The Colorado Buffaloes stun the college football world by defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 45-42 in an instant classic on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

This was Colorado’s new head coach, Deion Sanders, first win with the team after many doubted his ability to coach a Power 5 school. After the game, Sanders would respond to those who he felt doubted the Buffaloes going into this season. 

“We told you we coming. We told you we coming”, said coach Sanders. “You thought we was joking. And guess what, we keep receipts”. 

The Buffaloes were able to pull off the upset thanks to their dominant QB-WR duo of Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, who played together at Jackson State University last season. Sanders broke the school record for most passing yards in a game with 510 by completing 38 passes on 47 attempts for 4 touchdowns. Hunter, who played over 110 snaps at WR and CB, recorded 11 receptions for 119, 3 tackles, a pass deflection, and an interception. 

Many questioned Hunter’s ability to play both sides of the ball, but his performance and Coach Sanders’ belief in him shows that he would continue to accept the heavy snap load in the future. 

“I tried to tell you, but you didn’t want to believe me”, said Coach Sanders. “I’m just a lofty-old young coach, I don’t know anything about football. I just played in the NFL for 14 [years], played at a high level in college for 4 [years]”. 

Sanders continued his praise for Hunter and others by suggesting that Colorado has players who should be in conversation for NCAA football awards. 

“Travis is him, as the young folks say, Travis is it” said Coach Sanders. “I really think we got a couple guys that should be front runners for the Heisman right now”. 

With this win, Colorado avenged their 38-13 loss to TCU from last season.

Though in defeat, TCU had good performances from Chandler Morris, who recorded 279 passing yards for 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and Emani Bailey, who rushed for 164 yards in 14 carries. 

Game Recap

Colorado started the game strong by forcing a three and out on TCU’s opening possession. They then traveled 73 yards down the field to score the first touchdown of the game when Shedeur Sanders threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Edwards with 8:58 remaining in the 1^st quarter to take a 7-0 lead. 

The Buffaloes continued their dominant performance opening quarter performance when Trevor Woods intercepted a pass from Chandler Morris on the goal line for a touchback at 6:22 in the 1^st. Colorado would move 49 yards down the field but would get their field goal attempt blocked by Namdi Obiazor. 

TCU would take advantage of the blocked field goal scoring on their next drive early in the 2^nd quarter. They traveled 52 yards downfield, and Trey Sanders capped off the drive with a 7-yard touchdown rush to tie the game at 7 with 13:57 remaining in the 2^nd quarter. 

Colorado would respond quickly when Sanders conducted a 10-play 75-yard drive in 4:29. Sy’veon Wilkerson rushed for the touchdown, when on the TCU 2-yard line, to give the Buffaloes the 14-7 lead 9:28 in the 2^nd quarter. 

After 2 straight punts from both teams, the Horned Frogs would miss a 43-yard field goal wide right after a 27-yard drive. TCU would immediately get a second chance to score late in the 2^nd quarter when Colorado’s Edwards fumbled on their own 25-yard line, just two plays into the drive. TCU took advantage of the takeaway by scoring a fast touchdown when Trey Sanders ran for a 4-yard touchdown to tie the score at 14 with 1:53 left in the half.  

The Buffaloes responded instantly by scoring a field goal, on a 9 play 44-yard drive, to close out the 1^st half with a 17-14 lead. 

Both offenses would start the 2^nd half fast, by scoring back-to back touchdowns. Sanders completed a pass to Edwards for a 75-yard touchdown for Colorado to extend their lead to 10. Then Chandler Morris completed a pass to Jared Wiley for a 21-yard touchdown to close the deficit to three with 13:29 remaining in the 3^rd quarter. 

After a Colorado punt, TCU moved down the field in scoring position, but Travis Hunter completed a miraculous diving interception to stop the Horned Frogs short at the Colorado 4-yard line.  

The Buffaloes would punt for the second straight position and TCU would take advantage this time. Chandler Morris would drive the Horned Frogs 63 yards down the field to take their 1^st lead of the game by throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Wright, which set the score at 28-24 with a 2:32 left in the 3rd quarter. 

Both teams would then continue their offensive clinic in the 4^th quarter by going on four straight touchdown drives and traded the lead 5 times. But, with 4:25 left in the 4^th, Colorado recaptured the lead after Sanders threw a short pass to Edwards that was took 46 yards up field for a touchdown. This TD gave the Buffaloes a 45-42 lead with 4:25 left in the 4^th quarter. 

TCU would try to retake the lead but was stopped on 4^th down at the Colorado 43-yard line when Jared Wiley was tackled by Myles Slusher short of the 1^st down marker with 55 seconds left in the game. Then, Colorado ran out the clock to earn their first win of the season.  

Up Next

Colorado plays their 1^st home game of the season next Saturday when they take on Nebraska at Folsom Field. Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs will stay at home next week as they take on Nicholls on Saturday.