BOULDER — Deion Sanders put the game on the shoulders of Kaidon Salter.

Despite Salter’s rough showing last week at TCU — three poorly-timed interceptions in a 35-21 loss — the Colorado coach trusted his quarterback to make the biggest play in a must-win game for the Buffaloes.

Facing a third-and-16 with under two minutes to play and with No. 22 Iowa State holding one more timeout, Coach Prime could’ve just opted to play it safe and force the Cyclones to use their final timeout following a run play. 

But that would’ve left ISU a little over a minute and a half to drive down the field for a game-tying touchdown following a punt.

The Buffs decided to be aggressive and try to pick up a first down that would seal the game.

CU got the look it expected from the Cyclones’ defense, and Salter let a pass rip over the middle to Joseph Williams, who hauled it in for a 38-yard gain. A few kneel-downs later, and the Buffs’ 24-17 upset win was sealed.

“I don’t think there was a play in the game bigger than that third-down throw,” Sanders said.

But it was more than just one third-down conversion that helped turn the tide for the CU offense in an encouraging performance that featured the team’s most prolific second-half display of 2025.

On a third-and-9 early in the third quarter, Salter sensed the blitz and escaped the pocket, eventually muscling his way for a 13-yard gain and a big-time conversion on a drive the Buffs scored a touchdown on a few plays later. 

In the fourth quarter, on another third-and-9, Salter stood in the pocket and delivered a strike to Williams for a crucial 16-yard pickup.

The player who was forced to own his mistakes a week prior was the hero in his team’s signature win of the season to date.

“He stood up and stood out. He did his thing,” Sanders said. “I’m proud of him.”

Salter has had to hear for weeks about the offense’s struggles in the third quarters of games. The Buffs had managed just 14 points total in the third quarters of the first six games of the season. They matched that on their first two drives of the second half with a pair of touchdown passes by Salter.

“The conversation in the locker room was just (that) we gotta go out there and be better,” Salter said. “Everybody’s mentality coming out of halftime is to get points on the board.”

Just like it could be for the team as a whole, Salter’s performance on Saturday could be the turning point he’s been searching for since regaining his spot as the starting quarterback in Week 4. 

While racking up 255 passing yards and two touchdowns to go with 57 rushing yards, Salter recorded his first win over a Big 12 team since joining the Buffs — and he hopes it isn’t his last.

“The rough season we’ve been having and (with) the bye week next week, it’s way better to sit going into a bye week with a win, instead of a loss and just having that on your mind,” Salter said. “It felt great just being able to go out there and execute the game plan, doing everything the coaches wanted us to do.”