Tag: colorado

Bethune-Cookman's Jimmie Robinson III (6) takes a handoff from QB Dominiq Ponder during the Wildcats' spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. Bethune 8

Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder’s BAC double legal limit in fatal wreck

Posted on | by Field Level Media

An autopsy report released Tuesday revealed Dominiq Ponder had a blood alcohol limit more than twice the legal limit when he lost control of his 2023 Tesla and struck a utility pole in a fatal accident on March 1.

The details released by the Boulder County Coroner’s office showed Ponder, a 23-year-old who played two games as a quarterback at Colorado in 2025, had a blood alcohol level of .167. The legal limit in Colorado is .08.

A Florida native who transferred from Bethune-Cookman, Ponder’s family said the Dominiq Ponder 7/22 Foundation was established to “provide support to student-athletes, children’s hospitals and families dealing with medical challenges, and assist with responsible decision-making.”

Ponder died from “multiple blunt force injuries,” the report said. His vehicle slid down an embankment after striking the electric pole and responders pronounced Ponder dead at the scene of the accident.

State police in Colorado said an investigation into additional details of the accident, including whether Ponder was distract, the speed he was traveling at the time, other factors causing impairment, was not yet complete.

–Field Level Media

Naples High's Dominiq Ponder looks to throw the ball during the FBU Freshman All-American football game at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. FBU Freshman All-American Bowl

Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder, 23, dies in car accident

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died Sunday, head coach Deion Sanders said in a social media post. Ponder was 23.

Per reports from DNVR Buffs and FOX 31, Ponder was confirmed to be the driver of a 2023 Tesla that was involved in a single-car crash around 3 a.m. Sunday in Boulder County.

“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Sanders wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”

One of Ponder’s teammates in the quarterback room, Colton Allen, also responded to the news in a social media post.

“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life. What happened feels so final. It feels heavy. It hurts.”

Ponder was entering his third year in Boulder after redshirting at Bethune-Cookman in 2023 and transferring to Colorado. He saw his first game action in 2025, getting into two games as a reserve with one pass attempt and two carries.

The native of Opa Locka, Fla., would have been a candidate to move up Colorado’s depth chart in 2026. His death comes the day before Colorado was scheduled to start spring football practices.

–Field Level Media

Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Warren Sapp before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Hall of Famer Warren Sapp won’t return to Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Warren Sapp is leaving his post on fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders’ coaching staff at Colorado, the university announced.

Sapp has spent the past two seasons with the Buffaloes, most recently as a pass rush coordinator.

“Warren Sapp has resigned from the CU football coaching staff to pursue other opportunities,” the university said in a statement. “CU Athletics thanks Warren for his contributions to our football program over the last two seasons and for his commitment to our student-athletes.”

Sapp, 53, is the second member of the coaching staff to depart from the school this week. Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston accepted an NFL position with the Broncos, with ESPN reporting that he’ll serve as Denver’s defensive passing game coordinator and primary defensive backs coach.

ESPN reported linebackers coach Chris Marve will replace Livingston as the Buffaloes’ defensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Mar 3, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach Robert Livingston looks on during combine drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Colorado DC Robert Livingston leaving for Broncos assistant post

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Denver Broncos have added staff without leaving the state, hiring Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston to be defensive passing game coordinator and primary defensive backs coach, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Livingston, 40, replaces Jim Leonhard, who left Denver earlier this month to be the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator.

It’s a return to the NFL after two years with the Buffaloes for Livingston, who spent nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (2015-23), eight as secondary coach. Livingston was a scout and then a special teams assistant with the Bengals in 2014 and 2015 when current Broncos DC Vance Joseph was Cincinnati’s defensive backs coach.

Colorado made dramatic improvement in 2024 in its first season Livingston worked under head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes jumped from 121st in scoring defense in 2023 to 43rd in 2024, allowing 23.1 points as well as 351.9 yards per game while finishing 9-4 (7-2 Big 12).

Last season, however, after the team lost Heisman Trophy winning receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, safety Shilo Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and other starters to the NFL, Colorado went 3-9 (1-8). The Buffaloes yielded 30.5 points (111th) and 425.7 yards (121st) per game.

ESPN reported that Colorado linebackers coach Chris Marve will be the school’s new defensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Colorado adds receiving leader Danny Scudero

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Outgoing San Jose State wide receiver Danny Scudero, the nation’s leader in receiving yards, committed to Colorado, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.

The semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver, announced Friday that he would enter the transfer portal.

Scudero had 88 catches for 1,291 yards and 10 touchdowns this season with the Spartans, who finished with a 3-9 record. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Scudero, who is 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, began his career at Sacramento State and took a redshirt season as a freshman. He made 53 receptions for 667 yards and five touchdowns in 2024 and transferred to San Jose State in 2025.

–Field Level Media

Raleek Brown (255 yards), No. 25 Arizona State pull away from Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Raleek Brown rushed 22 times for a career-high 255 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, to lead No. 25 Arizona State to a 42-17 victory over Colorado on Saturday night at Boulder, Colo.

The Sun Devils (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) have an opportunity to advance to their second straight Big 12 championship game based on various tiebreakers if they beat visiting Arizona on Friday at Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State rushed for 355 yards against Colorado with Kanye Udoh contributing nine rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Brown’s 88-yard touchdown run, which put Arizona State ahead 28-17 with 13:31 left in regulation, came one play after Colorado’s Ronald Coleman fumbled and Keith Abney II recovered the ball for the Sun Devils.

Colorado (3-8, 1-7) suffered that lone turnover that led to seven points for Arizona State. The Buffaloes scored only three points following the Sun Devils’ four turnovers.

Arizona State led 13-7 at halftime after having difficulty on third-down conversions, succeeding on 2-of-10 tries in the first half.

Third-down conversions were not an issue in the second half because the Sun Devils rushed for 236 yards after halftime.

Colorado took a 14-13 lead after true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis engineered a scoring drive on the first possession of the second half.

The drive ended on Lewis’ 22-yard pass to Omarion Miller with 12:02 left in the third quarter.

Lewis completed 19 of 38 pass attempts for 161 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Arizona State answered Colorado’s scoring drive with Jeff Sims connecting on a 68-yard touchdown pass with Derek Eusebio with 10:45 left in the third quarter.

Sims’ two-point conversion pass to Khamari Anderson was successful, giving Arizona State a 21-14 lead.

Sims finished with 206 passing yards while completing 11 of 24 passes with two touchdowns and one interception.

After Sims fumbled and Shaun Myers made the return to the Arizona State 9, Alejandro Mata made a 28-yard field goal and cut the lead to 21-17 with 5:25 left in the third quarter.

Brown’s 88-yard scoring run was the first of three straight possessions with a touchdown to end the game for Arizona State.

Udoh and Jason Brown Jr. each had 3-yard touchdown runs to help the Sun Devils pull away.

–Field Level Media

No. 25 Arizona State winning with backup QB, takes on struggling Colorado

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 25 Arizona State faces Colorado on Saturday in Boulder, Colo., riding a two-game winning streak under veteran backup quarterback Jeff Sims, while the Buffaloes look to the future with freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis.

Colorado (3-7, 1-6 Big 12) is assured of the second losing season in Deion Sanders’ three-year tenure as head coach following the 29-22 loss at West Virginia on Nov. 8.

A bright spot for the Buffaloes, who are on a three-game losing skid, was the play of Lewis in his first collegiate start against the Mountaineers.

He finished 22 of 35 for 299 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the ninth true freshman to start a game at quarterback for Colorado and the fifth since 2000.

The 299 passing yards were the second-most by a freshman in a starting debut, behind Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, who passed for 510 yards against TCU in the 2023 season opener.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said Monday that Lewis’ performance with Colorado is indicative of high-caliber recruits wanting to play for Deion Sanders at Colorado.

He defended Deion Sanders’ performance as head coach by saying, “You know, he’s won 300 percent more games this year than the year before he took over? That’s pretty good. I think he’s done a great job there.”

Colorado was 1-11 in 2022, the season before Deion Sanders was hired.

“I haven’t forgotten how to coach in a year,” Sanders said Tuesday in his weekly press conference. “A lot of these wonderful coaches out there that’s not winning haven’t forgotten how to coach.”

Sims, a redshirt senior formerly of Georgia Tech and Nebraska, has led Arizona State (7-3, 5-2) to wins over Iowa State and West Virginia after Sam Leavitt suffered a season-ending foot injury in a loss to Houston on Oct. 25.

Against Iowa State and West Virginia, Sims passed for 384 yards while completing 32 of 52 passes with four touchdowns and an interception.

He rushed for 309 yards on 46 carries, including a 228-yard performance on 29 rushes against Iowa State.

–Field Level Media

Deion Sanders insists Colorado has ‘right man’ despite losing season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Colorado football team is headed for its second losing record in three years under Deion Sanders, but Coach Prime isn’t about to concede defeat in the big picture.

Addressing questions about his job security, Sanders said Tuesday, “You’ve got the right man. I promise you, you do. And I’m going to prove that to you. Just give me an opportunity and a little more time, and I’m going to prove that to you.”

A 29-22 loss at West Virginia on Nov. 8 left the Buffaloes with a 3-7 record, 1-6 in Big 12 Conference play. Colorado, with two games remaining, no longer has a shot at a .500 campaign.

The Buffaloes went 4-8 in 2023 during Sanders’ first year on the job, finishing last in the Big 12 at 1-8. Last year, they improved to 9-4 overall, 7-2 in the conference, behind Heisman Trophy-winning two-way player Travis Hunter and star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of the head coach.

That led to Deion Sanders signing a five-year, $54 million extension early this year. However, with Hunter and Shedeur Sanders gone this fall to the NFL, the Buffaloes have regressed.

In addition, Deion Sanders has dealt with health problems in 2025, most notably cancer that led to the removal of his bladder.

Colorado athletic director Rick George will be leaving his post next spring, but he tweeted on Tuesday about Deion Sanders’ job: “The seat is not hot. We believe in what is ahead for this program.”

–Field Level Media

Freshman QBs face off as West Virginia hosts Colorado

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West Virginia is riding high as it enters a Big 12 tilt against a reeling Colorado squad on Saturday in Morgantown, W. Va.

While the Mountaineers and Buffaloes share identical records at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in conference, it’s West Virginia, in the first year of Rich Rodriguez’s second stint atop the program, looks headed in the right direction.

The Mountaineers went on the road last week and ran all over then-No. 22 Houston 45-35 in their biggest win of the season. Diore Hubbard rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown. Freshman quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. had 65 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Cyncir Bowers also rushed for 65 yards with a score. Overall, West Virginia racked up a 246-82 edge in rushing yards against the Cougars.

“He played pretty well,” said Rodriguez about Fox. “Especially for a true freshman. He’s taken steps and has played beyond his years in the last two games. You wouldn’t think he’s a true freshman that got thrust into that role.”

Colorado is 0-3 away from home, and coach Deion Sanders has his hands full when it comes to naming a starting quarterback. The Buffaloes were rolled at home 52-17 by Arizona last week, and all three signal callers spent time behind center. Kaidon Salter completed 11 of 15 passes for just 49 yards with
a touchdown and an interception.

Ryan Staub entered in relief and threw two picks in two passes and was sent to the bench in favor of 5-star freshman Julian Lewis, who completed 9 of 17 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

The Georgia native’s second pass was a 59-yard touchdown to Omarion Miller. Lewis gets the nod this week to make his first career start for the Buffaloes.

“He’s a young kid. He’s going to make young-kid mistakes,” Sanders said. “It’s up to the staff to get him prepared and to get him ready so he can be concise and precise. He has to make quick reads and get the ball out of there. He has to run when he feels pressure and just be himself. Do what he’s been doing his whole life.”

-Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Defensively challenged Arizona, Colorado desperate for a win

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Optimistic fans at Arizona and Colorado are looking at their remaining schedules and trying to find enough wins to become bowl eligible.

It’s safe to suggest that Arizona (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) counts Colorado as a potential win while the Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4) are doing the same with the Wildcats as they prepare for Saturday’s showdown in Boulder, Colo.

Arizona, which comes off a bye week, wants to snap a two-game skid. Colorado spent last Saturday suffering a 53-7 loss at Utah.

Home field could be a big advantage for the Buffaloes. They’re 3-2 at home with the only setbacks near-upsets of Georgia Tech (27-20 loss in the season opener) and BYU (24-21 defeat on Sept. 27).

Meanwhile, Arizona has lost its only two road games this season against Iowa State and Houston.

“When I look at Colorado, I think they are a team that is incredibly tough at home,” said Arizona coach Brent Brennan, who is 1-6 on the road in his two seasons with the Wildcats. “We know going into this that we’re going to have to play in an incredible atmosphere. It’s homecoming. It’s sold-out.

“It’s going to be a really challenging atmosphere. Crowd noise, elevation, all that good stuff.”

Another concern for Brennan is the Wildcats’ rush defense, which yielded 490 yards on the ground in its losses the last two games — 258 to BYU and 232 at Houston.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday that he had yet to return to his home after the loss at Utah because of the amount of work needed in all phases after the blowout loss.

“Last week was a tremendous surprise because of the great practices we had,” he said. “These young men have responded tremendously, and I’m proud of them. I’m trying to push every button I can.”

Arizona’s hopes rest on quarterback Noah Fifita, who hit 24 of 26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns on Oct. 18 at Houston. Fifita has completed 65.9% of his passes for 1,829 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions in seven games this season.

“The kid, to me, is a pro,” Sanders said. “He can play.”

Fifita gets a chance to burnish his reputation against a Colorado unit that ranks No. 119 in team defense in FBS, yielding 427.6 yards a game.

–Field Level Media