Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Colorado
Game 3: 'Cats take on Colorado Saturday in Boulder
9/8/2026 4:26:00 PM | Football
Weber State and Colorado will meet for the first time on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Game will be on ESPN+.
• Coming off a shootout at Southern Utah, it's back to Colorado for Weber State as the Wildcats head to Boulder to take on the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday afternoon.
• Weber State is 1-1 on the season. The Wildcats opened the season with a thrilling 30-29 win at Northern Colorado and are coming off a 47-42 loss at Southern Utah last Saturday.
• WSU is in the first season with Eric Kjar as the new head coach of the Wildcat football team.
• Junior wide receiver Noah Kjar leads FCS football in receiving touchdowns through two games and is second in receiving yards.
• The Wildcats have 80 new players on this year's squad.
• Weber State is playing its first three games on the road for the second straight season.
• Colorado is 1-0 on the season after opening the year with a win at Georgia Tech.
• The Buffaloes are coached by Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders.
• This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.
Media coverage
Saturday's game will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. from Folsom Field in Boulder.
The game will be televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Peter Sousa and Leger Douzable calling the action.
The Weber State radio broadcast will be on 103.1 FM with Carl Arky and former Weber State quarterback Dave Stireman on the call.
Live stats available at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
Wildcats are 1-1 after shootout loss at Southern Utah
Weber State opened the 2026 season with a 30-29 win at Northern Colorado on August 28 in Greeley. The Wildcats blocked an UNC's extra point attempt in the final seconds to seal the win.
On Saturday, the Wildcats traveled to Cedar City for an in-state showdown with new Big Sky member Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds beat the Wildcats 47-42 in a shootout. SUU totaled 514 yards of offense in the win, compared to 464 total yards for Weber State. The Wildcats had 282 yards passing but gave up 368 yards rushing.
Weber State led 29-20 at halftime before Southern Utah scored 21 points in the third quarter. The 'Cats regained the lead early in the fourth quarter before the Thunderbirds tool the lead for good with 9:13 to play. Weber State also had two turnovers in the loss. It was the first game against the Thunderbirds in five years.
Noah Kjar near tops of FCS in receiving
Noah Kjar, the oldest son of head coach Eric Kjar, is off to a terrific start through the first two games of the season.
Kjar had six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the season-opening win at Northern Colorado. He followed that up with career-highs of nine receptions for 150 yards and had two more touchdowns in Saturday's game at Southern Utah. Kjar was targeted 20 times in the game at SUU.
Through the first two games, Kjar is near the tops of all of FCS football in receiving. He is tied for first in FCS football with four receiving touchdowns in the first two games. He ranks second in the nation in receiving yards and receiving yards per game at 132.0. He is also second in all-purpose yards at 175.0 per game, and is sixth in receptions per game at 7.5. Kjar also has three kickoff returns for 77 yards and two punt returns for nine yards.
Kjar was selected as a team captain this year. He is in his third year in the Wildcat program and has played in 16 career games after missing most of last year with an injury.
Nate Dahle performs in first career start
WSU freshman Nate Dahle started in just his second career game on Saturday in Cedar City. Dahle was 21 of 44 passing for 282 yards and two touchdowns in the game against the Thunderbirds. Dahle threw a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and a 24-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He also had 12 rushing attempts for 85 yards. The 282 passing yards is the most by a Wildcat freshman quarterback in three seasons.
Dahle, a native of Millville, Utah, was the Utah 4A Player of the Year at Ridgeline High School last season and led his team to a 14-0 record and a state title. He also finished his career second in Utah high school career passing yards with 12,467 yards and passed for 127 touchdowns.
Zach Smith off to quite a start
It's been quite a two week start for Wildcat freshman Zach Smith. Through two games, Smith has an 85-yard interception return, a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown, and a blocked extra point attempt.
In the season-opening win at Northern Colorado, Smith blocked an extra point attempt in the final seconds to seal a Wildcat win.
In Saturday's game at Southern Utah, Smith had an 85-yard interception return and scooped up a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown.
Early in the second quarter, Porter Hadley blocked an SUU punt and Smith scooped it up and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, with the Wildcats trailing 41-36, Smith intercepted a pass at the WSU one-yard line and returned it 85 yards. It ranks as the third longest interception return in Weber State history. The return set up the Wildcat offense that scored a touchdown on the next play.
Smith is a native of South Weber, Utah and graduated from Northridge High School.
Block party
Through two games, Weber State leads FCS football with three blocked kicks. The Wildcats blocked two extra point attempts in the season-opening win at Northern Colorado, then had the blocked punt at Southern Utah.
Three straight road games to begin
For the second straight year, Weber State is starting the season with three straight road games, but unlike last year's start, all three are at least in the same time zone. The Wildcats play at Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, and Colorado to begin the season, but will then play six of the final nine games of the season at home. The Wildcats are one of two schools in the Big Sky and 10 schools in all of FCS football to start the season with three straight road games.
Injury report
Weber State played without two captains in Saturday's game at Southern Utah. Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Brown, a transfer from Ohio State and Cal, missed the game with a broken finger. Fifth-year linebacker Raimoana Tiniruarii missed the game with a knee injury. WSU also played without sophomore wide receiver Tate Kjar who was out with an ankle injury.
Welcome to the Eric Kjar era
The Eric Kjar era is underway. Weber State named Kjar as the 13th head coach in its Division I history on December 16, 2025. He joined the Wildcat program after unprecedented success as a Utah high school coach.
Kjar (pronounced: Care) posted a 112-10 record with six state championships over the last nine seasons as the head coach at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah. He guided the Chargers to three consecutive state titles in 2018, 2019, and 2020, followed by three more championships in 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with two state runner-up finishes. His teams were nationally ranked multiple times, including as high as No. 8 in the nation. Corner Canyon also set a Utah state record with 48 consecutive wins from 2018 to 2021 and advanced to the national championship game in 2025.
Kjar coached multiple state MVPs and All-Americans, along with numerous Division I college players and NFL Draft picks, including quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Zach Wilson.
Before Corner Canyon, Kjar spent eight seasons as the head coach at Jordan High School, where he posted a 69-29 record that included a state championship in 2012. He also served as an assistant coach for five years at Jordan before becoming head coach.
In 17 years as a high school head coach, Kjar compiled a career record of 181-39.
In addition to his head coaching responsibilities, Kjar will also be the offensive coordinator for the Wildcats.
New coaching staff
Kjar has also added several new members to the Wildcat coaching staff. Tanner Jacobsen was named the Associate Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. Gavin Fowler is the new Defensive Coordinator.
Other new coaches are Isaac Asiata (offensive line), BJ Cavender (tight ends), former WSU player Kam Garrett (cornerbacks), former WSU player Isiah Jackson (wide receivers), Dustin Long, Ono Tafisi (defensive tackles), and Tana Vea (running backs).
Returning assistant coaches are Jace Campbell (outside linebackers), James Cowser (defensive ends), and Zach Larson (quarterbacks).
80 new players
In addition to a new coaching staff, the Wildcats also welcome 80 new players to this year's squad. The team is made up of 35 transfers, including 11 Division I transfers.
Weber State returns 35 players off last year's squad that posted a 4-8 overall record and a 2-6 record in Big Sky play. Only 16 players return that played in at least six games last season.
Team captains
As selected by their teammates, Weber State has named four teammates for the 2026 season. 5th year quarterback Devin Brown, junior wide receiver and kick returner Noah Kjar, 5th year cornerback Trevian Tribble, and 5th year linebacker Raimoana Tinirauarii will be the captains for this season.
Brown is a transfer to WSU after spending three seasons at Ohio State and one season at Cal. Kjar, the son of head coach Eric Kjar, is in his third season at Weber State. He has played in 14 games over two seasons with 19 receptions and one career kickoff return touchdowns.
Tribble and Tinirauarii are both in their fifth years at Weber State, having joined WSU in 2022.
Quick hits
This year's roster is comprised of 53 players from the state of Utah, followed by 23 from California, and 13 from Texas...The 42 points scored is the most by the Wildcats in a loss in a regulation game since 2001...WSU has led its opponent in passing yards in both games, and trailed in rushing yards in both games.
About Colorado
Colorado opened the season with an exciting 14-13 win at Georgia Tech on September 3 in Atlanta. The Buffaloes scored a touchdown in the final mintue and held, then blocked a field goal attempt as time expired to seal the win.
Colorado posted a 3-9 record in 2025 and was 1-8 in Big 12 play.
Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders
The Buffaloes are coached by Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is a two-time Super Bowl Champion. He played 14 seasons in the NFL and also played nine seasons in Major League Baseball. He is the only athlete ever to play in both a Super Bowl (twice) and the World Series.
Coach Prime is in his fourth season at Colorado and enters Saturday with a record of 17-21 overall. He previously spent three seasons as the head coach at FCS Jackson Stat where he posted a 27-6 record and twice won a SWAC championship.
Series history
This will be the first ever meeting between Weber State and Colorado.
Colorado is the fifth team from the current Big 12 Conference for Weber State. The 'Cats have played Utah seven times, BYU three times, and have also played Arizona and Arizona State.
It's the seventh game in the last nine full seasons that WSU has played a team in a Power 4 conference. The Wildcats played at Arizona in 2025, Washington in 2024, and Utah in 2023.
Weber State's last win against and FBS program was in 2022, a 35-7 win at Utah State.
Coaching connection
WSU head coach Eric Kjar coached CU backup quarterback Isaac Wilson in high school at Corner Canyon in Draper. Wilson led Corner Canyon to a state championship as a senior in 2023 and was named the Utah State MVP and Mr. Football. He threw for 4,508 yards and 49 touchdowns as a senior.
Kjar also coached Isaac's brother Zach, who is now in the NFL.
Wildcats in the NFL
As the NFL begins this week, Weber State has four former players on NFL 53-man rosters and two more on practice squads.
Four-time All-American Rashid Shaheed won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last year. Another former Wildcat is Taron Johnson, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders after eight years with the Buffalo Bills. Former Wildcat Winston Reid is now in his third season with the Cleveland Browns.
Former Wildcat Jack Kelly was drafted in the 2026 draft by the New York Giants. Kelly spent three seasons at Weber State before transferring to BYU.
Two former Wildcats are also on NFL practice squads. All-American Gavin Ortega, who just finished his career last year, was added to the practice squad with the Denver Broncos and Jonah Williams is on the practice squad with the New Orleans Saints.
Weber State football history
This marks the 65th season of football at Weber State, since the school became a four-year institution. The Wildcats are charter members of the Big Sky Conference and have won eight Big Sky titles and advanced to the FCS Playoffs 10 times. WSU won four Big Sky titles and advanced to the FCS Playoffs six times under Jay Hill who was the head coach from 2014-22, now the defensive coordinator at Michigan. Veteran college football coaches Mike Price (1981-89) and Ron McBride (2005-11) were also head coaches at Weber State and led the Wildcats to Big Sky titles.
Looking ahead
After Saturday, Weber State will finally play at home. The 'Cats will have four of the next five and six of the final nine games at Stewart Stadium.
The home opener will be on September 19 at 6 p.m. against Northwestern State, and will include a post-game drone show.
WSU will return to Big Sky play hosting Portland State on September 26.
