Sanders Calls Out Colorado Players for Laughing After 41-7 Northwestern Loss
The short version
- Deion Sanders said he confronted Colorado players he saw laughing after a 41-7 loss at Northwestern on September 19, 2026.
- The defeat dropped Colorado to 2-1 after opening wins over Georgia Tech and Weber State.
- Julian Lewis threw for 168 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss.
- Northwestern's Aidan Chiles accounted for five touchdowns in the win.
- Colorado opens Big 12 play at Baylor on September 26.
Coach Deion Sanders said he confronted Colorado players he saw laughing after a 34-point defeat that dropped the Buffaloes to 2-1 before Big 12 play.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he spoke directly to players he saw laughing in the aftermath of a 41-7 road loss to Northwestern on September 19, 2026. The defeat dropped the Buffaloes to 2-1 and ended the unbeaten start they carried into Evanston.
Speaking to reporters, Sanders said the scene bothered him because he was upset and walking behind the players as they laughed. He added that he could not grasp how anyone could find anything funny about losing. Sanders stressed his comments applied only to the players involved and not to the roster as a whole, and he said the issue would be handled going forward.
At his September 22 news conference, Sanders disclosed that a few players were no longer part of the program, though he declined to name them. It was not the first warning: during the week before the game, he had told the team it had not proven anything despite opening the season with victories.
Colorado had opened 2026 with a 14-13 road win at Georgia Tech in Atlanta on September 3, followed by a 52-21 home win over Weber State at Folsom Field on September 12. The trip to Northwestern was the Buffaloes' third game and second on the road.
On the field, Northwestern controlled the contest from the start. The Wildcats led 21-0 at halftime, scoring 7 points in the first quarter and 14 in the second while Colorado committed three turnovers before the break.
Colorado's lone score came in the third quarter, when Julian Lewis connected with Joseph Williams on a 50-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-7. Northwestern responded with two third-quarter touchdowns and two fourth-quarter field goals to close out the 34-point win at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
Turnovers plagued the Buffaloes throughout. They finished with four giveaways, including two interceptions thrown by Lewis, who completed 19 of 29 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown. Colorado also lost two fumbles, repeatedly handing Northwestern favorable field position. The team gained 348 total yards but managed just 7 points.
Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles accounted for five touchdowns, completing 17 of 22 passes for 241 yards and three scores while adding two rushing touchdowns. He became the first Wildcats quarterback since Zak Kustok in 2001 to record at least three passing and two rushing touchdowns in a single game. Northwestern finished with 423 total yards. Per Denver Sports, Colorado also had three turnovers on downs, nine penalties, and roughly a 13-minute time-of-possession deficit.
Colorado begins Big 12 play next, traveling to face Baylor on September 26 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. The conference slate continues with Texas Tech visiting Boulder on October 3 and Utah on October 17, plus later road games against Oklahoma State, Arizona State and Cincinnati. In high school action on the Global Sportscast schedule, Western plays at Peebles High School on Friday, September 25 at 6:30 PM EDT.
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