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Also big kudos to the big kiddos on the defensive line.
After an hour of weather delays and some light partying with Rick Ross, the Colorado Buffaloes rolled over the UCF Knight on a rainy day in Orlando, Florida. The Buffs controlled the line of scrimmage, made some timely plays on defense and had more than enough star power in Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. They started as 14-point underdogs and finished with the dominant 48-21 win.
Things did not start well for the Buffs. CU’s first possession was a nightmare three-play, -10 yard-drive drive that ended when Sanders scrambled to his right, threw across his body into double coverage, and was promptly intercepted. UCF looked to capitalize, but shot themselves in the foot with their own interception, this time on a 3rd-and-goal fade that Preston Hodge intercepted.
Colorado would score on their next possession. Micah Welch picked up a few first downs, both on the ground and in the short passing game. Omarion Miller got involved too. And then Travis Hunter announced himself with a 23-yard touchdown catch to get the Buffs on the board. But because this is Colorado football, UCF answered back with their own 75-yard touchdown on the very next play when RJ Harvey broke loose.
Shedeur looked comfortable moving the sticks, but the Buffs were on the verge of stalling out around midfield. They faced a 2nd-and-15, then 3rd-and-15. And then they scored a touchdown, just like that, because Sanders is an incredible talent with incredibly talented receivers. All he had to do was yeet the ball towards the end zone and Will Sheppard make a spectacular diving touchdown catch.
Colorado’s defense remained firm and forced a quick three-and-out on UCF’s next drive. The usually run dominant Knights struggled to push Chidozie Nwonkwo and the CU line. Harvey kept getting stuffed, UCF were forced into passing downs and Jefferson’s inaccuracy made it difficult for them to sustain drives. It only made matters worse that UCF struggled with dumb penalties, including a kick-catch interference and a roughing the passer that led to Dallas Haydan’s first touchdown in his Colorado career.
Jefferson did put together a solid drive that ended in a 7-yard score for the former Arkansas quarterback. The Knights found success with crossing routes and play action, but it was their only sustained drive of the first half and it was almost immediately answered by the Buffs. UCF cut the lead to 21-14 before Mata notched a pair of field goals in the final minute of the half. The first was after an 8-play, 68-yard drive, and the second was after a UCF three-and-out and a 27-yard punt return by Jimmy Horn.
Colorado thoroughly outclassed UCF in that first half. Colorado led 27-14 at half, had a 295-176 advantage in total yards (75 of which came on one play for UCF), and even outrushed Gus Malzahn’s Knight 70-43. It was the Buffs’ most complete half of football this season.
The Knight looked good on their first drive after halftime. They made some adjustments to their rushing attack and were able to break contain for the first time today. It really looked like the drive that get them back into the game, but again things went wrong. BJ Green blew up a reverse run, Hodge broke up a pass on 3rd-and-10, and then UCF settled for a 55-yard field goal that they missed.
Colorado took four plays to score once they got the ball back. Sanders took a nasty hit on a roughing the passer penalty, then the very next play found Sheppard wide open down the sideline. Sheppard was an Andre Dyson away from a touchdown, but it didn’t matter much because Welch punched it in to put the Buffs up 34-14.
It’s been six paragraphs since Hunter was mentioned, so he made yet another jaw-dropping interception. Playing zone coverage, he took away Jefferson’s first read, then the second, and then teleported ten yards to intercept a pass to the checkout option. Colorado didn’t do anything with their next possession, but watch it if you haven’t, and watch again if you saw it live.
UCF scored a quick touchdown after that, but it didn’t matter because Colorado scored another right after. The star of the drive was Isaiah Augustave, who had a 21 yard run up the middle, then a 19 yard gain on the next play. It was physical, no-nonsense running from the sophomore transfer. It would have been nice to burn some clock, but why bother when LaJohntay Webster can score such an easy touchdown.
Leading 41-21 in the fourth quarter, Colorado staved off any and all attempts UCF made to get back into the game. The Knight had a promising drive that ended in an RJ Harvey fumble and DJ McKinney recovery. Then after a CU 3-and-out, they drove down to the Colorado 2-yard-line before the Buffs stood their ground and forced UCF into a turnover on downs. Things became comical even when UCF’s furthest drive wound up in a 95-yard scoop-and-score for Cam’ron Silmon-Craig.
Colorado spent the rest of the fourth quarter winding down the clock and preventing UCF from any big gains. It just fine, as the Buffs ground out the 48-21 win. Colorado slowed down after 15 minutes, but this was a statement game that they could match the physicality of their opponents, gap them in raw talent and pull off road wins in conference play.
by Sam Metivier
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