Football is finally back! We don’t have to wait long to see the hype machine that is the Colorado Football program led by NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes started last year very hot and then had a less than stellar finish, so there are big hopes this season. With a star studded offense, none of those stars shine brighter than Shedeur Sanders.
Not many players have ever had this much hype coming into the season, with many analysts predicting Shedeur being a top draft pick in the NFL next year. It will be interesting to see if Shedeur can live up to the immense pressure that him and his father have put on himself and the team.
The game started off with NDSU (Trey Lance’s alma mater) driving the field fairly easily, but the Colorado defense was able to hold them to 3 points. The Colorado offense started the game with a very run heavy attack, running the ball 3 times before ever throwing a pass.
Then came this STRIKE
The Colorado defense came back on the field with a renewed energy, but was still unable to slow down NDSU. Cam Miller was able to tear apart every defense Colorado showed him. The biggest test on the drive came on 3rd and goal, and Miller was able to find his TE in the flats for an EASY score.
Not a GREAT start. Luckily, there was still plenty of time left, and Colorado can still win if they score every possession until the end of the game.
Shedeur and Colorado answered back 2 plays later with A BOMB to Jimmy Horn, the speedster … we got us a ballgame.
Think Shedeur is still a little peeved about being left off the AP best players list? I THINK SO 😂
While the offense got hot, Colorado’s defense continued to underwhelm. NDSU was able to once again march down the field, converting multiple third down attempts. Their one 3rd down stop was negated by a penalty that gave NDSU another shot at a much shorter attempt, which they converted with ease.
Cam Miller scored on the very next play, on a qb keeper to the right pylon.
After a stop on a 3rd and 1, Colorado went for it on 4th and inches and came up short.
After a couple of penalties again NDSU, and a big 3rd down stop, Colorado minimized the damage caused by their failed 4th down and multiple penalties on big 3rd downs. North Dakota State kicked the field goal and made the score 20-14.
Colorado would get another chance to score before half, but were unable to capitalize and punted the ball back to NDSU. Shedeur Sanders took a sack on the crucial 3rd and 4 play with around 4 minutes to play in the first half.
The Colorado defense came up with a big stop and got the ball back to the offense with under 1 minute left in the first half. Shedeur Sanders was able to make a number of impressive plays with his arm and drive the whole field for a last second field goal attempt which brought the game to 20-17 NDSU.
Colorado started with the ball in the second half, and they had to feel good about their chances if their star qb could continue his high level of play for the second half. They came out rolling, with Shedeur connecting with Jimmy Horn for a very fast first down.
Shedeur scrambled for a first down before connecting with Travis Hunter on a beautifully thrown deep ball.
Shedeur made his first mistake of the day when a ball he threw was deflected and intercepted in the end zone on the very next play.
The Colorado defense came up with a HUGE sack on 3rd and 5 and handed the ball back to their offense, who wasted no time with a big strike to Jimmy Horn (again). Sanders then hit Travis Hunter in the end zone for the lead.
NDSU was able to make some plays on the next drive, but Colorado’s defense was able to come up with a big stop and get the ball back for the offense with a chance to extend their lead to double digits.
Shedeur methodically marched Colorado down the field, milking the clock as he did, clearly understanding the assignment. He would need to score and leave as little time on the clock as possible for the Buffs to get out of there with the W.
Using both his arms and his legs, Shedeur set Colorado up in the red zone with 9:30 left in the game. Offsetting fouls led to 1st and goal from the 6 yard line. After 2 plays that went nowhere, Shedeur and Travis Hunter connected for what has to be the play of the week and continued to extend their lead.
North Dakota State was able to drive the ball downfield and score a TD of their own that came on a 20 yard scamper by Cam Miller to make the score 26 to 31 after a failed 2 pt conversion.
NDSU chose to kick the ball deep instead of attempting the onside, so Shedeur presumably could put the game away with one more scoring drive. Colorado started the drive from their 25 yard line, and they set out to drain the clock. On the most important play of the game, 3rd and 8, Shedeur dropped back while avoiding a heavy pass rush. He bought time with his legs and threw the ball deep, drawing a pass interference call and essentially ending the game.
Instead of milking the clock, Colorado decides to throw the ball deep and stops the clock with an incompletion. This allowed NDSU to use their final time out, and force another crucial 3rd and down. The first down pass could’ve been the worst play call on the day for the Colorado offense that had been playing situational football extremely well all day.
Unable to pick up the first down, that brought up a punt situation on 4th and 3 for Colorado from their own territory. They punted the ball back to North Dakota State with 38 seconds, needing their special teams and defense to come up big one more time.
In the end, Colorado’s defense was able to stand up and Shedeur finished with an incredible stat line, ending up going 26/34 for 445 yds 4 TDS and another 17 yards rushing.
Do you think Shedeur in on his way to winning the Heisman? Let us know in the comments.
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