BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Quarterback Kaidon Salter threw three touchdown passes and ran for a game-sealing score as Colorado beat Wyoming 37-20. Salter, who lost his starting job last week, finished with 304 yards passing. Colorado led 28-3 early in the third quarter before Wyoming made it a game. The momentum shifted when Buffaloes defensive end Arden Walker sacked Kaden Anderson for a safety. After a Cowboys score, Salter put the game away with a 35-yard TD run with 1:46 left. Colorado's live mascot, Ralphie VII, made her debut as she replaced Ralphie VI, who retired before the season.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado's live mascot, Ralphie VII, made her debut at Folsom Field, thrilling fans with her energetic run. The 1-year-old bison dashed from the end zone to around the 50-yard line before returning to her trailer. She’s taking the place of Ralphie VI, who showed an indifference toward running and stepped into retirement life back on the ranch before the season. Ralphie VII is part of a 58-year tradition of live mascot buffaloes at the school. Former handler Trevor DeBaere expressed excitement about the new mascot, noting her speed and enthusiasm. Ralphie VII is expected to receive a unique nickname soon.
UNDATED (AP) — Six AP Top 25 college football teams had an early bye week. Nineteen ranked teams and hopefuls played on Saturday, featuring three ranked matchups. No. 17 Texas Tech won against No. 16 Utah, 34-10, making a case to move up in the poll. No. 11 Oklahoma defeated No. 22 Auburn, 24-17, with a late touchdown and safety. No. 24 Notre Dame earned its first win of the season, beating Purdue 56-30. Indiana is expected to rise after a 63-10 win against Illinois, while Utah and Illinois may drop in the rankings.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jalon Daniels threw three touchdown passes, Emmanuel Henderson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD, and Kansas beat West Virginia 41-10 in the Big 12 opener for both teams. Leshon Williams had 19 carries for 129 yards, which included a 62-yard TD to cap the scoring and added a 39-yard touchdown reception, which was set up by a 43-yard kickoff return by Henderson. After forcing a three-and-out on West Virginia’s first drive, Daniels threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Levi Wentz. Daniels also hit Boden Groen for a 7-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Nicco Marchiol was 15-of-27 passing for 126 yards with an interception for West Virginia (2-2).
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Now that TCU has won the final game scheduled against SMU in the 110-year-old rivalry, coach Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs can pretty much do whatever they want with the trophy. Dykes joked after the Horned Frogs 35-24 win Saturday about taking a sledgehammer to the Iron Skillet trophy, which is a replacement of the original one that broke several years ago. Dykes was on the winning side five of the last six times in the series between the former Southwest Conference rivals. He first got two victories while coaching SMU before moving 40 miles across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to take over as TCU’s coach after the 2021 season, and going 3-1 against SMU.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Backup quarterback Will Hammond stepped into a stagnant Texas Tech offense in the third quarter and put together four scoring drives to lead the 17th-ranked Red Raiders to a 34-10 win over No. 16 Utah. Hammond threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 61 yards. He entered the game in relief of Behren Morton, whose helmet slammed on the turf after he slid head first into contact with Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall during the Red Raiders’ opening drive of the third quarter. Morton was ruled out after the hit with his teaming leading 10-3. He threw for 142 yards and two interceptions before exiting.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton is not expected to miss significant time after he took a big hit while scrambling and was ruled out of the 17th-ranked Red Raiders’ 34-10 win over No. 16 Utah. Morton’s helmet slammed on the turf after he slid head-first into contact with Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall during his team’s opening drive of the third quarter. Officials reviewed the play for targeting but deemed it a clean hit by Hall. Backup quarterback Will Hammond took over for Morton on the Red Raiders’ next drive. He led the Red Raiders on four scoring drives for a 34-10 win.
Orlando, FL (AP) — UCF's Tavyen Jackson threw for 223 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown to send UCF past a struggling North Carolina team 34-9. The Tar Heels threw two critical interceptions and could not gain much ground before quarterback Gio Lopez left the game in the third quarter with an apparent right leg injury.
