Utah Utes at Colorado Buffaloes

Injuries noted

Utah Utes: JC Hart (out) — Cornerback listed out for Colorado in reporting on the October 15 availability update; condition unspecified.; Preston Pitts (out) — Linebacker listed out for Colorado in reporting on the October 15 availability update, superseding his initial doubtful designation; condition unspecified.; Milz Asiata (out) — Offensive lineman included in the long-term unavailable list accompanying the October 16 conference-report update. The source does not distinguish season-ending absence from other long-term unavailability.

Colorado Buffaloes: Kam Perry (out) — Wide receiver listed out for Utah in reporting on the October 15 availability update; condition unspecified.; Danny Scudero (out) — Wide receiver listed out for Utah; condition unspecified in this report.; Braylon Edwards (out) — Defensive back listed out for Utah; condition unspecified.; Preston Ashley (out) — Cornerback listed out for Utah; condition unspecified.; Zach Atkins (out) — Tight end listed out for Utah; condition unspecified.; Tyler Martinez (out) — Linebacker reported inactive against Utah with a long-term injury despite omission from the weekly availability list.; Demetrius Hunter (out) — Offensive lineman reported inactive against Utah with a long-term injury despite omission from the weekly availability list.; Lamont Lester Jr. (questionable) — Defensive lineman listed questionable on the October 15 report. A final game-day determination was not verified.; Fisher Clements (probable) — Tight end listed probable for Utah; condition unspecified.; Dylan Manuel (probable) — Defensive lineman listed probable for Utah; condition unspecified.

QUARTERBACK

• Isaac Wilson is COLO's confirmed starter

  6.27 Y/A

  Isaac Wilson is COLO's confirmed starting quarterback. Deion Sanders said Wilson will start against Utah on October 17, as reported October 13. 2026 line: 445 passing yards, 56.3% completions, 6.27 yards per attempt, 2-3 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Devon Dampier is UTAH's confirmed starter

  8.66 Y/A

  Devon Dampier is UTAH's confirmed starting quarterback. ESPN700's October 14 interview about this week's Colorado matchup identifies Dampier as Utah's QB1; Utah's October 12 game preview also identifies him as the offense's quarterback. 2026 line: 1134 passing yards, 71.8% completions, 8.66 yards per attempt, 12-2 TD-INT over 5 games.

TRENCHES

• UTAH: 78.8 rushing yards allowed per game to COLO's 131.6

  52.8 YPG

  Utah allows 78.8 rushing yards a game and Colorado allows 131.6, both over five games. Utah makes it hard to run, while Colorado gives ground more easily. The sheet doesn't show opponents, so Utah's number may move against stronger rushing teams. Utah's run game should find more room at Colorado than Colorado's will against Utah, so look there for rushing props.

PACE & SCRIPT

• UTAH: 42.8 points per game to COLO's 18.6

  24.2 PPG

  Utah is scoring 42.8 points a game over five games, close to its 41.3 last season, while Colorado is at 18.6 over five, near its 20.9. Both teams are scoring about where they did last season, so this gap looks like who they are. Utah's run game carries that output and travels well. Colorado has to find points it hasn't produced in either season to keep this close.

• UTAH: 13 points allowed per game to COLO's 25.4

  12.4 PPG

  UTAH is at 13 points allowed per game over 5 games; COLO is at 25.4 over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 16. Last season UTAH was at 18.9 over 13 games and COLO at 30.5 over 12 games.

MISMATCH

• UTAH: 238.2 rush yards a game to COLO's 140.4

  238.2 VS 140.4

  Utah runs for 238.2 yards a game over five games, down a bit from 266.3 last season but still a ground-first offense. Colorado is at 140.4 over five, near its 125.6 from a year ago. Both numbers line up with last season, so this gap looks real. Colorado has to stop the run on early downs at home, or Utah can control the clock and keep the game on its terms.

REPLACEMENT

• Milz Asiata (OL) is out for the season for UTAH

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Offensive lineman included in the long-term unavailable list accompanying the October 16 conference-report update. The source does not distinguish season-ending absence from other long-term unavailability. Utah 2026 · CFB · The Sports Wire — October 16 Big 12 availability update (2026-10-16)

• JC Hart (CB) is out for UTAH

  OUT

  Cornerback listed out for Colorado in reporting on the October 15 availability update; condition unspecified. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Preston Pitts (LB) is out for UTAH

  OUT

  Linebacker listed out for Colorado in reporting on the October 15 availability update, superseding his initial doubtful designation; condition unspecified. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Kam Perry (WR) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Wide receiver listed out for Utah in reporting on the October 15 availability update; condition unspecified. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Danny Scudero (WR) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Wide receiver listed out for Utah; condition unspecified in this report. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Braylon Edwards (DB) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Defensive back listed out for Utah; condition unspecified. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Preston Ashley (CB) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Cornerback listed out for Utah; condition unspecified. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Zach Atkins (TE) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Tight end listed out for Utah; condition unspecified. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Tyler Martinez (LB) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Linebacker reported inactive against Utah with a long-term injury despite omission from the weekly availability list. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

• Demetrius Hunter (OL) is out for COLO

  OUT

  Offensive lineman reported inactive against Utah with a long-term injury despite omission from the weekly availability list. Colorado Buffaloes Potential Injury Inactives vs. Utah Utes (2026-10-16)

SITUATIONAL

• UTAH: 55% third-down conversion rate to COLO's 35.6%

  19.4 PP

  UTAH is at 55% third-down conversion rate over 5 games; COLO is at 35.6% over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 16. Last season UTAH was at 52.9% over 13 games and COLO at 38.4% over 12 games.

• COLO has 7 more days of rest

  7d vs 14d

  Colorado had a bye and gets 14 days before hosting Utah, who comes in on a normal 7-day week. The Buffaloes had an extra week to get healthy and add wrinkles Utah has not had time to prepare for. Rest plus home field stacks in Colorado's favor on the calendar, so weigh that against how the two teams match up on the field.

TEAM RECORD

• Big 12 game: UTAH 2-0, COLO 0-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big 12. UTAH is 2-0 against it, COLO is 0-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.