Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter help Colorado beat Cincinnati 34-23 to become bowl eligible

BOULDER, Colo. -- Shedeur Sanders threw a brace of touchdown passes to Travis Hunter and ran for a people to thief Colorado go bowl-eligible pinch a 34-23 triumph complete Cincinnati connected Saturday night.

Sanders put connected rather an businesslike aerial show, completing 25 of 30 passes for 323 yards. He completed his first 15 passes, which was nan astir to commencement a crippled successful programme history. Not bad considering he's getting complete nan flu.

Hunter had 9 catches for 153 yards, including a 34-yard TD drawback pinch 3 seconds near earlier halftime. On defense, nan two-way prima and Heisman hopeful collapsed up 4 passes.

“Travis is nan champion shot subordinate successful nan country,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “We each cognize that. Why are we moreover deliberating complete that?”

The Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) are eligible for a vessel crippled complete a afloat play for nan first clip since 2016. They besides went to a vessel crippled successful 2020 during nan COVID-shortened year. It's been rather a turnaround for Colorado successful Year 2 nether Sanders. The squad vanished 4-8 a twelvemonth agone aft a accelerated start.

“We’re connected a awesome journey,” nan Buffaloes coach said. “We cognize nan guidance we’re going."

The first telephone Sanders made aft nan triumph was to Peggy Coppom, nan Buffaloes super-fan who turns 100 adjacent month. She's been a rallying constituent for Sanders — to get her to a vessel game.

“Now we want to make judge she goes to nan champion imaginable vessel that she could perchance spell to,” Sanders said.

Colorado took a 31-14 lead pinch 5:41 near successful nan 3rd 4th connected a 7-yard tally by Isaiah Augustave. Shedeur Sanders, though, appeared to beryllium stepping gingerly on nan sideline soon aft nan drive. He spent clip connected nan stationary motorcycle erstwhile nan defense was connected nan field.

The Bearcats (5-3, 3-2) trimmed nan shortage to 31-23 pinch 3:51 remaining erstwhile Brendan Sorsby connected pinch tight extremity Joe Royer for a 6-yard TD. They tried for 2 points and couldn't convert.

Pinned heavy aft nan kickoff, Sanders went for collapsed and completed a 34-yard walk to Hunter. The thrust led to Alejandro Mata's game-sealing 47-yard section extremity pinch 1:39 remaining.

“Each win,” Shedeur Sanders said, “definitely gives america a assurance boost.”

Now, nan Buffaloes could beryllium looking astatine an quality successful nan polls. Deion Sanders would alternatively not spot that happen.

“Don't rank us, please,” Sanders said. “We don't for illustration that. We'd alternatively beryllium successful nan backmost successful nan dark, conscionable chillin'.”

Sorsby vanished pinch 180 yards passing and 2 touchdowns.

“I don’t deliberation immoderate feline connected nan sideline ever mislaid hope,” Sorsby said. “That's a in installments to this squad and this staff.”

The crippled changed complexion conscionable earlier halftime erstwhile Colorado's defense stuffed Sorsby connected fourth-and-1 astatine nan 46 pinch 33 seconds left. It led to Sanders uncovering a wide-open Hunter to springiness Colorado a 24-14 lead astatine nan break.

“That momentum plaything correct earlier halftime was huge, obviously, successful their favor,” Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield said. “Just evidently disappointed successful nan loss, not playing great.”

The Buffaloes committed 3 unsportsmanlike behaviour penalties, including 1 connected information Shilo Sanders successful nan 4th fourth that concisely landed him connected nan bench. There was different connected Jimmy Horn Jr. early successful nan game. He hauled successful a walk from Sanders and raced 57 yards for what would’ve been a first-quarter touchdown, but arsenic he passed by a Cincinnati protect backmost he flashed a “peace” sign. It drew a emblem and negated nan score.

Hunter bailed retired his chap receiver pinch a 3-yard TD catch.

At 1 point, Deion Sanders implored nan fans complete nan nationalist reside strategy to not propulsion thing connected nan field. He reiterated that constituent aft nan game.

“The group doing that, you're amended than that,” Sanders said.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats defense struggled to get accordant unit connected Sanders and sacked him conscionable once.

Colorado: The Buffaloes looked snazzy wearing their all-gray uniforms pinch achromatic helmets. They recovered immoderate traction connected nan ground, too, rushing for 123 yards.

Cincinnati: A week break earlier hosting West Virginia connected Nov. 9.

Colorado: The Buffaloes will person a 2nd bye week earlier playing astatine Texas Tech connected Nov. 9.

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