The Colorado Buffaloes outlast the Colorado State Rams 43-35 in a double overtime classic on Saturday at Boulder, Colorado in Folsom Field.

The Buffaloes trailed 28-17 in the 4^th quarter with 11:22 left in the game but were able march down field to score a field goal midway through the quarter. Then, after forcing a punt, Shedeur Sanders threw a 46-yard touchdown to Jimmy Horn Jr. and converted a 2-point conversion to tie the game at 28.

The Rams would have an opportunity to retake the lead but went three-and-out and punt the ball to send the game to overtime.

Both went on 4-play scoring drives in the 1^st overtime period with Colorado scoring from a 3-yard TD pass from Sanders to Michael Harrison. Meanwhile, Colorado State scored when Braylen-Fowler Nicolosi threw an 8-yard TD pass to Tory Horton.

In the 2^nd OT period, Sanders threw another TD pass to Michael Harrison this time for 18-yards. Then Sanders converted the 2-point attempt by completing a pass to Xavier Weaver. On the following possession, the Rams were pushed back 14 yards after an illegal block penalty and Nicolosi threw 2 straight incompletions. On 4^th down, Nicolosi dropped back and threw a pass towards the endzone that was picked off by Trevor Woods, securing the game for Colorado.

Shedeur Sanders led Colorado to this come from behind victory by completing 38/47 passes for 348 yards, 4 touchdowns, and an interception. Sanders also played a crucial role helping the Buffaloes travel 98 yards down the field to tie the score late in the game.

“Well, we do it in practice all the time, so it’s not really a shocker or surprise to us”, said Sanders. “We like those high-pressure moments, that’s what we live in. I wish the game was just straight that”.

Tensions were at an all-time high for this rivalry matchup before the game even started. Earlier this week Colorado St head coach Jay Norvell criticized Colorado’s head coach Deion Sander for wearing sunglasses and hats during interviews.

Then, during pre-game warmups, both teams had to be separated after back-and-forth arguing and trash talking. This pre-game hostility led directly into the game, with both teams playing very physical.

In the 1^st quarter, Travis Hunter was hit late by CSU’s Henry Blackburn. Hunter played after the late hit, but eventually checked out of the game and was sent to a local hospital. Hunter’s injuries or why he did not return to the game remain unknown at this time.

Colorado also felt that they hurt themselves throughout the game, which led to the game going down to the wire.

“It wasn’t really nothing they were doing, it was just us”, said Shiloh Sanders. “That’s just how it’s going to be this whole season. We have the talent to be the best in this conference [and] in this country, but we can only do it to ourselves”.

Shilo Sanders had his best performance of the season so far against Colorado St. recording a forced fumble and an 80-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

A crucial deciding factor for this game was Colorado State’s issue with penalties and personal fouls. Throughout the game, the Rams were penalized 16 times for 176 total yards.

“I never seen such a lopsided game penalty wise”, said coach Jay Norvell.

Colorado St. had many self-inflicted wounds due to penalties, such as illegal blocking, pass interference, targeting, and unnecessary roughness.

Though in defeat, the Rams had notable performances from Tory Horton, Louis Brown, and Dallin Holker. Horton recorded 16 receptions for 133 yards and a TD. Brown tallied 10 receptions for 131 yards and a TD. Holker collected 6 receptions for 109 yards and 2 TDs.

Up Next

Next week the Colorado Buffaloes seek to continue their winning streak as they travel to Oregon to take on the undefeated Ducks on Saturday. Meanwhile, Colorado St. is on the road again, as they take Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro next Saturday.