Key storylines, injury updates and what to expect for Colorado football’s matchup at Utah

The Colorado Buffaloes are gearing up for their eighth game of the 2025 season this Saturday, October 25, at 8:15 p.m. MT, when they face the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City. Utah enters the matchup as a …

The Colorado Buffaloes will face the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 25.
Utah’s star quarterback, Devon Dampier, is questionable for the game due to an injury.
The Utes feature a strong defense, led by defensive end John Henry Daley, allowing only 15.3 points per game.
BYU’s recent success against Utah may provide a defensive blueprint for Colorado to follow.

The Colorado Buffaloes are gearing up for their eighth game of the 2025 season this Saturday, October 25, at 8:15 p.m. MT, when they face the Utah Utes in Salt Lake City. Utah enters the matchup as a 13.5-point favorite on its home field.

There are several storylines worth monitoring heading into this week’s game, but perhaps none more pertinent than the status of Utah starting quarterback Devon Dampier, who is currently listed as questionable on the latest injury report. We dive into what a Dampier absence would mean for the Buffs, plus a few other talking points for the 2025 edition of the Rumble in the Rockies rivalry.

Here’s a look at what to expect from Saturday night’s showdown:

Is Dampier playing?

Utah could be without its star quarterback, Devon Dampier, when the Utes take on the Buffaloes Saturday night. Dampier has been the driving force of Utah’s offense, leading the team in both passing and rushing yards. He has thrown for 1,375 yards while completing 68.7% of his passes, tallying 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he’s added 442 yards and five scores on 80 carries.

The New Mexico transfer has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12 and is a constant threat with his mobility. If Dampier is unable to play against Colorado, the Utes will turn to freshman Byrd Ficklin. The young quarterback has seen limited action this season, appearing in a few lopsided games, but has yet to start at the college level. Saturday could mark his first career start if Dampier is sidelined.

What version of Utah will Colorado see on Saturday?

Utah has been a bit of an enigma this season. The Utes opened the year 3-0, dominating their opponents with ease, but things unraveled in Week 4 when Texas Tech came to town and handed them a humbling 34-10 loss. They bounced back with convincing wins over West Virginia and an Arizona State team missing quarterback Sam Leavitt, but last week’s 24-21 loss to BYU raised some concerns. In that game, Utah was outplayed both physically and mentally.

Afterward, BYU safety Tanner Wall offered an interesting take on Utah’s offense and Dampier, saying, “Their dropback pass concepts are pretty basic, and we didn’t think that he was a great passer down the field between the hashes, and that kind of showed.” That’s something Colorado’s defense could take note of, especially if Devon Dampier plays. The Buffs might be able to borrow a few ideas from BYU’s defensive game plan to slow down Utah’s attack.

Utah is clearly a solid team, but it’s fair to wonder who their signature win really is. Beating Arizona State without its starting quarterback doesn’t say much, and while the Utes are talented, a spread of more than two touchdowns in their favor feels a bit steep.

Utah’s stout defense

This Utah defense has been one of the best in the conference, allowing just 15.3 points per game—and that number would be even lower if not for their rough outing in Week 4 against Texas Tech. The Utes are a big, physical group with playmakers across the board. Defensive end John Henry Daley has been a force, recording nine sacks, which accounts for half of the team’s total. The Buffaloes will need to keep close tabs on him in pass protection if they hope to keep their offense on schedule.

Utah’s defense has also been opportunistic, forcing six interceptions, recovering two fumbles, and even finding the end zone once. This unit is the backbone of the team and will present a major challenge for Kaidon Salter and the Colorado offense on Saturday night.

For the Buffs to have a chance, they’ll need to establish the run early and stay consistent. BYU showed that it can be done, rushing for 202 yards and two touchdowns last week, wearing down the Utes by the fourth quarter. Colorado will need a similar effort if it wants to keep things close in Salt Lake City.

Source: Utah News