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Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter Lead Colorado to a 28-9 Victory Over Colorado State
Recap:
Saturday night in Fort Collins, Colorado tore apart Colorado State’s secondary and earned a 28-9 victory in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. This marked the Buffs’ seventh consecutive win over the Rams, and the win was much needed after a disappointing loss to Nebraska last week. Shedeur Sanders led the team with a four-touchdown performance, and Travis Hunter had standout contributions on both sides of the ball. With this rivalry win, Colorado improves to 2-1 as they head into conference play.
What Went Right:
After a slow start, Colorado found a rhythm with Shedeur Sanders leading a dynamic passing attack that featured more diverse route trees than last week. Sanders spread the ball around, hitting targets all over the field with deep balls, short slants, and crossing routes.
He showed confidence in Hunter and Wester, and had improved protection from the offensive line. Shedeur was able to regain the pocket presence we’ve come to expect, finishing with 310 passing yards, four touchdowns and a 73% completion rate. Wester hauled in two touchdowns in the first half, while Hunter 13 catches for 100 yards and two second half scores.
Hunter’s performance on both sides of the ball was a game-changer, plain and simple. Not only did he score twice, but he also snagged a key interception. Colorado’s defense forced four turnovers and consistently disrupted CSU’s rhythm. Preston Hodge joined Hunter with an interception, and the secondary looked improved from a week ago.
The Colorado State passing game was predictable for the most part, utilizing the same short crossing routes that we saw last year. Colorado’s defensive front caused serious problems for CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, limiting him to 209 passing yards and forcing two interceptions.
Fowler-Nicolosi’s turnovers came from two throws that were both tossed haphazardly across his body and into coverage as he fled the pocket. He was rattled as the first sign of pressure would leave him scrambling frantically. It was honestly refreshing to see Fowler-Nicolosi making the same silly mistakes that he made last year, because his words and actions have been increasingly disrespectful in this rivalry.
The offensive line was another major positive. After a rough outing against Nebraska, they rebounded with a strong performance, giving Sanders the time he needed to find his receivers. The unit allowed only one sack late in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach. Improvement in the trenches is clearly a key to win and Colorado will need to carry this performance over to next week to prove to fans and media that there have been meaningful changes there.
The run game showed signs of improvement as well. Although it wasn’t the focal point of the offense, Colorado still generated 109 yards on the ground. Micah Welch gave the ground game a needed spark with a 25-yard run in the first half. The run play-calling remained pretty straightforward, but the Buffs found more success moving the ball against an undersized CSU defensive line. This balance between the rushing and passing games helped keep CSU’s defense honest and opened up opportunities for Sanders down the stretch.
What Went Wrong:
Though the Buffs won convincingly, they started slow once again. Colorado’s offense struggled to find its footing in the first quarter, with some early lapses in communication on the offensive line allowing CSU’s defense to pressure Sanders and disrupt the timing of the passing game. Once Colorado found their rhythm, there was no looking back, but the slow start remains a concern as the Buffs will face much tougher teams in the coming month.
While the run game showed progress, the play calling is still a work in progress. The Buffs were productive, but they haven’t yet established a consistent presence. The play-calling in the run game remains somewhat unchanged from earlier weeks, and while the team is finding some success, there’s still going to be room for improvement. Throughout the rest of the season it may be important for Colorado to utilize multiple backs, and Micah Welch is making a case for why he needs to touch the ball more.
Standout Performances:
- Travis Hunter: Hunter put on a show, both as a receiver and a corner. His 13 catches, 100 yards, and two touchdowns helped the Buffs build an insurmountable lead. His third-quarter interception was a crucial play that ended CSU’s comeback hopes, and it showed the nation just how dominant he can be.
- Shedeur Sanders: Sanders delivered, finishing with 310 yards and four touchdowns. His ability to spread the ball multiple targets and his command of the pocket helped Colorado break the game open in the second quarter. This performance will likely quiet some of Sanders’ critics, though his post-game antics may stir up controversy. Hopefully this won’t impact how NFL teams view him next year.
- LaJohntay Wester: Wester continued to prove why he’s one of Sanders’ favorite targets, grabbing two touchdowns and using his speed to create separation and make big plays. Wester has been especially deadly on short crossing routes and also found gaps in coverage deeper downfield.
- LaVonta Bentley: Bentley was a force in the run game. He forced and then immediately recovered a fumble, once again showing his physicality and elevating Colorado’s defense alongside him.
Outlook:
With this win, Colorado moves to 2-1 and gains much-needed momentum heading into their Big 12 opener against Baylor this Saturday. The passing game continues to be the team’s biggest strength, and looks to have made some improvements across the board. Colorado’s defense has answered the call as of late and likely won’t be the reason for many losses this season.
The improvement along the offensive line and in the run game are encouraging, but there’s still work to be done. These first two wins over North Dakota State and Colorado State are important, the Buffs will need to be able to beat stronger competition if they want to play into December. As the Big 12 competition heats up, Colorado must continue to build on this performance, but the foundation is now in place for them.
by Jacob.Thompson
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