Colorado Stuns No. 14 Houston 42-32 for First Top-15 Win Since 2007

admin · November 14, 2026 · 4 min read

Colorado running back breaks free against No. 14 Houston at Folsom Field in Boulder under the Friday night lights

Colorado trailed by 13 points in the second quarter on Friday night, then scored 28 consecutive points to stun No. 14 Houston 42-32 at Folsom Field in Boulder, earning the Buffaloes their first victory over an AP top-15 team since 2007 and dealing a heavy blow to the Cougars’ College Football Playoff hopes.

A 28-point run turns the game

Houston looked in control early. The Cougars built a 20-7 lead in the second quarter behind quarterback Conner Weigman, who finished 26-of-42 passing for 272 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Colorado answered with a run of 28 straight points. The Buffaloes took a 21-20 lead into halftime and stretched it to 35-20 in the third quarter, flipping a game that ESPN Analytics had given them only a 17 percent chance to win.

Running back Richard Young led the way with 21 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns, including a 2-yard score with 3 minutes 59 seconds left that made it 42-26. Joseph Williams turned a short pass into a 53-yard touchdown, DeKalon Taylor broke free for a 67-yard scoring run, and JaQuail Smith added a touchdown run of more than 30 yards.

Weigman threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Walker with 1:51 remaining to cut the margin to 42-32, but Colorado recovered and closed out the win. The Buffaloes finished with 249 rushing yards, their best ground total in Deion Sanders’ four seasons as head coach, and outgained Houston 477-466 in total yards.

First top-15 win in 19 years

The last time Colorado beat a team ranked in the AP top 15 was Sept. 29, 2007, when the Buffaloes knocked off No. 3 Oklahoma. Friday’s result was also Colorado’s first double-digit victory of the season, and it came against a Houston team that had not allowed more than 32 points in a game all season. Colorado, meanwhile, had not scored more than 27 points against an FBS opponent all season before Friday.

More than 47,000 fans stormed Folsom Field when the clock hit zero, the second consecutive home game to end with a field storm in Boulder. Sanders later described the night in Super Bowl terms, a measure of how much the win meant after a trying season.

What it means for both teams

Colorado improved to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes must win their final two games, starting with Kansas State, to become bowl eligible and avoid a third losing season in Sanders’ four years.

Houston fell to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12. The Cougars entered the week ranked No. 14 by the College Football Playoff committee, the highest CFP ranking in program history, but the loss effectively ended any realistic hope of reaching the 12-team field. Houston next plays Utah on Nov. 22.

The result also shook up the Big 12 race and the national playoff picture on a weekend already full of ranked upsets, coming hours before Wake Forest’s 49-7 rout of No. 25 SMU strengthened the Demon Deacons’ own playoff case. Alabama’s 21-6 win over Vanderbilt earlier in the day kept the Crimson Tide firmly in the playoff hunt as well.

FAQs

When was Colorado’s last win over an AP top-15 team before Houston?

Sept. 29, 2007, when Colorado beat No. 3 Oklahoma. Friday’s 42-32 win over No. 14 Houston ended a 19-year wait.

How did Colorado come back from 20-7 down?

The Buffaloes scored 28 consecutive points across the second and third quarters, led by 249 rushing yards and touchdown runs from Richard Young, DeKalon Taylor and JaQuail Smith, plus a 53-yard touchdown catch by Joseph Williams.

What does the loss mean for Houston’s playoff hopes?

Houston entered the game ranked No. 14 by the College Football Playoff committee, its highest CFP ranking ever. The loss to a 4-6 Colorado team effectively ended the Cougars’ realistic path to the 12-team playoff.