Utah’s offensive struggles continue vs. no. 18 in Colorado

The Utah Utes had a golden opportunity to set the tone early against the Colorado Buffaloes, thanks to an interception by linebacker Lander Barton on the first play of the game. Barton capitalized on Shedeur Sanders’ misstep, returning the pick 17 yards and giving Utah excellent field position. However, the Utes’ inability to find the end zone limited them to a field goal, settling for an early 3-0 lead instead of a commanding start.

Offensive struggles plagued Utah throughout the first half, largely due to their ineffective rushing attack. Without a reliable ground game, the Utes were forced to lean heavily on quarterback Isaac Wilson, who struggled to find a rhythm. Wilson completed just 8 of 20 passes for 62 yards and threw an interception to Travis Hunter late in the half. The play was a deflating moment for the Utes when Wilson’s pass, intended for Munir McClain, was tipped by Colorado cornerback Hood before being intercepted by Hunter. Although Utah’s defense managed to hold the Buffs scoreless after the turnover, it was another missed opportunity for the Utes to shift momentum.

The offensive struggles took a toll on Utah’s defense, which played valiantly but began to wear down under the strain of being repeatedly sent back down the field. The Utes defense managed to disrupt Sanders’ usual passing dominance, holding him to two touchdowns and an interception. They also applied constant pressure, sacking Sanders twice and forcing another turnover. But Utah’s offense couldn’t capitalize on those defensive efforts, going three-and-out on four consecutive possessions.

Despite their defensive grit, the Utes found themselves behind 21-9 at halftime. The lack of offensive production and failure to score touchdowns instead of field goals left Utah in a precarious position. To compete with Colorado, the Utes had to adjust their offensive game plan, especially along the offensive line, which struggled to match Colorado’s defensive intensity.

If Utah hoped to win, they had to find the end zone and take advantage of Colorado’s sloppy play. With the Buffs likely to make halftime adjustments, Utah’s inability to generate consistent offense threatened to leave them trailing in the second half.