Buffaloes Kick Off Season with Win Over North Dakota State in Boulder
It was an electric night in Boulder as the Colorado Buffaloes kicked off their college football season. They managed to pull off a 31-26 victory against the tough North Dakota State Bison. The game featured some jaw-dropping moments, especially from Colorado’s star players, who were the talk of the town after the final whistle.
Shedeur Sanders Shines as Quarterback
Let’s start with the big guy, Shedeur Sanders. The Buffaloes’ quarterback showed off some serious skills by throwing for a whopping 445 yards on just 34 pass attempts. Talk about efficiency! He was connecting well with his receivers, and it was fun to watch. His arm was dishing out pinpoint passes, but he’s still got some work to do with the offensive line. Although big upgrades were made during the offseason, it’s clear they haven’t fully clicked yet. Sanders has been sacked way too many times in past seasons, and one game isn’t going to solve that problem overnight.
Travis Hunter Takes Center Stage
But it wasn’t just Sanders stealing the show. Travis Hunter wowed the crowd with his versatility, playing nearly the entire game as both a cornerback and wide receiver. He made his presence felt on the offensive end, snagging seven catches for 132 yards and scoring three touchdowns. His second and third touchdowns were complete game-changers, with the first being a crucial 13-yard catch that pushed the Buffs into a lead late in the third quarter. But it was his **ridiculous catch** midway through the fourth that really affirmed his status as possibly the most dynamic player in college football.
Hunter is a five-star recruit who excels not just at catching passes but also on defense. He is a rarity in football, playing both sides of the ball effectively. It’s no wonder NFL scouts are already whispering about him being a first-round pick if he were to play only one position.
Nail-Biting Moments in the Fourth Quarter
As thrilling as the game was, it wasn’t without some heart-stopping moments. With just under 2 minutes left, the Bison’s quarterback, Cam Miller, closed the gap to a mere five points. The Buffaloes needed a first down to seal the victory. They were in a tough spot but lucked out when North Dakota committed a pass interference penalty. However, instead of running down the clock, the Buffaloes made a puzzling choice to throw the ball on the next play, which resulted in an incomplete pass. Talk about a head-scratcher!
That mistake handed the Bison one last chance with less than 40 seconds on the clock. A Hail Mary attempt landed just five yards shy of the end zone. Let’s just say that Colorado fans’ hearts were racing until the very end. While they got the win, it wasn’t necessarily a game that screamed “Big 12 title contenders” for the Buffaloes.
Next Up: A Tough Test Against Nebraska
Looking ahead, Colorado has a challenging match against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are expected to be significantly stronger this season, especially with their freshman quarterback, Dylan Raiola. The atmosphere in Lincoln will likely be intense, and it’ll be a true test for the Buffaloes.
This opening win wasn’t perfect, but it did prevent an embarrassing start to the season. Colorado is going to need more than just Sanders and Hunter if they want to make some noise this year. If they can’t balance out their offensive game plan, their high-powered offense may struggle against tougher opponents in the Big 12.
