Quick takeaways from Colorado’s 31-26 season-opening win over North Dakota State on Thursday night, which marked the Buffs’ first win since Oct. 7, 2023, at Arizona State. The win wasn’t secure until North Dakota State’s last heave was completed short of the end zone.
Disaster averted
Colorado coach Deion Sanders has warned his team publicly and privately that much of America is waiting to pounce in the event the magnetic but polarizing Buffaloes stumble. Then Colorado’s transfer-heavy defense stumbled out of the gate Thursday, giving up scores on its first four drives, and the Buffs trotted into the halftime locker room trailing 20-17.
North Dakota State, an FCS power but also a team breaking in a new head coach, has consistently proved to be a difficult test for FBS opponents, going 9-4 all-time with wins over Iowa, Kansas State, Minnesota and Kansas, among others. It pushed Arizona to the brink two seasons ago.
The Buffs’ first-half performance offered plenty of fodder for detractors, but a strong second half provided enough breathing room to keep the Buffs on track, early as it might be, for a bowl game and maybe more heading into next week’s rivalry game rematch at Nebraska. Colorado struggled with close games in its 4-8 2023, with six losses coming in one-possession games.
GO DEEPER
In Deion Sanders’ second year at Colorado, what will resonate most? Results
Shedeur stars
Shedeur Sanders wasted no time Thursday after his 2023 season ended a game and a half early with a variety of injuries. His first completion to Travis Hunter went for a 41-yard touchdown, and he found Jimmy Horn for a 69-yard touchdown pass deep over the middle as defenders bore down on him in the pocket, giving the Buffaloes two touchdowns on the first two drives of the season. He racked up 400 yards in the first three quarters and finished with 445 yards, four touchdowns and one interception on 26 of 34 passing.
His rebuilt offensive line showed some improvement from a season ago against the Bison defensive front, and he showed the poise, accuracy and production that have made him at the very least a likely first-round pick in next spring’s draft.
Hunter’s highlight reel
Travis Hunter hasn’t spoken at a news conference since Colorado’s season opener a season ago, but his play spoke volumes in his junior season debut. He terrorized North Dakota State’s secondary from start to finish, hauling in his first catch of the season and making a defender miss before racing untouched for a 41-yard score. He also showcased otherworldly body control on a key third-down catch to extend a drive in the fourth quarter and capped the drive with an acrobatic touchdown catch on third down with a defender draped all over him.
RIDICULOUS TD CATCH 😱
Make that three touchdowns for Travis Hunter tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zzohGx3ybZ
— ESPN (@espn) August 30, 2024
The two-way player also had a 40-yard catch deep down the right sideline, creating space just before the ball arrived to haul in another contested catch. When healthy, Hunter has been a walking highlight reel on offense and defense, and he made plenty of highlights to kick off Colorado’s season in the win on Thursday night. After last season’s opener, Deion Sanders openly campaigned for him as a Heisman contender, alongside Shedeur Sanders. His play Thursday made a compelling opening argument. He finished with seven catches for 132 yards and three touchdowns.
This story will be updated.
(Photo of Shedeur Sanders: Ron Chenoy / USA Today)
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Publish date : 2024-08-29 16:25:00
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