In a season that has already defied expectations, the Colorado Buffaloes delivered another resounding statement on Saturday: a dominant 49-24 victory over the Utah Utes that extended their winning streak to four games and kept them firmly in the hunt for a Big 12 championship.
Sanders Expects Perfection
Despite the lopsided final score, Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders wasn’t fully satisfied with his team’s performance. “We haven’t even put it all together yet,” Sanders remarked postgame. “Like, we haven’t even played our best game. That should be, in itself, scary. When I said we comin’, we still comin’. We never stopped comin’. And we ain’t nearly there yet.”
It’s a frightening prospect for the rest of the Big 12 – a Colorado squad that has already exceeded preseason projections but, according to its perfectionist coach, still has room to improve. The Buffaloes imposed their will on Utah, a program that entered the season as the odds-on favorite to win the conference in its inaugural Big 12 campaign.
Defense Sets the Tone
Colorado’s swarming defense was the catalyst, holding the Utes to a mere 83 yards on 33 plays in the first half. Wilson, Utah’s freshman quarterback, was under constant duress, absorbing four sacks and tossing three interceptions. The Utes mustered only 31 rushing yards, their lowest single-game total in over a decade.
I’m in the twilight zone. It’s the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down, not even close.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham
Shedeur Sanders Overcomes Early Miscues
On offense, quarterback Shedeur Sanders shook off a pair of early turnovers to post another prolific stat line: 30-of-41 passing for 340 yards and three touchdowns. “I guess I’m just a hard dad to please at times, as well as a hard head coach,” the elder Sanders quipped when asked to assess his son’s performance.
Shedeur Sanders took accountability for his miscues and credited the defense for bailing him out. “I’m gonna have a talk with the whole offense and apologize for my performance out there at the very beginning,” he said. “I may have to take them out to dinner this week for saving me and saving the team.”
Hunter’s Heisman Moment
While Shedeur Sanders’ resilience stood out, it was his top target, two-way star Travis Hunter, who authored the game’s signature highlight. Facing a fourth-and-8 in the third quarter, Sanders lofted a deep ball that Hunter, blanketed by two Utah defenders, hauled in with a leaping grab for a 25-yard gain.
Hunter, the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, submitted another entry to his burgeoning candidacy. In addition to his crucial fourth-down reception, the sophomore amassed 55 receiving yards, rushed for a touchdown, logged his third interception of the season, and played a staggering 132 snaps.
If they can’t see, they can’t see. Travis is who he is. It’s supposed to go to the best college football player. I think that’s been a wrap since, what, Week 2?
Deion Sanders on Hunter’s Heisman case
A Program Transformed
Just two years removed from a 4-8 debut season under Sanders, Colorado finds itself positioned to potentially host the Big 12 title game. It’s a stunning turnaround orchestrated by the Hall of Fame cornerback turned coach, who has not only transformed the Buffaloes’ on-field fortunes but also altered the trajectory of the program.
“We expect to be here,” Sanders said of his team’s perch atop the conference standings. “A lot of y’all didn’t expect us to be here, and don’t think we don’t know that. But we expected to be where we are. Matter of fact, we expected to be a little better.”
In a league renowned for cardiac finishes and slim margins, Sanders has no interest in white-knuckle victories. His mantra is “flawless.” It’s an impossibly high bar, but one this Colorado team looks increasingly equipped to strive for – a terrifying reality for the Buffaloes’ remaining opponents.
