BOULDER, Colo. — After an uncertain beginning, Shedeur Sanders delivered a stellar performance, throwing three touchdown passes while LaJohntay Wester electrified the crowd with a 76-yard punt return for a score. This triumph on Saturday propelled No. 18 Colorado to a convincing 49-24 victory over Utah.
With this win, the Buffaloes have now secured four consecutive victories, improving their standings to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12. They are well-positioned for a shot at the conference championship and potentially a place in the College Football Playoff.
Sanders’ day began with a setback as he tossed an interception on his opening throw, followed by a fumble later in the game. However, the quarterback rebounded superbly, completing 30 of his 41 passes for a total of 340 yards. He connected with Will Sheppard for two of those touchdown passes. Sanders now boasts 27 touchdown throws this season, just one shy of matching the school record for touchdowns in a single season set by Sefo Liufau in 2014.
As the fourth quarter got underway with Colorado leading 35-16, Utah made a late attempt to narrow the gap. Nonetheless, their efforts were stymied by a key interception from D.J. McKinney. Shilo Sanders then delivered a critical sack that caused a fumble, which the Buffaloes were able to recover.
Travis Hunter, a two-way player and Heisman contender, showcased his skills with bold gold cleats and a remarkable 28-yard catch on a crucial fourth-and-eight play, as well as a 5-yard rushing touchdown with just over two minutes left in the game to cement the victory.
On the defensive side, Hunter intercepted a pass but also allowed Dorian Singer to score a 40-yard touchdown catch, marking the first touchdown pass caught by Hunter this season. Meanwhile, the Utes have now suffered six straight losses, struggling on offense throughout the game. Their scoring mainly came from three field goals by Cole Becker before Isaac Wilson successfully connected with Singer for a touchdown. Wilson later found Caleb Lohner, who scored a two-point conversion, narrowing the score to 35-24 with only 8:34 remaining.
In a festive atmosphere, the crowd celebrated Peggy Coppom, a beloved super-fan of the Buffaloes who is turning 100 years old on Tuesday. A crowd of 54,646 attended the game, the fourth-largest in the school’s history, and they sang her a birthday tribute in the fourth quarter.
For Utah, with a record of 4-6, their streak of 10 consecutive winning seasons is now at risk. As for Colorado, their running game gained momentum with Isaiah Augustave achieving a 37-yard touchdown run, marking the longest rushing touchdown for the team since 2018.
The Buffaloes, after this performance, have not been ranked higher than 18th in the AP poll since the 2016 season. Looking ahead, Utah will face Iowa State at home next Saturday, while Colorado is set to visit Kansas on the same day.