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Join us for the Colorado Buffaloes - Houston Cougars game today at 1:00 p.m. MT in Kansas City, Missouri.

March 13th, 2025

Who: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Houston Cougars

Where: T-Mobile Arena - Kansas City, Missouri

When: 1:00 p.m. MST

TV: ESPN2

Radio: AM 850 KOA

Houston Blog:

Line: Colorado +12.5

Welcome to the Ralphie Report as the Colorado Buffaloes get ready to take on the Houston Cougars in Kansas City, Missouri for the third game of the Big 12 Tournament.

No need to go anywhere else today, The Ralphie Report has everything you need and we welcome you to weigh in with your live game analysis, critiques, observations and predictions.

Check out the old game thread from the Hawaii game to see how it works. Throw all your comments about the game below and let’s get this thing rolling. If you don’t have an account, sign up here for free and enjoy all that our site has to offer.

Make sure to follow us on BlueSky, X and Facebook. Go Buffs!

by Jon Woods
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Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

What’s next for Colorado’s speedster?

Jimmy Horn Jr. entered the 2024 season looking to build on a strong college career, but injuries derailed his ability to put together a full campaign. He missed nearly half the season, finishing with 37 receptions for 441 yards and one touchdown, averaging 11.9 yards per catch. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, they don’t reflect his explosiveness when healthy or his ability to create separation, which has been his calling card.

Despite the limited production, Horn still earned an invitation to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, where he had a chance to showcase his athleticism and remind scouts why he’s a legitimate NFL prospect. His testing numbers were solid, though some may have expected slightly better results given his reputation as a speedster.

Combine Results:​

• 40-Yard Dash: 4.46 seconds – a strong time but slightly slower than many expected, as some projected him to break into the 4.3 range.
• 10-Yard Split: 1.54 seconds – only 0.05 seconds off the fastest time at the position, showing elite short-area burst.
• Vertical Jump: 38 inches – tied for 10th among receivers, proving his lower-body explosiveness.
• Broad Jump: 10-foot-8 – an impressive number that ranks among the top for receivers.
• 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.41 seconds – demonstrating his lateral quickness and ability to change direction.

While Horn’s speed didn’t quite match expectations, his vertical, broad jump and shuttle times were among the best at the position, reinforcing his athleticism beyond straight-line speed.

NFL Combine Grades and Draft Projection​

Horn received mixed results from the official NFL Combine grading system:

• Overall Grade: 5.85, which ranks as a backup or special teamer
• Production Score: 48th
• Athleticism Score: 37th

Horn’s NFL Mock Draft Database projection currently places him as a seventh-round pick, meaning he will likely be a late-round selection or a priority undrafted free agent. His injury-shortened season and less-than-elite top-end speed may cause teams to hesitate, but his versatility, return ability, and quick-twitch athleticism make him a compelling option for teams in need of a slot receiver or return specialist.

NFL Outlook​

While Horn may not be projected as an immediate impact starter, his skill set makes him an ideal late-round flier for teams looking for explosive depth at receiver. His best path to an NFL roster could be through special teams, where his quickness and elusiveness could make him a valuable returner.

If Horn can impress at Colorado’s Pro Day, particularly by improving on his 40-yard dash, he could boost his stock into the sixth round and cement himself as a draftable prospect. His ability to separate in the short game, combined with his agility and return skills, gives him a real shot to carve out a role in the NFL—even if it takes some time to find the right fit.

by Jacob.Thompson
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Tad Boyle is still Tad Boyle

WOOHOO! What’s more fun than a disgusting game where no one can make shots!?

Tad Boyle and the Colorado Buffaloes have evolved a lot over his 15 years, but CU’s 67-60 win over WVU at the Big 12 Tourney was a classic rock fight. In March, Tad just knows how to win gross. And this was gross. God, this was gross.

I’m stopping myself now from a long diatribe about how horrible the Big 12 Basketball court is. It’s horrible. Truly terrible. I have legitimately gotten multiple headaches from the pattern, but I digress. This team, at least until last week, was also pretty terrible. That’s no longer the case. As soon as Colorado got off the plane in Kansas City, a switch must’ve flipped.

This game was 23-29 at the half, in favor of West Virginia. That’s right. 23-29. Basically a basket a minute. Truly gross stuff. No one could shoot, including West Virginia, and Andrej Jakimoksi’s nine points essentially kept the Buffs in it. First Team all-conference guard Javon Small was quiet for the Mountaineers all game, which also helped, as his explosive scoring is basically the whole offensive scheme for WVU after Tucker DeVries’ went down due to injury.

The second half was also a snoozefest, with two exceptions.

Exception One: Elijah Malone. CU’s center was held to two in the first half, but he got to 12 in the second half by getting deep in the paint and sitting down until someone gave him the ball. That dude knows how to work around the rim. He just needs an entry pass. WVU had no one big enough to handle him one-on-one and he knew it, as Malone went 6-7 from the floor in the period.

The second thing to watch in the second half was the 17-1 run the Buffs went on with five minutes left to seal the game. WVU got bit by the same turnover bug that’s plagued the Buffs all season, coughing the ball up seven times in four minutes to fuel CU’s comeback. Trevor Baskin was playing with his hair on fire on the defensive floor and caused enough chaos to force consecutive turnovers.

It also didn’t hurt that the Buffs couldn’t miss from deep. Shout out to R.J. Smith, who went 3-4 from beyond the arc in the second half. He’s having a great season.

Also of note: true freshman guard Felix Kossaras played 21 minutes for Colorado today and looked phenomenal, shooting 3-4 from the floor and tallying seven points with no turnovers. Kossaras gave the Buffs some great minutes down the stretch against the Mountaineers, showcasing his development throughout the season.

BUFFS ADVANCE #GoBuffs pic.NOPE/mikCjkUz4Y

— Colorado Men's Basketball (@CUBuffsMBB) March 12, 2025​

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As a reward for playing so well the last few days, the Buffs play the second-ranked Houston Cougars tomorrow at 1:00 pm MT. How fun!

by RylandScholes
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No Shedeur, No Travis, Problem?

I don’t know if it’s the gross basketball season or the fact that Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders take up huge amounts of space, despite being pros now, but it feels like spring football snuck up on me. The Colorado Buffaloes are back and practicing! Coach Prime likes to roster build through and after the spring, so don’t expect it to be a finished product. However, this year’s Buff team is the most stable yet. We are close to a full house here. There are a lot of new faces and, you know, CU is replacing a HEISMAN, but I’m more excited than anything. I kind of believe Deion Sanders when he says that this is his best team yet.

Here’s what we’re watching this spring:

Easy Answer: QB Battle​

I don’t know if you know this, but Shedeur Sanders was a very good college quarterback. For my money, the best thrower in Colorado history. CU has to replace that kind of quarterback. The Buffs will have their second year of Pat Shurmur as OC, so there will be some scheme continuity to play with. I still expect the flavor of the offense to be a lot more balanced and traditional. Why? Well, the Buffs have a fun choice to make. Kaidon Salter is an incoming senior who’s played a lot of basketball. He can throw it, especially deep, but he can really run. Are the Buffs ready to take advantage of a true dual threat behind center? Julian Lewis, or JuJu Lewis, is a top notch incoming-freshman. He is one of the best in the country and he has played a lot of football himself. He’s not a runner like Salter, but he is an RPO assassin and has incredible accuracy. Who will win this competition? More importantly, are they going to make each other better?

The Defense - is it legit?​

Robert Livingston is a wonder. He immediately improved the Buffs’ defense in year 1. So much show that the New Orleans Saints almost hired him as defensive coordinator. He decided to stay in Boulder. Shurmur and Livingston together for a second year is a surprising amount of continuity in Boulder. Sure, there were some staff changes on the defensive side of the ball, but the Buffs have to be building up from good to better as to starting over.

The Buffs are losing Travis Hunter. This is a monumental loss that cannot be replaced. In terms of irreplaceable graduations or subtractions, that is about it. The interior of the line will be top 3 in the Big 12, with Jeheim Oatis, Anquin Barnes and Amari McNeil manning the middle. Keaton Wade and Arden Walker will be the main rotation players on the outside, and they both brought intense pressure. That front 4 will be nasty. Behind them, Martavis French is a huge addition to the linebacker room. DJ McKinney and Colton Hood are a great corner tandem. Preston Hodge is a top tier nickel back. There are studs all over this defense. Can some of the newcomers add to this monster? Will the Buffs have a plus for the first time since...2016?

Where else can the Buffs add?​

The Buffs are close and they aren’t done. Where are the spots that CU desperately needs help? I think safety and running back are obvious spots for improvement, but I think there might be some more pieces that open up. Wide receiver has a lot of bodies, including Joeseph Williams, who is very exciting, but is there a #1 option? ILB is losing Vonta Bentley and Nikhai Hill-Green, can the Buffs get another difference maker? I don’t know, but I know I’m expecting at least 10-12 new faces after spring. Where do those land?

It snuck up on everyone, but welcome to spring football!

by Jack Barsch
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Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images

Salter is looking to sling it with the Buffs

New Colorado quarterback Kaidon Salter kicked off spring practice by making it clear he came to Boulder to do one thing: air out the football.

Salter, a transfer from Liberty and former C-USA Player of the Year in 2023, established himself as one of the nation’s premier threats with his legs. In 2023, Salter’s rushing ability kept defenses honest, as he ran for 1089 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with passing for an additional 2876 yards and 32 touchdowns.

In 2024, Salter worked with Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell on becoming a more traditional quarterback, opting to use his legs less and arm more. That resulted in a downtick in his stats, passing for 1886 yards and rushing for only 587.

At the first media availability of the season, Salter made it clear that his intention is to continue developing as a pass-first quarterback, but will still use his legs when needed.

“[My rushing] will still be displayed, but mostly, I came to throw the ball,” said Salter. “Of course, I’m going to use my legs when I have to... but I came here to throw the ball. We have a lot of electric receivers here.”

Salter also mentioned the role that Buffaloes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur played in recruiting him to Colorado. Specifically, Salter said that Shurmur’s work to develop Shedeur Sanders into an NFL-ready quarterback stood out when making his decision.

“Pat Shurmur is one of the best offensive coordinators and quarterback coaches in the country,” Salter said. “The amount of passing yards that Shedeur [Sanders] put up last year and his completion rate, and all of his achievements, are something that I loved and most definitely led me to commit here.”

During spring ball, Salter will battle five-star freshman Julian “Juju” Lewis for the starting quarterback role in 2025. To win the job, Salter’s development as a passer is pivotal.

Luckily for fans, they’ll be able to get a glance at the QB battle between Lewis and Salter with their own eyes during the Buffaloes’ spring game on April 19.

For more CU spring football updates, make sure to stay up date with Ralphie Report on our website and Twitter/X.

by RylandScholes
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