Kaidon Salter has massive bounce-back performance as Colorado gets solid win over Wyoming

Sometimes a team, a fan base, and a veteran quarterback just need one night where everything feels right again. Saturday at Folsom Field was that night.

The lights were bright, Ralphie VII thundered across the grass for the first time, and Colorado finally looked like a team ready to fight its way back into the Big 12 picture.

Behind Kaidon Salter’s best performance yet, the Buffs knocked off Wyoming 37-20 in front of a sold-out Family Weekend crowd. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the kind of game that keeps us believing in this team — because when they’re rolling, there’s nothing like it.

Salter answers the bell

Salter needed this game, and so did we. After sitting last week while Ryan Staub struggled in Houston, the Liberty transfer came back with a fire that lit up Folsom. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns while adding 86 rushing yards and a 35-yard scoring dash that had the student section losing its mind.

From the first snap, it was obvious Salter was locked in. He spread the ball to seven different receivers, pushed tempo when needed, and most importantly, looked confident.

For a program that’s spent weeks wondering who its quarterback really is, Saturday gave us clarity: this is Salter’s team now.

Big-play Buffs

Colorado’s receivers looked as dangerous as we hoped they’d be. Omarion Miller wasted no time reminding us why he’s a star, snagging six passes for 88 yards and a gorgeous 29-yard touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone.

Then came Sincere Brown, who blew the game open with a 68-yard sprint to the house. Every time Brown touches the ball, you can feel Folsom hold its breath waiting for fireworks. Add in Joseph Williams’ 47-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and suddenly the Buffs receiving corps looks like one of the most explosive groups in the country.

It’s the type of offensive balance we’ve been waiting for. Salter trusted his arm and legs, along with a group of playmakers who punished the Cowboys for any mistake made.

Defense does its job

The defense wasn’t flawless. Penalties on third down kept Wyoming hanging around longer than anyone wanted, and running back Samuel Harris gashed CU for 126 yards, including a 50-yard burst that silenced the crowd for a moment.

But the Buffs also made big plays when it mattered. Arden Walker’s safety in the fourth quarter was the exclamation mark on a night where Colorado’s defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage.

Wyoming QB Kaden Anderson finished with just 176 passing yards and couldn’t find rhythm until the game was out of reach.

For a defense that’s taken plenty of criticism, this was a step forward. Not dominant yet — but steady enough to let the offense shine.

Ralphie VII steals the show

Before any touchdown, the night belonged to Ralphie VII. Her first run was smooth, powerful, and a reminder of what makes Colorado football special. There’s no other tradition in college football that makes your heart race before the opening kickoff quite like that.

When Ralphie bolted across the field, the stadium shook — and it set the tone for everything that followed.

Why this win matters

At 2-2, Colorado isn’t anywhere close to where it wants to be. But this was a response the Buffs needed after the Houston letdown. Instead of sliding further into frustration, they gave us hope, and gave us quarterback confidence.

Next week brings BYU to Boulder — and with a true freshman QB in Bear Bachmeier coming in, the Buffs have a chance to stack momentum.

But for now, Saturday night felt like a turning point. Kaidon Salter took control. The defense stood tall enough. Ralphie VII made her debut.

Colorado football is alive again — and you can feel it in every big play, and every crazy student and fan as the crowd currently spills out onto Colorado Avenue.

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