Despite the fact that there are tougher opponents on the schedule, Coach Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes had this one circled on the calendar. The Colorado/Colorado State rivalry is important in the state and the resurgence of the Buffs has made this a more important battle than ever.
There was a lot on the line when the two took the field. As it turned out, this was far different to many of the meetings in the past. A lot happened on Saturday under the lights, a lot of it before the game began.
How to bet in Colorado? Learn more about it here.
The Trouble with Colorado State
The pot had already been well stirred before the game even kicked off. Never mind what happened with Travis Hunter (more on that below), tensions were already running high before the two teams took the field on Saturday night.
That mostly had to do with comments by Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell. During a weekly radio show, Norvell said “when I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and my glasses off,” a direct shot at head coach Deion Sanders.
The comments fueled Coach Prime and the rest of the Buffs. Sanders simply brushed off the comments and said that the team would be motivated on the field. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, one of Deion’s sons, simply laughed and said, “they bring this on themselves.”
Teams have vocally pushed back against Colorado and the hype it has received this season. That hype has only grown in the last month as Colorado continues to win, defying early projections that the team would be lucky to win 5 games.
Already bitter rivals, it simply added fuel to an already simmering fire. Given the way that this game unfolded and all that was said, this likely won’t go away even though it will be another year before the two see each other again.
Caught up with the guys right after the dub 🎥#GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/p9HciT6U9j
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 18, 2023
The Frantic Comeback and Overtime win
Despite being 24-point favorites in a rivalry game, things didn’t go the way Colorado had hoped they would. The Rams kept things tight in the first half, eventually heading into the locker room with a touchdown advantage.
The game continued in a back and forth manner, Colorado State leading 28-20 with just a few minutes left in the game. Then quarterback Shedeur Sanders led an epic 98-yard drive. It ended with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Horn Jr., culminating with a 2-point conversion to Michael Harrison.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime – Sanders again found Harrison on a short touchdown pass – before Harrison hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass to seal the game in the second overtime. The defense held strong when it mattered most, giving the Buffs the win over their bitter rival.
It may not have played out how everyone thought it would, but a win is a win. The Buffs now sit at 3-0, ranked 19th in the country. With a huge test coming in the next couple of weeks, it gives the Buffs the momentum and confidence that they will need going forward.
That said, not everything was rosy from this game. Two-way star Travis Hunter was put out of action in the first quarter and did not return. Which leads to questions about his future and health.
.@thtkidzayy & @MikeyMHarrison showed out last night 👏#GoBuffs | @NerdWallet pic.twitter.com/sS2TZy7OPL
— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) September 17, 2023
Travis Hunter’s Injury
Hunter was hit very hard by Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn late in the first quarter. The hit earned the ire of those in attendance as it was very late at best and extremely dirty at worst. The fact that Hunter lay on the field and received attention from trainers made the situation even worse.
Tensions were already high and the unnecessary hit from Blackburn only fueled the first. The fact that it cost Colorado one of their most valuable playmakers only makes the situation worse. There is no expectation of a suspension to come but Blackburn was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty.
.@keyshawn calls for Colorado State’s Henry Blackburn to be suspended after violent hit on Travis Hunter: pic.twitter.com/kV6tNXxdhI
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) September 18, 2023
What it Means for Colorado
The schedule is going to be absolutely brutal for the Buffs from here on out. It starts Saturday with a trip to Eugene and a battle with the #10 Oregon Ducks. The week after, the Buffs will host #5 USC in what could be a massive Pac-12 game if they can beat the Ducks.
Colorado also has #22 UCLA, #21 Washington State, and #11 Utah, all on the road. They also have to play #14 Oregon State, but they at least get to play that game in Boulder. Without Hunter in the lineup, there are going to be a lot of unanswered questions heading into each game.
They need Hunter, a dynamic two-way player who makes an impact at both receiver and defensive back. He leaves massive shoes to fill for a roster that is already outperforming expectations.
Find out how to bet on Colorado football here.
We asked coach Deion Sanders: “Who's the best coach in college football today?”
His response: “Let me see a mirror so I can look at it.” https://t.co/RXXGHI8gts pic.twitter.com/QTSlsCAPl9
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 18, 2023
