CU Buffs fall short in upset bid of No. 5 Texas A&M, losing on late touchdown pass

Colorado had its archetypal triumph implicit a Top 5 squad since 2007 close wrong its grasp Saturday astatine Empower Field. Right until… it wasn’t.

Instead of a signature upset arsenic 17-point underdogs to No. 5 Texas A&M, the Buffs were connected the incorrect extremity of a bitter 10-7 defeat. A precocious Aggies’ touchdown was the quality and spoiled an different beardown show by the CU defense.

CU led 7-3 until conscionable nether 3 minutes left, erstwhile Aggies backup backmost Zach Calzada — who had struggled for astir of the time aft replacing injured starter Haynes King — connected with Isaiah Spiller for an 18-yard touchdown that decided the game.

The Buffs’ defence kept CU successful the game, limiting Texas A&M to 291 full yards. CU took afloat vantage of the handicap presented Calzada, who was inconsistent and besides had a fourth-quarter touchdown tally reversed by reappraisal erstwhile it was confirmed helium fumbled astatine the extremity line.

Colorado came retired with underdog vigor from the opening footwear contempt determination being arsenic overmuch maroon successful the stadium arsenic black-and-gold, if not more.

The Buffs forced a three-and-out connected the opening possession, and connected the Aggies’ 2nd drive, stuffed King connected on a tally and knocked him retired of the game. Texas A&M’s Seth Small past missed a 53-yard tract goal.

King limped to the locker country with the assistance of trainers, and Calzada came connected for the Aggies’ adjacent series. That changed the code of the crippled arsenic Calzada looked mislaid successful the pocket, airmailing and under-throwing passes arsenic the visiting discourtesy screeched to a halt.

Meanwhile, the Buffs recovered a bushed connected their 3rd thrust aft their archetypal 2 possessions ended successful an interception and a punt. Quarterback Brendon Lewis engineered a nine-play, 65-yard thrust that was capped by Jarek Broussard’s two-yard TD tally to springiness CU a 7-0 pb precocious successful the archetypal quarter.

But arsenic CU’s defence continued to dominate, its discourtesy squandered opportunities to adhd to an aboriginal lead. And it did adjacent to thing successful the 2nd half, allowing Texas A&M to claw backmost into the game.

Freshman kicker Cole Becker missed a 46-yard tract extremity to extremity a promising drive. On CU’s adjacent possession, the Buffs drove down the tract but turned the shot implicit connected downs astatine the Aggies’ 5-yard-line. Lewis was stuffed connected consecutive backmost keepers.

Following six consecutive three-and-outs, Texas A&M yet recovered immoderate traction conscionable earlier fractional with its archetypal first down with 1:46 near successful the 2nd quarter. That led to a 41-yard tract extremity by Small arsenic CU led 7-3 astatine the break.

In the 2nd half, it became wide the crippled was to beryllium decided by the defenses. Neither broadside scored successful a 3rd 4th arsenic each 7 possessions ended successful a punt.

The antiaircraft slugfest continued into the last quarter. But Texas A&M got immoderate momentum rolling connected its opening thrust of the frame, and Calzada’s 29-yard walk to Jalen Wydermyer acceptable the Aggies up astatine the Buffs’ 20-yard enactment with 10:16 left. The play was besides Texas A&M’s archetypal of 20-plus yards.

On 3rd-and-3, Calzada ran for a 13-yard touchdown that appeared to enactment the Aggies up astatine the 8:45 mark. But arsenic Calzada stretched the shot toward the extremity line, it came loose, and CU recovered. The touchdown was reviewed and overturned arsenic a touchback, to the maddened delight of the Buffs’ assemblage and stunned soundlessness of the marooned parts of the stands.

But Calzada bounced backmost the adjacent possession, and deed Spiller for a TD connected third-and-long to springiness Texas A&M its archetypal pb with 2:41 left. CU turned the shot implicit connected downs its adjacent possession.

CU (1-1) present turns its attraction to hosting Minnesota astatine Folsom Field adjacent week. The Golden Gophers hung connected for a 31-26 triumph implicit Miami of Ohio connected Saturday for their archetypal triumph of the season.