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 took advantage of Shedeur Sanders’ miscue, 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 an impressive start.

Offensive struggles plagued Utah throughout the first half, largely due to their ineffective rushing attack. Without a reliable ground game, the Utes had to rely 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 as Wilson’s pass, intended for Munir McClain, was tipped by Colorado cornerback Hood before being jammed 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 the momentum.

The offensive struggles took a toll on Utah’s defense, which played valiantly but began to wear down under the pressure of being sent back down the field repeatedly. The Utes defense managed to disrupt Sanders’ usual passing dominance by holding him to two touchdowns and one interception. They also applied consistent pressure, sacking Sanders twice and forcing a second turnover. However, Utah’s offense was unable to capitalize on these defensive efforts, going three-and-out on four consecutive possessions.

Despite their defensive prowess, the Utes trailed 21-9 at halftime. The lack of offensive production and inability to score touchdowns instead of field goals put 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 adjustments at halftime, Utah’s inability to generate consistent offense threatened to leave them behind in the second half.