Arizona routs Colorado 52-17 behind Noah Fifita’s four first-half touchdown passes

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BOULDER, Colo. — Noah Fifita threw four first-half touchdown passes, and the Arizona Wildcats forced five turnovers in a dominant 52-17 rout of the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday night, rebounding from back-to-back close losses. “This is a huge win coming off two heartbreaking losses,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “We’re gonna enjoy the plane ride home.” The Wildcats (5–3, 2–3 Big 12) stormed to a 38–7 halftime lead, scoring on six of their first seven drives. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes (3–6, 1–5) entered the locker room with more penalties (nine) than points. For the first time in his three-year tenure in Boulder, Colorado coach Deion “Prime” Sanders declined to let his players speak postgame, taking full responsibility for the team’s second consecutive blowout loss.

“Don’t attack the coordinators. Come at me. Don’t attack the players. Come at me,” Sanders said. Sanders said the team’s poor performance wasn’t something he saw coming after what he described as solid practices. When asked if his team had checked out, he replied, “I know a quitter when I see one. I haven’t seen that.”

Still, Sanders remained confident about the program’s direction. “I don’t doubt me,” he said. “Let’s get that straight: I. Don’t. Doubt. Me.” Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter completed 11 of 15 passes for 49 yards and was benched late in the first half for Ryan Staub, who threw two interceptions in the third quarter. Freshman Ju-Ju Lewis later entered and threw a 59-yard touchdown — the first of his career — to Omarion Miller before exiting with an injury to his throwing hand in the final minute. The Buffaloes’ miscues proved costly, including two first-half penalties that erased a 75-yard touchdown and an interception.

Fifita opened the scoring just three plays into the game, connecting with Tre Spivey for a 57-yard touchdown. After a field goal pushed the lead to 10–0, linebacker Chase Kennedy strip-sacked Salter, setting up a short field for Fifita to hit Kris Hutson for another quick score.

“A very big win,” Arizona defender Jay’vion Cole said. “Especially on the road, in the Big 12, at a challenging place like this.” Colorado got on the board with Salter’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Miller, capping a 17-play, 75-yard drive that lasted nearly eight minutes. The score drew attention from former Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, now with the Cleveland Browns, who was seen pulling up a folding chair at midfield to watch from the sideline.

The TakeawayArizona: Fifita led Arizona on eight scoring drives in 10 possessions before giving way to Braedyn Locke. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 213 yards, with touchdowns going to seven different Wildcats. Arizona’s defense, which had 18 takeaways this season, has already surpassed last year’s total.

Colorado: The Buffaloes appeared sluggish and undisciplined after last week’s 53–7 loss at Utah. Over their last two games, they have been outscored 81–7 by halftime and committed 14 penalties against Arizona.

Up NextArizona: Hosts the University of Kansas on Saturday.Colorado: Visits West Virginia on Saturday.