FORT WORTH, Texas — Colorado keeps finding more firsts in the Deion Sanders era. Only the latest one isn’t positive.

For the first time under Coach Prime, the Buffaloes are 0-3 in conference play.

CU will be left to rue more missed chances, as for the third time this season, they blew a double-digit first-half lead in the 35-21 loss at TCU that drops the Buffs to 2-4 on the season.

Despite some promising signs on both sides of the ball, it was another fruitless trip back to Texas for Sanders and company. Here are three takeaways from the game:

Salter’s up-and-down night

There was some good and there was some bad for veteran quarterback Kaidon Salter as he made a third straight start for the Buffs.

He became the first CU quarterback since Steven Montez in 2018 to throw three interceptions in one half as he made two mind-boggling throws that either led to a TCU score or denied his team from points.

Still, Salter led a couple of impressive long touchdown drives in the game and showed why the Buffs don’t really have a better option despite some of the obvious frustration in another game where CU lost the turnover battle.

Defense steadies the ship

Sanders wouldn’t go so far as to say his defense gave the entire team a chance to win in last week’s 24-21 loss to BYU. He should feel very different this week.

Against the second-best passing offense in the Big 12, the Buffs defense did its part. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover was far from his best for much of the night, and Robert Livingston’s unit deserves a lot of credit for that.

After forcing a turnover on downs on the opening series, the Buffs defense didn’t allow a score until the final three minutes of the first half. TCU’s second touchdown also came on a short field following one of Salter’s interceptions. The game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter was also a tough spot following the muffed punt.

Defensive end Keaten Wade had his best performance of the season with a sack and another tackle for loss.

Depth at running back shines

Even without the team’s top two running backs for a second-straight game, the Buffs found a way to have success on the ground. Dre’lon Miller remained in his hybrid role and spent even more time in the backfield, but it was the duo of Micah Welch and Dallan Hayden who did the majority of the damage.

Hayden, who was set to be the starter before an injury in late August set him back, was the most impressive as he made the most of his eight carries, racking up 61 yards, including a big 25-yard run on a third-and-long. CU finished with over 100 yards rushing for the fifth time in six games.