Colorado rebounded from taking a rivalry beatdown by delivering one. Playing at Colorado State for the first time since 1996, the Buffaloes rolled over the Rams 28-9 on Saturday.
The rematch of last year’s heated double-overtime thriller in Boulder lacked the scoring and dramatics, but did showcase an improved Colorado team from the Buffaloes’ ugly showing a week ago, when Colorado trailed 28-0 at halftime of a 28-10 loss at Nebraska.
Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and receiver Tory Horton added another jolt to the rivalry this week with some pregame trash talk. Horton argued that the Rams should have “murdered” Colorado last season, and Fowler-Nicolosi said he wanted to “see how far Instagram followers gets them.” Fowler-Nicolosi and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders appeared to exchange words after the game. Sanders said that before the game a Colorado State player ran into and elbowed Colorado receivers coach Jason Phillips.
“The disrespect was uncalled for during the week,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “We knew coming into the game it would be a bit personal. … I just pray that our kids would never act in that matter cause y’all would have a field day with it.”
On Saturday, Colorado’s play spoke loudest as the Buffaloes improved to 2-1 and earned their seventh consecutive win in the in-state rivalry, keeping the Centennial Cup in Boulder.
“Them Instagram followers got us far today, ya heard?” Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter said in a live video posted to social media.
They also spoiled the first sellout for Colorado State in Canvas Stadium, which opened in 2017.
“Oh! This was the first time they sold out here? Why was that? You know darn well why that was,” Sanders said.
Colorado led 14-3 at halftime after trailing 3-0 after the first quarter, then scored early in the third quarter to extend the lead to 18 and coasted from there. Last week’s lopsided loss in Lincoln prompted plenty of questions about how the transfer-heavy Buffaloes roster would respond. Sanders couldn’t have been more pleased with what he saw.
“I’m just so proud,” he said.
Hunter strengthens his Heisman case
Fowler-Nicolosi taunted Hunter with a “too small” gesture after a two-yard scramble in the first half, but Hunter picked off the quarterback in the second half, returning his first interception of the season 38 yards. Hunter missed most of last year’s comeback victory after suffering a lacerated liver on a late hit from Rams safety Henry Blackburn.
“How stupid is that?” Sanders said. “This is Travis Hunter. Dude, this is Travis Hunter. This is Travis Hunter. Who does that? I don’t allow my kids to do that.”
Hunter caught 13 passes, tying his career high, for 100 yards and two scores, his fourth consecutive game with triple-digit receiving yards. He also added a pass breakup and five tackles on defense.
“Travis is phenomenal,” Sanders said. “Week in and week out.”
Colorado’s offensive line shuffling pays off
Deion and Shedeur Sanders were critical of the offensive line’s play a week ago against Nebraska’s defensive front, both in protecting Colorado’s quarterback and in struggling to establish a running game.
Deion Sanders warned that a shakeup could be coming, and it was. The Buffaloes benched UTEP transfer Justin Mayers and moved Florida International transfer Phillip Houston to starting right tackle. They also moved Tyler Brown from right tackle to left guard. Five-star freshman Jordan Seaton remained at left tackle, and Hank Zilinskas (center) and Khalil Benson (right guard) stayed in their spots.
The result? Sanders had more time and better protection than he’s had all season, albeit against a Colorado State defense that ranked 85th nationally in tackles for loss and 118th in sacks with just one through two games this season. Sanders was sacked just one time for a loss of six yards.
All five offensive linemen came to the postgame press conference with Shedeur Sanders and Hunter.
“I’m so dern proud of these men I don’t know what to do,” Deion Sanders said during an in-game interview on CBS. “I want to line ’em up and kiss all of ’em. I love ’em to life.”
For the second time under Sanders, the Buffaloes had a rusher surpass 60 yards in a single game, despite missing starting running back Dallan Hayden. Colorado ran for 112 yards on 17 carries. Freshman Micah Welch, one of Colorado’s 11 high school signees in the Class of 2024, carried the ball nine times for 65 yards.
“It was very personal. It meant everything for us to go prove the world wrong,” Brown said.
(Photo: Cris Tiller / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
