Nobody expected it. Seriously. When the Colorado Buffaloes rolled into Fort Worth in September 2023, the betting lines were basically screaming that the Buffs didn't stand a chance. TCU was coming off a national championship appearance. Colorado was coming off a 1-11 season that felt like a fever dream. But that's the thing about the Colorado Buffaloes football vs TCU Horned Frogs football matchup—it has a weird way of rewriting the script of college football right when you think you have it figured out.
The Day the Earth Shook in Fort Worth
It was 100 degrees on the field. The air was thick. Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders was making his FBS coaching debut, and everyone—and I mean everyone—was waiting for the experiment to fail. Instead, we got one of the most electric games in recent memory.
Shedeur Sanders didn't just play well; he set a school record with 510 passing yards. Imagine that. First game in a Power Five conference and you just casually drop 500+ yards on the national runners-up. Then there was Travis Hunter. The man played over 120 snaps. He was catching passes as a receiver and snagging interceptions as a defensive back. It was exhausting just watching him.
The final score was 45-42. A shootout. A track meet. A statement.
But if you look at the history of Colorado Buffaloes football vs TCU Horned Frogs football, the 2023 game was actually a revenge tour. The year before, in 2022, TCU had absolutely dismantled Colorado in Boulder, winning 38-13. That 2022 game was the beginning of the end for the old era of Colorado football. It showed how far the program had fallen, while the 2023 game showed exactly how fast Coach Prime could flip the script.
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By the Numbers: A Series of Extremes
Honestly, the stats between these two are kind of wild because they never seem to play a "normal" game. It’s either a blowout or a heart-stopper.
- 2022: TCU 38, Colorado 13 (The "Welcome to Reality" game)
- 2023: Colorado 45, TCU 42 (The "Do You Believe Now?" game)
- 2025: TCU 35, Colorado 21 (The Big 12 Conference Clash)
The 2025 matchup was particularly interesting because it was the first time they met as conference foes. With Colorado moving back to the Big 12, this isn't just a "flash in the pan" non-conference scheduling quirk anymore. It’s a legitimate rivalry. In that October 2025 game, TCU’s Josh Hoover threw for four touchdowns, proving that the Horned Frogs still had plenty of bite left even after the departure of the Max Duggan-era stars.
Why This Matchup Matters for the Big 12
When people talk about the "new" Big 12, they usually talk about geography or TV markets. Boring stuff. But the Colorado Buffaloes football vs TCU Horned Frogs football rivalry is the actual heartbeat of the new conference. It represents the clash of two different ways to build a program.
On one side, you have Sonny Dykes at TCU. He’s built a culture of "Hypnotoad" resilience—finding guys who might have been overlooked and turning them into a cohesive, disciplined unit that can compete for titles. On the other side, you have the "Prime Effect." It’s flashy. It’s portal-heavy. It’s high-risk and high-reward.
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When these two teams meet, it’s a litmus test for the entire sport. Can you buy a roster through the transfer portal and beat a team that has been building through traditional recruiting and stability? Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes, like in 2025, the answer is a resounding no.
The Stars Who Defined the Games
You can't talk about these games without talking about Dylan Edwards. In the 2023 upset, the freshman was a human highlight reel. He had four touchdowns. Four! He was catching short passes and turning them into 75-yard sprints. It felt like TCU simply didn't have anyone fast enough to catch him.
But then look at how TCU adjusted in the 2025 meeting. They played a much more disciplined brand of football. They didn't let the big plays happen. They forced Kaidon Salter—who took over at QB for Colorado after Shedeur moved on—to make difficult reads under pressure. It wasn't as "fun" as the 2023 shootout, but it was a masterclass in defensive adjustments.
What to Watch for in Future Matchups
If you’re a betting person or just a fan who likes to look ahead, there are a few things that consistently decide the outcome when these two play.
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First, look at the trenches. In every single Colorado Buffaloes football vs TCU Horned Frogs football game, the team that wins the line of scrimmage wins the game. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. In 2023, Colorado’s O-line gave Shedeur just enough time to be a surgeon. In 2025, TCU’s defensive front, led by guys like Devean Deal, absolutely lived in the Colorado backfield.
Second, watch the turnovers. These games are usually high-possession affairs. If one team gives the ball away twice in the red zone, they’re done. Travis Hunter’s goal-line interception in 2023 was probably the single most important play in the history of the Prime era. Without that pick, TCU wins that game, and the "Prime" hype might have died before it even started.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Check the Depth Chart: Because Colorado uses the portal so heavily, their roster changes more than almost any team in the country. Don't rely on last year's stats.
- Home Field Advantage is Real: Amon G. Carter Stadium is a loud, hostile place, especially for night games. Conversely, Folsom Field's altitude is a nightmare for teams coming from the Texas heat.
- The "Third Phase" Matters: Don't sleep on special teams. Major Everhart’s 86-yard kickoff return for TCU in the 2023 game almost swung the momentum back for good. These games are often decided by a single big return or a missed field goal.
The reality is that Colorado Buffaloes football vs TCU Horned Frogs football has become a "must-watch" TV event. Whether you love the Buffs or hate the hype, you’re going to tune in. And that’s exactly what college football needs right now.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, keep a close eye on the Big 12 standings and the mid-season transfer portal entries. The rosters for these teams are fluid, and a single commitment in December can change the entire dynamic of the game next October. Monitor the injury reports for key playmakers like the starting quarterbacks, as both programs have historically struggled when forced to go deep into their depth charts at the signal-caller position.