There was lightning before the game and thunder during it from the Buffaloes. After last week’s exciting come from behind victory over the Baylor Bears, Colorado earned their biggest win of the young season thus far with a masterful 48–21 rout over the UCF Knights in Orlando. Even a 50-minute weather delay could not slow them down.
Some Hall of Fame players were on hand and did not let the weather deter them, the playmaker Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens. Among the A-list celebrities spotted in the city were former NFL MVP Cam Newton, ex-NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall, and renowned rapper Rick Ross. Orlando Magic forward Pablo Banchero made the trip down the highway to see the Buffs and Knights.
Shedeur Sanders was a surgeon on the field, picking apart the Knights and throwing for three touchdowns and 290 yards, completing 28 of 35 passes with one harmless interception that happened in the first quarter. Two-way superstar Travis Hunter was one of the main targets of Sanders’ passing, exploding with nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Will Sheppard paced the Buffaloes with 99 yards receiving and a touchdown on four receptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, Hunter was spectacular once again, showing off his unbelievable ball hawking skills, coming down with an interception in the third quarter with the Buffaloes firmly in control leading 34-14. After the play was whistled dead, the two-way star could not contain his emotions and feverishly ran 37 yards to the end zone and made a Heisman Trophy pose that will surely bring more notoriety to his one-of-a-kind season. That was Hunter’s second pick of the season.
With the win, Colorado improves to 4-1 and 2-0 in conference play (Big 12). While the Buffaloes lost to arguably the toughest team on their early schedule, falling 28-10 to Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, their outstanding start is fulfilling the hype for coach Deion Sanders’ team going into the make-it-or-break-it 2024 campaign, with all eyes staring at them.
“I feel like we’re trending in the right direction,” Deion Sanders said. “I feel like you guys are seeing the fruit of a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication. I love where we are as a program. Could we be better? Of course. I know we’re trending in the right direction.”
However, there is no time for celebration because after the bye week, the schedule moves up in weight class and features a gauntlet of tough opponents, including No. 23 Kansas State, Arizona, No. 10 Utah, Kansas and No. 20 Oklahoma State.
UCF committed four costly turnovers on Saturday, throwing two interceptions and losing two fumbles. The second of those two fumbles by signal caller KJ Jefferson was picked up and taken 93 yards to the house by safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig to put the icing on the cake and give the Buffaloes a 27-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
“Football-wise, this was one of the first times that we came out and played a collective game, offensively, defensively and special teams,” coach Sanders said.
Embed from Getty Images“Shedeur … I think he got touched a couple of times, but other than that he ran the ball effectively. That’s what we want. We want that kind of balance. I know these guys can do it. I believe in them wholeheartedly.”
Jefferson had an up and down day, compiling 284 yards on 20-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The senior also used his wheels and playmaking ability and ran for a touchdown, toting the rock 20 times for 76 yards. Running back RJ Harvey caught four of Jefferson’s passes for 92 yards and a score, adding 77 yards on the ground on 16 carries.
“Extremely disappointing for our team, for the fans. … To have Big Noon Kickoff was a big deal for the university,” Jefferson said. “For us to come out and not execute at a high level and come up short, it hurts. We just have to get back to the drawing board, put our best foot forward and prepare the right way for our next game.”
The Knights found themselves in an unfamiliar position, suffered their first L of the season after beginning 3-0 and winning their first Big 12 game of the season 35-34 over TCU.
Colorado has a bye next week before its toughest challenge yet, hosting Kansas State Wildcats on October 12. UCF travels to Gainesville next Saturday for an intra-state, non-conference matchup with the Florida Gators.
