Two Colorado transfers set for reunion against former team Utah

Colorado football's next game carries an added personal connection for quarterback Isaac Wilson and cornerback Jason Stokes Jr., who transferred from Utah before this season. The Buffaloes host the Utes on Oct. 17 at Folsom Field, giving both players a chance to face their former teammates.

Wilson's starting status remains unsettled after Colorado's 29-7 loss to Texas Tech, while Stokes is working toward returning after missing that game with an injury. Their situations add another layer to Colorado's bye-week preparations.

QB Isaac Wilson

Wilson spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons at Utah, starting seven games as a true freshman in 2024. He finished that season with 1,510 passing yards and 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.

His first Colorado start produced 290 passing yards and a touchdown against Texas Tech, along with three interceptions. The performance left him focused on correcting mistakes ahead of the reunion.

"We’ve got to flush it; we’ve got to learn from our mistakes," Wilson said after the Texas Tech loss. "We’re going to have a good two weeks to think about it and sit on it."

CB Jason Stokes Jr.

Stokes appeared in all 12 Utah games in 2025, primarily on special teams, before finding expanded defensive opportunities at Colorado. He earned a starting role and recorded his first career interception against Baylor.

His return against Utah remains unconfirmed, although he described the matchup as meaningful before the season.

"That’s for sure a big game for me," Stokes said at Colorado's 2026 Fall Sports Media Day. "But we've got to take it one game at a time."

Week 7️⃣ Announcement
⌚️: 8:15PM MT
🖥️: ESPN OR ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/b85ISoCCcd

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 7, 2026

Earlier connections between the programs

Other notable connections between the Utes and Buffs are former placekicker Cole Becker, who made the reverse move, transferring to Utah in January 2023 after converting 25 of 33 field-goal attempts during two Colorado seasons. He finished his total four-year college career (including his time at Colorado) with 270 total points scored and 58 made field goals.

The Sanford family also connects the programs, as Mike Sanford Sr. served as Utah's offensive coordinator when Alex Smith was Utah's starting quarterback during the Urban Meyer years. His son, Mike Sanford Jr., was Colorado's offensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2022.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Two Colorado transfers set for reunion against former team Utah