On September 14, 1991, No. 12 Colorado had all the numbers on their side. The Buffaloes had won a school record 15 straight home games and a nation-leading 11 in a row overall dating back to their national championship season in 1990. The 50,754 fans at Folsom Field certainly expected a win, but No. 23 Baylor just wouldn't give up.
The Bears received the ball first and marched smoothly down the field into Colorado territory when Quarterback J.J. Joe threw an interception. However, Baylor returned the favor later in the first quarter when senior linebacker Curtis Hafford recovered a Colorado fumble on the Baylor goal line. The first quarter ended scoreless.
The Buffaloes opened up the second quarter with a 26-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Darian Hagan to senior tight end Sean Brown. The Bears quickly answered on their next possession with a 41-yard field goal by senior Jeff Ireland to make the score 7-3. Late in the second quarter, after a Baylor interception by senior Clifford Ellison, the Bears attempted another short field goal as time winded down. But Colorado senior free safety Greg Thomas blocked the attempt to end the half.
The missed opportunity seemed to have no effect on the Bears as they did the most damage in the third quarter. On Baylor's first offensive play of the second half, Joe threw a 74-yard bomb to junior Melvin Bonner over the middle for a touchdown. On their next possession, the Bears tacked on three more points on a 40-yard Ireland field goal to end the quarter at 13-7 Baylor.
"The defense fell asleep," said Thomas. "We weren't prepared for the long ball. J.J. Joe is a good athlete, and I'm not surprised he had the game he did."
In the fourth quarter Colorado quickly reclaimed the lead on a nine play, 80-yard drive resulting in a 10-yard touchdown run by freshman Kent Kahl. After a Baylor fumble in their own territory, the Buffaloes marched down to the Bear six yard-line before attempting a short field goal. But consensus All-American Santana Dotson broke through the line and blocked the attempt, knocking it forty yards back into Colorado territory.