Expectations were high Saturday for the University of Colorado to reach the Big 12 Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. Thanks to the efforts of Shedur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the 20th-ranked Buffaloes recovered from an early double-digit deficit to earn a 41-27 road victory over Texas Tech.
This win, combined with No. 17 Iowa State’s 45-36 loss to Kansas, gave the Buffaloes sole possession of second place in the Big 12 standings. If Colorado (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) wins its final three games, it will secure a berth in the Big 12 title game in coach Deion Sanders’ second year with the program.
ANOTHER BUFFS W @CUBuffsFootball is 7-2 for the first time since 2016 💪🦬 pic.twitter.com/RMCGNCRmUE
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 10, 2024
How Colorado succeeded
The Buffaloes got off to a rough start in Lubbock, Texas, trailing 13-0 late in the first quarter. Colorado punted on its first four possessions and Texas Tech scored on its first three. The Buffs’ defense holding the Red Raiders to field goals twice proved crucial.
The Buffaloes got going midway through the second quarter when Shedur Sanders found Rajontay Wester for a 23-yard touchdown pass. They scored on five consecutive offensive possessions from the second to third quarters, building a 31-20 lead.
Colorado had a typical offensive performance, with Sanders scattering the ball to talented receivers. Hunter (99 receiving yards), Wester (82 yards) and Will Shepard (79 yards) each caught at least six passes and one touchdown.
The biggest credit for the win goes to the defense. Colorado averaged 36.4 points per game behind Tech, the Big 12’s highest scoring offense. The Buffs’ defense was great and did what most teams haven’t been able to do this year: slow down Texas Tech running back Taj Brooks.
In the first three quarters, Colorado held Brooks, the Big 12’s second-leading rusher, to just 58 yards on 23 attempts. Brooks broke out in the fourth quarter, gaining 137 yards on 31 carries. But with less than five minutes left and the Red Raiders looking to make it a one-possession game and facing fourth-and-goal, the Buffaloes’ front seven shredded Tech’s offense, tackled Brooks for a point, and on downs. Forced a turnover. .
Colorado also consistently pressured Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, resulting in six downs. Linebacker Nikai Hill-Greene ejected Morton in the fourth quarter, defensive end Arden Walker had a sack/fumble late in the fourth, and Shiloh Sanders returned it 6 yards for a touchdown to seal the win. Decided.
Shiloh celebrated by paying homage to his father’s signature touchdown dance.
Shiloh Sanders Scoop and Score 🔥
And he goes to celebrate his dad 🙌 @CUBuffsFootball | @DeionSanders pic.twitter.com/cLvoIAcsTj
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 10, 2024
travis hunter watch
Hunter, in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race, played most of the team’s snaps, as usual. His biggest impact was felt at receiver, where he led the Buffs with nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown on 16 targets. 75 of his 99 yards came after the catch, 26 of which came on a touchdown reception that gave Colorado a two-point lead.
Hunter’s score late in the third quarter was his 99th snap of the game. He was No. 1 in The Athletic’s latest Heisman straw poll.
Travis Hunter goes home 🏠 @CUBuffsFootball extends lead in Lubbock 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VknF4aBTrZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 9, 2024
Hunter also found a midfield snack in the first half. Earlier this week, Deion Sanders learned of the decades-old tradition of Texas Tech students throwing tortillas into the air during games. There were plenty of carbohydrates in the air Saturday, and many of them fell onto the field. Hunter picked it up and shoved it into his uniform.
Travis Hunter just grabbed a tortilla from the field and shoved it in his pants 😂
🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/qsiLLSvU5i
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 9, 2024
What happened to Iowa?
Last month, Iowa State was one of two undefeated teams in the Big 12, ideally positioned for both a conference title and a playoff berth. The Cyclones’ promising team is currently in serious jeopardy and after two straight losses, they need help to make it to the conference title game. Last week’s home loss to Texas Tech hurt, but Saturday’s comeback against the Jayhawks was an uppercut.
Iowa State’s best defense in the league was wearing skates on Saturday thanks to Kansas quarterback Jaron Daniels. The fifth-year senior looked like his early 2023 self, cutting through Iowa State’s secondary with his downfield finishes and using his legs to move the chains in the run game.
“Mr. Unstoppable Today” Jaron Daniels.
28-10 Jayhawks – 2 minutes before half. #Big12FB | @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/FJ5NpMO0Rv
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 9, 2024
Daniels completed six passes of 20 yards or more, including a 70-yard touchdown toss to Luke Grimm and a 62-yard pass to Quentin Skinner that set up Daniels’ touchdown run. Iowa State gave Kansas receivers free runs early and often, helping the Cyclones cut the deficit to 25 points by the third quarter.
Kansas running back Devin Neal also ran wild against the Cyclones, recording 138 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
Offensively, quarterback Rocco Becht was pressured frequently in the first half, and Iowa State struggled to generate a consistent rushing attack. When the Cyclones picked up the tempo on offense in the second half, Becht found his rhythm. Iowa State scored 23 points in the final 20 minutes of the game, but Becht threw a pick-six to Kansas’ Melo Dotson to stop the rally.
Big 12 title and impact on CFP
Currently, there are only two teams in the Big 12 with one loss or less in the conference: No. 9 BYU and Colorado. No. 19 Kansas State, which did not play Saturday, is the other Big 12 team in the playoff bubble.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who watched West Virginia University’s win over Cincinnati on Saturday, urged conference members to get a more favorable evaluation in the playoff rankings and said he hoped the league could get two teams into the playoffs. I’m looking forward to it.”
Iowa State’s loss on Saturday destroyed the conference’s chances for a two-team spot. The most likely path for the Big 12 to win two games would be for BYU to go undefeated in the regular season but lose in the conference championship to earn one of the at-large spots. The top five in the conference will advance to the playoff field, with up to seven spots in contention. In the Big 12, BYU, Colorado and Kansas State have the best chances of earning either an automatic bid or an at-large bid.
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(Photo by Shedule Sanders: Stephen Garcia / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
