A Colorado football player's pregame trash talk about Northwestern's temporary lakefront stadium blew up in his face this week, first going viral for all the wrong reasons, then getting drowned out by a 41-7 blowout loss. Buffaloes safety Ben Finneseth stood before reporters alongside head coach Deion Sanders on Tuesday to apologize for profane remarks he made about Martin Stadium, the 12,000-seat modular venue Northwestern has called home for more than two seasons while its permanent stadium was under construction.
Finneseth's comments, captured before Saturday's game and posted to social media by a Daily Northwestern journalist, racked up 6.6 million views, according to the Chicago Tribune. In the clip, Finneseth declared, “This place f---ing sucks! S--- sounds like a f---ing library!” The remarks did not age well once Colorado took the field at the venue in Evanston on September 19, 2026.
Northwestern demolished the Buffaloes 41-7, improving to 2-0 while dropping Colorado to 2-1 on the season. Quarterback Aidan Chiles threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more, a performance that earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors, per the same Tribune report. Northwestern's defense forced four takeaways in the win.
A Public Apology at the Podium
Finneseth apologized directly to Northwestern, Colorado supporters, his teammates and his coaches, saying his remarks were “childish and stupid” and vowing he would not repeat them, according to the Tribune's account of the news conference. Sanders said he has the utmost respect for Northwestern, its team and its program, and told reporters Colorado wanted to correct its wrongs.
Northwestern coach David Braun said he learned about the video from a coaching friend after the game, and he did not let the moment pass quietly. Braun said the atmosphere at his team's games did not sound like a library, praising Northwestern's fan base for its wild side, the Tribune reported.
Historic Numbers Punctuate the Rout
The blowout carried extra statistical weight. Running back Joseph Himon II caught all three of Chiles's touchdown passes, according to The Daily Northwestern. Colorado, meanwhile, committed four turnovers and failed on three fourth-down attempts. Quarterback Julian Lewis threw two interceptions in the loss, ending a streak of 150 consecutive passes without a pick.
Finneseth, a senior safety from Durango, Colorado, plays for the Buffaloes, according to FOX Sports.
Sanders Dismisses Players Beyond the Apology
The fallout from the loss extended well past one player's apology. Sanders announced that Colorado had dismissed several unnamed players for a pattern of conduct detrimental to the team, saying the dismissed players appeared to care more about themselves than the team, according to the Tribune.
The Stadium at the Center of the Insult
Martin Stadium, the target of Finneseth's outburst, was no ordinary temporary structure. Built by modular infrastructure firm InProduction in mid-2024, the venue expanded an existing 2,000-seat soccer and lacrosse facility into a 12,000-seat stadium capable of hosting Big Ten football, according to InProduction. Its modular design let Northwestern host games directly on campus while the university tore down and rebuilt its permanent home. Braun and his wife Kristin made a major six-figure personal financial contribution in early 2024 to help fund the temporary facility's construction, according to On3.
The venue's résumé went beyond football: it hosted the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship in May, where Northwestern won the national title before a sellout crowd of 8,316 fans, marking the first time that championship was decided outside the Eastern Time Zone. The stadium also served as home turf for professional franchises including NWSL club Chicago Stars FC, Women's Elite Rugby's Chicago Tempest and Ultimate Frisbee's Chicago Union, with the Stars committing to Martin Stadium while pursuing a permanent site in downtown Chicago, as Hoodline previously reported in its coverage of the Stars' new soccer chief.
Next Stop: A $875 Million Permanent Home
Northwestern's temporary lakefront chapter closes just as its new era begins. The Wildcats plan to open the new $875 million Ryan Field on October 2 against Penn State, a 35,000-seat venue that includes a standing-only student section, per the Tribune. Braun has said the new stadium will redefine game day at Northwestern.
