stopped on fourth-and-5 near midfield to turn the ball over to Colorado on downs. There is no score with 12:19 left in the first quarter.
Colorado wearing 2023 uniform ensemble
Deion Sanders says he doesn’t want to dwell on the 2023 game at TCU, but his team is wearing the same uniform ensemble as it did in that game. The Buffs are wearing white jerseys, pants and helmets with gold numbers.
Deion Sanders likes Sonny Dykes
Colorado coach Deion Sanders admires TCU coach Sonny Dykes for different reasons. One is that Dykes did well in his previous job as coach at SMU, where Sanders’ son Deion Jr. played before Dykes became coach there. Sanders noticed because Sanders’ family also has a ranch outside of Dallas, home of SMU.
Another reason Sanders likes Dykes is that Dykes is a former baseball player from Texas Tech, where Dykes’ father Spike was head football coach. Sanders himself played pro baseball and football. It’s not often he encounters college football coaches who played baseball at a high level.
“I had no idea that he played baseball,” Sanders said. Sanders called it “unbelievable.”
Deion Sanders won’t go down memory lane at TCU
The Colorado coach was asked about returning to the scene of his shocking debut as Colorado’s coach in 2023, when his team beat TCU 45-42. He didn’t want to dwell on it after suffering a 24-21 loss last week at home against BYU.
“I can’t live in the past,” Sanders said at his news conference on Sept. 30. “The past is the past. We’re gonna leave that there. We’re coming off a tough game, and we want to go in there and get back to where we know we’re supposed to be. We feel like we have a pretty darn good football team, even though the record don’t display that.”
Two top running backs out again for Colorado
Colorado running backs Simeon Price and DeKalon Taylor transferred onto the team this year and were expected to be a big part of the team’s new-look running game after the Buffs finished last in the nation in rushing yards per game in 2023 and 2024. But both are expected to miss their second straight game with injuries.
Colorado still has depth to make up for their loss and lately has turned to sophomore Dre’Lon Miller as a multi-purpose weapon at running back, receiver and a wildcat taking a direct snap from center. Miller scored two touchdowns last week against BYU.
Who’s starting at quarterback for Colorado, TCU?
Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter is expected to make his third straight start for Colorado and fourth overall. He looked brilliant as a run-pass threat in a 37-20 win against Wyoming on Sept. 20 and then led his team to a 14-0 start against BYU before falling to convert for his team after that.
This game could hinge on whether he can outplay TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, a junior who started the last six games of the 2023 season and took over from there. Last year, Hoover set TCU’s season passing record with 3,949 yards. This year, he ranks 12th nationally in total offense with 308.5 yards per game.
RG3 in car accident in Fort Worth before Colorado-TCU game
Robert Griffin III, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, is scheduled to call the game as a color analyst for Fox even after being involved in a car accident in Fort Worth Friday. He said his wife and kids are safe even though his car blew out both front tires and ricocheted off the highway divider. He said it was the worst car accident of his life.
When is the Colorado-TCU game?
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 4 from Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Colorado is 2-3. TCU is 3-1.
How to watch the Colorado-TCU game
The game will be televised on Fox and also is available on Fubo.
What are the odds for the Colorado-TCU game?
College football odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sept. 11. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Spread Favorite: TCU (-13.5)
Moneyline: Houston (-550), Colorado (+400)
Total: 57.5
Who are the announcers for the Colorado-TCU game?
Connor Onion will handle play-by-play for Fox, alongside color analyst Robert Griffin III, the former Baylor star quarterback. Alexa Landestoy will report from the sideline.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com