Upwards of 50,000 tickets had been sold by Wednesday as the Buffaloes play at home for the first time following a 14-13 win at Georgia Tech, a game in which CU scored a touchdown with 37 seconds left to open its season. Folsom Field’s listed capacity is 51,400.

The Wildcats are 1-1 overall after a 47-42 loss last week at Southern Utah.

Colorado is paying WSU $700,000 for the game.

MEET THE BUFFALOES

Hall of Famer Deion Sanders is in his fourth season as head coach at Colorado.

Mike Stewart, Associated Press

He gave the Game 1 start at quarterback to Julian Lewis (No. 10) after the sophomore started two games last season. Lewis was 14 of 27 for 124 yards and one touchdown last week.

The run game is where Colorado wants to live, with former Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion bringing his “Go-Go” offense to Boulder. The Buffs gave three running backs at least 10 carries at Georgia Tech: Micah Welch (No. 29) had 15 carries for 58 yards, Damian Henderson II (No. 26) totaled 11 carries for 62 yards, and Jaquail Smith (No. 23) added 10 carries for 42 yards.

Defensively, senior safety Randon Fontenette (No. 7) led CU with eight tackles, while linebackers Liona Lefau (No. 17) and Gideon ESPN Lampron (No. 44) each had seven. Colorado tallied three sacks last week, all from junior defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. (No. 56).

On special teams, Colorado attempted one field goal, from 37 yards, and had it blocked. Punter Damon Greaves averaged 40.8 yards over six punts.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

Through two games, Weber State averages 36 points per game on 417 yards, including 6.3 yards per play.

Defensively, WSU has allowed 38 points per game on 499.5 yards, including 6.7 yards per play.

The Wildcats are minus-two in the turnover margin, losing three giveaways (two interceptions, one fumble) while gaining one takeaway (one interception) — though those numbers don’t account for a blocked punt (which was returned for a TD). WSU leads FCS with three blocked kicks (one punt, two PATs).

WSU averages four penalties per game for 34.5 yards.

Colorado had a pedestrian offensive game at Georgia Tech (at 307 total yards on 4.0 yards per play), though its net rushing total of 183 yards began to show what the Buffs hope Marion’s offense can look like. CU will look to increase its yards-per-carry average from 3.7.

In giving up 14 points to GT, the Buffs put together a strong defensive showing. CU allowed 288 yards on 5.3 yards per play.

Colorado is plus-one in the turnover margin; the Buffs did not turn the ball over and recovered one of the three fumbles it forced from Georgia Tech.

CU had six penalties for 60 yards in that game.

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 158 in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 266 total teams). Colorado is No. 58. Including home-field advantage, his formula favors Colorado by 24 points.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 53 in FCS (128 teams) and Colorado at No. 65 in FBS (of 138 teams). His formula predicts Colorado taking a 49-12 victory at 99% probability.

D Ratings predicts a Colorado win of 40-15 at 95% probability.

WEATHER

The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 74 degrees, with a mild breeze from the east, at the 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Boulder. That will bump up to 77 or 78 degrees by the game’s end, in what should be a great day for football.

TV & RADIO

The game will stream on the ESPN+ subscription service, available on the ESPN app or WatchESPN.com. Peter Sousa and Leger Douzable will be on the mic.

Weber State’s radio call, with Carl Arky and former WSU player Dave Stireman, airs in Utah on 103.1 FM and online at coast103.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES

This is the first meeting between the two programs. WSU has zero wins over what would now be considered power-conference FBS programs. The Wildcats’ last FBS win was at Utah State in 2022, which was its first FBS victory in 30 seasons and only its third total such win.