Shedeur Sanders bounced back from a rough start to throw three touchdown passes, and LaJohntay Wester returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown as No. 18 Colorado beat Utah 49-24 on Saturday.
The Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 17 CFP) extended their winning streak to four games and are still in a strong position for a spot in the conference title game and possibly the College Football Playoff. They’ve already won more games this season than last year, when they finished with a 4-8 record.
“We haven’t even put it all together yet. We haven’t played our best game,” said coach Deion Sanders. “That should be, in itself, scary. When I said, ‘We comin’,’ we still comin’. We never stopped comin’. We are comin’. We ain’t nearly there yet.”
Sanders started the game with a tough interception on his first throw and later lost a fumble, but he recovered to finish 30 of 41 passing for 340 yards. He threw two touchdown passes to Will Sheppard.
Sanders now has 27 touchdown passes for the season, just one shy of the school record of 28 set by Sefo Liufau in 2014.
Leading 35-16 early in the fourth quarter, Colorado saw Utah make a late push. But the Utes’ comeback attempt was stopped by an interception from D.J. McKinney, followed by a sack from Shilo Sanders that caused a fumble, which Colorado recovered.
“I’m thankful for the defense,” Shedeur Sanders said. “I may have to take them out to dinner this week for saving me, for saving the team.”
Travis Hunter, a two-way star and Heisman hopeful, made a big impact with his flashy gold cleats and a remarkable 28-yard catch between two Utah defenders on fourth-and-8. He also sealed the win with a 5-yard touchdown on a reverse with 2:22 left.
On defense, Hunter intercepted a pass but was also beaten by Utah’s Dorian Singer for a 40-yard touchdown, marking the first touchdown pass Hunter has allowed this season.
Coach Deion Sanders believes Hunter should be the Heisman frontrunner. “It’s supposed to go to the best college football player. I think that’s been a wrap since Week 2,” said Sanders, whose team ended a seven-game losing streak against Utah. “We got a wonderful display of cameras here, and I think we’re on national television every week.”
Utah (4-6, 1-6) lost their sixth straight game, with their offense struggling early. They only managed three field goals by Cole Becker before Isaac Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Dorian Singer.
Wilson later connected with Caleb Lohner for another touchdown and added a two-point conversion to make it 35-24 with 8:34 left in the game.
“It’s the most difficult year of my coaching career, hands down. Not even close,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “Right now, I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone.’”
