The most pivotal stretch of the season has arrived for Deion Sanders and Colorado.

After the signature win of the season, the Buffaloes had last weekend off to recover, get healthy and prepare for the final five games of the 2025 season. They’ll have another bye week in November following the upcoming three-game stretch that begins this Saturday (8:15 p.m. ESPN) at Utah.

Following the upset win over then-No. 22 Iowa State, Coach Prime’s team is 3-4 with a chance to still turn things around and deliver the program’s first back-to-back seasons with a bowl game in 20 years. It starts with these next three games, all of which now seem winnable in their own ways.

Despite being listed as nearly two touchdown underdogs against a 5-2 Utes team, that might quickly change as Utah coach Kyle Whittingham mentioned Monday the status of quarterback Devon Dampier is in doubt, saying there is a “distinct possibility” backup Byrd Ficklin will play after Dampier “got beat up pretty good” last Saturday night against BYU.

Last time out

For the first time since the early 1990s, BYU has won three straight games against arch rival Utah. The latest edition of the Holy War did not disappoint as the Cougars used a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to pull away for a 24-21 win in Provo.

BYU got 10 points off two Utah turnovers — a muffed punt near the end of the first half and an interception in the fourth quarter — while also committing seven fewer penalties in a game the Utes out-gained the Cougars by over 100 yards in.

Despite the crucial interception, Dampier had his most prolific passing performance of the season, throwing for 244 yards on 36 attempts, just his third-highest total of the season. While Dampier was limited to just 64 rushing yards a week after he had 120 and three touchdowns against Arizona State, the Utah rushing attack as a whole was able to tally 226 yards, with Daniel Bray’s 121 leading the way.

The Utes were aggressive, attempting five fourth downs but only converting one in what also played a big role in the defeat.

On offense

Any conversation about the Utah offense has to start with the big guys up front, namely the two NFL-caliber tackles, Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu.

That duo, as well as the rest of the offensive line, has paved the way for what is the third-best offense in the Big 12, both in terms of points per game and yards per game. The Utes are first in the conference in rushing at an average of 245 yards per game on the ground.

The other big reason for that is the system brought in by first-year coordinator Jason Beck, who arrived in Utah from New Mexico, bringing his standout quarterback, Dampier, with him.

The junior is the top running quarterback in the conference and actually ranks 10th among all players in rushing yards per game, nearly 20 yards per game more than any player on the Buffs roster.

Running backs Bray, Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers have each had their moments of success, too, with a combined 852 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns between the three of them.

The Utes do have a talented duo of pass catchers in wide receiver Ryan Davis and tight end Dallen Bentley, who each have over 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns apiece this season.

On defense

An improved CU offensive line will have its hands full this weekend against one of the top sack getters in the nation. Defensive end John Henry Daley is in the midst of a breakout sophomore season with nine sacks through seven games, with at least a half of a sack in each game.

Another sophomore on the Utes defense having a solid season is safety Jackson Benee, who is tied for second in the Big 12 with three interceptions for a conference-leading 103 return yards, including a touchdown.

That doesn’t even include the veteran playmakers who have been forces for coordinator Morgan Scalley for multiple years like linebacker Lander Barton and safety Tao Johnson.

The Utah Utes file

Record: 5-2 (2-2 Big 12, 8th place)

Head coach: Kyle Whittingham (21st season)

Offensive coordinator: Jason Beck (1st season)

Defensive coordinator: Morgan Scalley (18th at Utah, 10th as DC)

Names to know: QB Devon Dampier, RB Wayshawn Parker, WR Ryan Davis, TE Dallen Bentley, OT Spencer Fano, OT Caleb Lomu, DE John Henry Daley, LB Lander Barton, S Tao Johnson, CB Smith Snowden, DB Jackson Bennee

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Betting line: Colorado +13.5 (ESPN Bet)