The Colorado football team just did something it hasn’t done in 19 years.

Deion Sanders’ Buffs needed a signature win and that’s exactly what they got on Friday night, knocking off No. 14 Houston. Colorado lost 35 straight games against top-15 opponents entering Week 11. That streak is now over.

Here are three takeaways from the Colorado football team’s 42-32 win over Houston.

Go-Go offense gets going

Brennan Marion ruined the Houston head coaching debut of Willie Fritz in 2024. On Friday night, the Colorado offensive coordinator spoiled the Cougars’ chances at a Big 12 championship.

Marion’s Go-Go offense played its best game against a Power 4 opponent this season and explosive plays were the story of the night.

A 38-yard rushing TD by Colorado RB Richard Young was the first of three TDs scored by the Buffs in the second quarter. DeKalon Taylor showed off his game-breaking speed on a 67-yard rushing TD and less than two minutes later, Jaquail Smith broke off a 32-yard TD run.

The Colorado football team scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 21-20 halftime lead and that momentum carried into the second half.

Joseph Williams took a pass from Isaac Wilson 53 yards for a TD to open the third quarter. It was the Buffs’ fourth TD of 30-plus yards on the night.

On the next drive, true freshman QB Kaneal Sweetwyne gave Colorado a commanding 35-20 lead with a 14-yard TD on his first play of the night after Isaac Wilson left the game momentarily (lower-body injury). Wilson played arguably his best game as a Buff, completing 68% of his passes for 217 yards. He threw an INT that was tipped but he also ran for 32 yards, including some clutch first-down conversions.

The Colorado football team scored a season-high 35 points against Power 4 opponents on Friday night. It was exactly the kind of performance Deion Sanders, Brennan Marion and the Buffs needed.

Turnovers spark upset

Colorado safety Randon Fontenette said on Tuesday that he’s “starving” for a turnover.

The Buffs hadn’t had one in three weeks before Friday night when Fontenette sacked Houston QB Conner Weigman, forcing a fumble recovered by Santana Hopper. That led to Joseph Williams’ TD catch.

Colorado’s defense forced a turnover on downs on the following possession which led to Kaneal Sweetwyne’s rushing TD. A Boo Carter interception late in the third quarter (his first of the season) helped the Buffs seal the massive upset.

Fontenette had a game-high 12 tackles (11 solo) and Colorado LB Gideon ESPN Lampron (10 tackles) became the first Power 4 player to reach 100 tackles this season. LB Tyler Martinez played for the first time since suffering an injury in the Big 12 opener and totaled four tackles (one TFL).

Chris Marve is one of the most underrated defensive coordinators in the country.

Colorado football team breaks 23-year-old drought

Friday night was the Colorado football team’s best win of the Coach Prime era.

The Buffs were 9.5-point underdogs to Houston and hadn’t beaten a top-15 team since 2007 vs. Oklahoma. Not only does the win quiet some of the noise surrounding Deion Sanders’ future at Colorado, it also keeps the Buffs’ bowl eligibility alive.

It was the kind of win that can re-energize a fanbase and restore hope in a coaching staff.

The Colorado football team (4-6) now must win each of its two remaining games (at Cincinnati, vs. UCF) to get to their first bowl game since the 2024 Alamo Bowl. The Buffs will try to win back-to-back games against conference opponents for the first time in nearly two years.

Follow Colorado Buffaloes beat reporter Scott Procter on X.