Colorado knew Northwestern’s wheel route was coming. That may be the most uncomfortable part of the Buffaloes’ 41-7 loss at Evanston.
After watching Northwestern running back Joseph Himon II turn three interceptions into three touchdowns Saturday night, Colorado coach Deion Sanders did not hide behind the turnovers, weather, or road setting. His frustration went straight to preparation.
“How many times did they wheel route us? We’re calling it on the headset,” Sanders said after the game. “We have to do a better job preparing.”
That is a rough sentence for any coaching staff because it removes the element of surprise. Northwestern did not need to unveil some secret chapter of Chip Kelly’s playbook. Colorado recognized what was coming and still could not stop it.
The result was the Buffaloes’ first loss of the 2026 season and their worst defensive showing in the last three games. Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles completed 17 of 22 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for two scores. Colorado’s official box score shows the Wildcats finished with 423 total yards.
Sanders put the coaching loss on the record
Sanders opened his postgame remarks by giving Northwestern credit before turning the criticism inward.
“Great game by Northwestern,” Sanders said. “[Chip Kelly] called a heck of a game. Flat-out butt-kicking.”
A little later, he went further.
“We didn’t play the type of offensive and defensive football we’re capable of playing, we didn't,” Sanders said. “And hats off to them for forcing us into that. They did a great job of coaching over there, better than we did.”
Northwestern’s production made that admission difficult to argue with. Himon finished with only 46 receiving yards, but Northwestern’s official recap notes that every one of his three catches went for a touchdown. His scoring receptions covered 18, 25, and three yards.
Colorado helped a lot. The Buffs lost two fumbles, quarterback Julian Lewis threw two interceptions, and three more possessions ended on failed fourth downs. Nine penalties cost another 80 yards.
“We got to do better,” Sanders said of the self-inflicted mistakes. “Especially the self-inflicted ones that no one had nothing to do with you. Jumping offsides, like, come on, man, the play hasn’t even started.”
Those errors turned a difficult night into a long one. Northwestern held the ball for 36:53 and repeatedly made Colorado pay after the Buffaloes gave away possessions.
Baylor now gets a useful piece of film
The timing makes the loss harder to shrug off. Colorado opens Big 12 play Saturday at Baylor, and the Bears now have a full game of tape showing how Northwestern stressed the Buffaloes with back-to-back in the passing game, disciplined defense, and patience after turnovers. That gives Baylor an obvious place to probe before Colorado proves the fix is real.
Colorado still moved the ball better than the final score suggests, though. The Buffaloes gained 348 yards, including 180 on the ground, and JaQuail Smith rushed for 91 yards. But yards become decorative when seven possessions end with four turnovers and three failed fourth-down attempts.
Lewis finished 19 of 29 for 168 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. His lone score was a 50 yard catch run by Joosepgh Williams early in the third quarter, cutting the margin to 21-7.
Northwestern answered with two more Himon touchdowns before Colorado could make the game interesting.
Baylor’s official preview lists Colorado at 2-1 entering the conference opener. The record still looks respectable. The film from Evanston is less forgiving.
For Sanders and his staff, the problem is now clearly defined. Recognizing a play on the headset means little if the defense cannot stop it on the field.
Sanders offered one promise before leaving Evanston.
“But we’ll get it right,” he said. “I promise you, we’ll get it right.”
