BOULDER, Colo. -- Freshman kicker Evan Price converted a 37-yard field goal with no time remaining as Colorado beat Stanford 16-13 on Saturday to snap a five-game skid and keep its flickering bowl hopes afloat.
Price was promoted this week with James Stefanou dealing with an injury. Price was instantly mobbed by teammates, falling to the ground and losing his helmet. It was Colorado's first game-winning field goal as time expired since Sept. 29, 2007, against Oklahoma.
The Buffaloes (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) need to win their final two games to become bowl eligible.
Stanford (4-5, 3-4) must win two of its final three contests to extend its bowl streak to 11 straight seasons.
Colorado quarterback Steven Montez methodically drove the Buffaloes down the field to set up the winning score. The drive was aided by a pass interference call on Stanford's Kyu Blu Kelly, who reached out to slow down Tony Brown on a deep pass. Colorado also went for it on fourth-and-short at the Stanford 34, with Laviska Shenault Jr. -- banged up knee and all -- churning for the yardage.
K.J. Costello gave Stanford its first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter when on third-and-15 he found wide receiver Simi Fehoko down the middle. Fehoko took it from there, splitting several defenders and bursting to the end zone for a 75-yard score.
Midway through the fourth, Montez tossed a short pass to wide out K.D. Nixon standing at the goal line, but the pass fell incomplete. The Buffaloes settled for a 23-yard field goal from Price to tie the game at 13.
In the second quarter, Stanford defensive back J.J. Parson thwarted a drive by picking off his first career pass. Stanford turned it into a field goal with 9:09 remaining before halftime. Moments before, the Cardinal had a touchdown reversed on review, when it was ruled Fehoko had a foot out of bounds in the back of the end zone.
Costello, starting for the second consecutive game, completed 18 of 29 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown. Cameron Scarlett led Stanford in rushing with 13 carries for 63 yards, while tight end Colby Parkinson caught five for 54 yards.
Stanford travels to Washington State next Saturday.