Colorado Stuns No. 14 Houston 42-32, Crushing CFP Hopes

Q: Will Richard Young's explosive emergence as a lead back be the ultimate catalyst to save Colorado's bowl eligibility this year?

Yes — if Colorado reaches a bowl, Richard Young is likely to be the central reason, but not the only one. Young’s emergence has changed the shape of Colorado’s offense at the right time. In the last two wins that kept bowl hopes alive, he has produced like a true lead back: 120 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas State, then 99 yards and two more scores in the upset of No. 14 Houston. Just as important, Colorado’s offense has looked more stable when it runs through him. The Buffs rushed for a season-best 249 yards against Houston and are now notably better when they clear 180 rushing yards. That matters because Young’s rise helps solve two of Colorado’s biggest problems. It takes pressure off quarterback Isaac Wilson, who has been more effective when he is not forced into a high-volume passing game, and it gives Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense the physical identity it had lacked for much of the season. Deion Sanders has already rewarded Young with consecutive starts, and the staff now has evidence that he can handle feature-back volume. Still, bowl eligibility will not hinge on Young alone. Colorado is 4-6 and must beat Cincinnati and UCF. To do that, it also needs cleaner defense, fewer penalties, and continued timely takeaways. Houston still gained 477 yards, which shows the Buffs remain vulnerable. So Young looks like the most important catalyst, not a standalone savior. If he keeps this level, Colorado’s bowl path becomes realistic; without him, it becomes much harder.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Nov 14

Colorado erased a 20-7 deficit and beat No. 14 Houston 42-32 at home, handing the Cougars a loss that effectively ended their outside College Football Playoff path.
A 28-point burst spanning the second and third quarters flipped the game, with Kaneal Sweetyne and Richard Young keying a ground attack that produced 249 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Houston actually outgained Colorado 477-466, but two costly turnovers and a failed fourth-quarter two-point try kept the comeback from gaining real traction.
For Colorado, the upset was its first win over a top-15 opponent since 2007 and the biggest result of a struggling season, strengthening Deion Sanders' case to keep his job.