The Colorado Buffaloes were wrapping up non-conference play on Saturday on the road against their in-state rival Colorado State. After the two teams went into double-overtime last season, there were expectations that this game could live up to that hype. Fortunately for the Buffaloes, they were able to pull away as this game progressed and rolled to a 28-9 win over the Rams.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from this game.
Shedeur Sanders Settles Down
After a tough Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska last week against the Huskers, Colorado quarterback Sheduer Sanders bounced back with a very solid day. The Buffaloes struggled on their first three drives (three-and-out, missed field goal, three-and-out), but then Sanders and the Buffaloes put together a 12-play, 85-yard drive, including nine completions from Sanders, who found LaJohntay Wester in the end zone to take a 7-3 lead in the second quarter that the Buffaloes would never relinquish.
That drive was followed up by CU’s 9-play, 84-yard drive that also ended with a touchdown pass to Wester as the Buffaloes went up 14-3 with under a minute to play until halftime. The Rams missed a field goal right before the half, keeping all the momentum with Colorado heading into the second half.
The second half included two more touchdowns for Sanders, who finished 36/49 for 310 passing yards and four touchdowns to zero interceptions. His best game of the season, by far, and a great way to go into Big 12 play.
Two-Way Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter showed why he’s one of the most-hyped players in all of college football on Saturday night. The two-way player had himself a big game receiving and a big game on the defensive side of the ball.
Travis Hunter finished with 13 catches for 100 yards, including a two-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders, and then a 21-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter to make it a 27-3 lead.
On the other side of the ball, Hunter’s second touchdown was actually set up by his own turnover. He had himself an interception late in the third quarter that felt like the final nail in the coffin for a Colorado State team that was trying to get some momentum back in this game.
Dramatic Non-Con is Over
The Buffaloes had a nail biter vs. North Dakota State in Week 1, were blown out in Week 2 at Nebraska, which included some added drama as well with Shedeur walking off the field earlier than the rest of his team, so a ho-hum Week 3 is exactly what this team needed.
They’re 2-1 after non-conference play, which many Colorado fans would have accepted before the season. There are serious questions in the trenches for this team, although they looked better against Colorado State.
However, Big 12 play will be a different beast. They open up Big 12 play at home vs. Baylor next week, which will go a long way to determining how each of these team’s seasons could end up going.
Most importantly, Colorado football remains highly relevant as league play begins, and whether you love Colorado or hate Colorado, that’s good news for the Big 12 Conference.
