No. 25 BYU’s Defense Stiffens, Forces Turnover To Seal Gutsy Win Over Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – The BYU Cougars trailed for the first time in 2025 but overcame adversity to stay undefeated with a thrilling 24-21 road win over the Colorado Buffaloes.

After coming from behind twice, Isaiah Glasker sealed the win with a late interception of an errant Kaidon Salter pass.

True freshman QB Bear Bachmeier accounted for 277 yards of offense while throwing for a pair of touchdowns. Chase Roberts passed the 2,000-yard receiving mark for his career, and Jack Kelly’s first sack gave him 25.5 in his collegiate career.

The Cougars improved to 4-0 and 1-0 in Big 12 play. Colorado fell to 2-3 and 0-1 in conference action. BYU moved over .500 in Big 12 play with the victory.

Final: No. 25 BYU 24, Colorado 21

Cougs are 4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big 12 pic.twitter.com/Y08A8PEvDv

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders is gearing up for his 30th game as Colorado’s head coach. He has a 15-14 overall record. The Buffs are looking for their first win over a nationally-ranked team since defeating TCU in Coach Prime’s first game as Colorado coach in 2023.

Colorado has lost seven straight against Top 25 opponents.

Tonight’s game is a rematch of last year’s Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. BYU won that game with ease, crushing Colorado 36-14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Pregame

Settling in here at Folsom Field for No. 25 BYU vs. Colorado. pic.twitter.com/z3tBe4wPu1

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Skycam! pic.twitter.com/55pq3VKC5d

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Final availability update for BYU vs. Colorado. pic.twitter.com/MSEDUcPB7V

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

BYU vs. Colorado uniform matchup.

Cougs are going to wear the same combo they wore in the Alamo Bowl.

Colorado is wearing gray threads with a black helmet that features a white facemask. pic.twitter.com/FdsHXKwkB4

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

BYU's running backs tonight against Colorado.

– LJ Martin
– Enoch Nawahine
– Preston Rex
– Jovesa Damuni
– Logan Payne

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

There is a lot of blue in the stands tonight pic.twitter.com/saNnLtthYo

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Prime Time pic.twitter.com/NBtrBMdY62

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) September 28, 2025

Kalani & Co. pic.twitter.com/WEI039Zbof

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) September 28, 2025

Here we go. pic.twitter.com/Ena9ZmNUqa

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

First Quarter

 

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RELATED: Ralphie VII Leads Buffaloes Before Facing No. 25 BYU

Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders said on the TV broadcast before the game, "Offense, defense, special teams, we coming tonight!"

So far, the Colorado offense has delivered for Coach Prime.

Haven't seen BYU's defense struggle like that all year.

11 plays, 75 yards, Colorado is on…

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

BYU is trailing for the first time this season.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

That "special" was forced into double coverage.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Turnover on downs for BYU. Bear threw it behind Roberts. The senior receiver should have caught that still, but that's a big stop for Colorado.

All of the momentum is in favor of the Buffs early on. Nothing is coming easy for BYU.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Kaidon Salter against BYU's defense on the first Colorado series:

– 3-of-3 passing for 39 yards
– 5 rush, 31 rushing yards, 1 TD

What adjustments will BYU make?

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Colorado 14, BYU 0 – 5:08 remaining in the 1st quarter

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Bear to the "Safety Blanket" Carsen Ryan.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Another red zone appearance for BYU this season that concludes with a Will Ferrin field goal.

Seventh time in the red zone that BYU has settled for a FG this year.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Second Quarter

Faletau Satuala gets a sack on Kaidon Salter. BYU's defense finally makes a play.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Jack Kelly's closing speed. These NFL scouts in the press box at Folsom, behind BYU's media, had to be impressed with that sack.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Holding penalty on Kyle Sfarcioc negates a nice first down pass from Bear to Chase Roberts.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Tiger fielded that punt in the end zone and returned it. Somehow, he got it back to the six-yard line. Risky.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

What a drive for BYU. Cougs are back in this thing.

Excellent move on the TD grab from Chase Roberts.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Kevin Doe sighting on the kick team, coming up with a nice tackle.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

BIG TOUCHDOWN at the end of the half!!@bearb47 👉 @chase_roberts11

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/YQKnl74jSv

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 28, 2025

Colorado 14, BYU 10 — Halftime Stats pic.twitter.com/DYBn2HcISZ

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Third Quarter

Bear Bachmeier has 10 carries, LJ Martin has eight.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

LJ Martin is getting some more work tonight, lining up out wide.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

just like that. https://t.co/HoEF7jmYyG pic.twitter.com/O56CDyU0IX

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 28, 2025

The trust in Bear Bachmeier was on display as BYU went for it on 4th down.

Bear connects with Chase Roberts for the touchdown.

Cougs are in front for the first time tonight.

BYU 17, Colorado 14

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

RELATED: BYU Football Takes First Lead On Late Third Quarter Touchdown

Chase Roberts goes over 2,000 career receiving yards with that third quarter touchdown grab.

He's the 15th player in BYU football history to reach 2,000 career receiving yards. pic.twitter.com/bqTnhrctCO

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Fourth Quarter

pic.twitter.com/yHGZUOKFfE

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Colorado's Omarion Miller called for a holding on Mory Bamba. That penalty takes away a 45-yard run by Kaidon Salter.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

TORNADO play strikes again for BYU.

Cody Hagen is electric.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Colorado's Omarion Miller called for a holding on Mory Bamba. That penalty takes away a 45-yard run by Kaidon Salter.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Isaiah Glasker is relentless. What a sack.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Parker Kingston is back at punt returner.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Will Ferrin's 25 made field goal streak comes to an end.

He missed a 55-yard attempt.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Big play by Bodie Schoonover to get that third down pass deflection.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Bear connects to Chase Roberts on 3rd & 7 for a first down. Excellent pass, great concentration from Chase.

Nice blitz pickup block by LJ Martin as well on that play.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Isaiah Glasker is that dude pic.twitter.com/x56tqZNmw7

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

Final: No. 25 BYU 24, Colorado 21

Cougs are 4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big 12 pic.twitter.com/Y08A8PEvDv

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 28, 2025

BYU/Colorado: Key Players to Watch

No. 25 BYU (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)

• QB Bear Bachmeier
• RB LJ Martin
• WR Chase Roberts
• LT Isaiah Jatta
• DE Logan Lutui
• DT Keanu Tanuvasa
• LB Jack Kelly
• LB Isaiah Glasker
• CB Evan Johnson
• K Will Ferrin

Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

• QB Kaidon Salter
• WR Dre’lon Miller
• WR Sincere Brown
• WR Omarion Miller
• LT Jordan Seaton
• OL Zy Chrisler
• DB Tawfiq Byard
• DT Anquin Barnes (Missing the first half)
• DT Jaheim Oatis
• P Damon Greaves

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.

Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.

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