Colorado Faces Houston in Big 12 Opener on September 12, 2025

The Colorado Buffaloes (1-1) travel to Houston to face the undefeated Houston Cougars (2-0) in their Big 12 opener on Friday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be played under the lights at TDECU Stadium, with Houston entering as a 4.5-point favorite according to the latest odds. Both teams come off convincing wins. Colorado rebounded from a tight season-opening loss to Georgia Tech with a 31-7 victory against Delaware, while Houston dominated Rice 35-9 to remain unbeaten. This marks the first conference matchup for both squads this season. Colorado, led by head coach Deion Sanders, has made notable changes under center, with sophomore Ryan Staub named the starting quarterback following his strong relief performance last week. Staub passed for 157 yards and two touchdowns, taking over for Kaidon Salter, who had started the first two games. The Buffaloes also rely on running back Micah Welch and receiver Sincere Brown, who leads the team with 120 receiving yards. On defense, linebacker Reginald Hughes tops the squad with 14 tackles, and cornerback DJ McKinney leads in interceptions. Houston, under head coach Willie Fritz, has outscored opponents 62-9 in its first two games. Quarterback Conner Weigman, a Texas A&M transfer, has thrown for 347 yards and four touchdowns in two starts, while running back Dean Connors has 182 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Cougars’ defense, anchored by safety Kentrell Webb and linebacker Bradyn Mack II, has allowed just 3.0 yards per play and recorded five sacks. Historically, Houston has struggled in Big 12 play, going 5-13 in its first two seasons since joining the conference, but appears improved in Fritz’s second year at the helm. Colorado, meanwhile, is looking to adapt after the departures of stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter to the NFL. Forecasts and expert analysis, including the SportsLine Projection Model, suggest Houston’s balanced offense and strong defensive line give them the edge, especially facing an inexperienced Buffaloes quarterback and a Colorado defense that has struggled against both the run and pass. Betting trends also favor Houston, who has covered the spread in four of its last six home games. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN and streaming available on Fubo. The winner will take an early step forward in the Big 12 standings as conference play gets underway.