Sep 2, 20232 min read

Colorado Buffaloes Stampede the #17 TCU Horned Frogs 45-42

Colorado Mascot Ralphie-Colorado Stampedes the TCU Horned Frogs 45-42 — "Run Ralphie Run" by cuboulder via Flickr

Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders led his Buffaloes into Fort Worth, Texas to face off against the #17 TCU Horned Frogs. And when the game clock struck zeros and the final horn sounded, the Buffs had achieved something unachievable in the last 27 meetings on the road against a Top 20 team, a victory.

The Game Notes - Colorado Gigs the Horned Frogs

With all the talk and storylines surrounding Coach Prime and the Colorado football program in the off-season, this team did not disappoint once they lined up to butt heads for real on the football field.

This game was very entertaining, with several lead changes.

Both teams combined for 1106 total yards of offense and 57 first downs. Colorado led 17-14 at halftime.

TCU did not help their cause, committing two turnovers and 10 penalties for 78 yards.

Coach Prime’s son, QB Shedeur Sanders, set a Colorado record by throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns on 38 of 47 passing (81%), in his first college game at the FBS level. In fact, four Colorado receivers gained over 100 yards receiving in this game. The Buffaloes only had two receivers gain 100 yards receiving all of last season.

Travis Hunter had 119 yards receiving on 11 catches. Hunter also made an interception in the red zone to thwart a TCU scoring drive, along with three tackles on defense. Also on defense, Shilo Sanders and Marvin Ham II led the Buffs with 10 tackles each.

In the 4th quarter down by four at 35-31, Colorado scored on a 26-yard TD pass from Sanders to Jimmy Horn, Jr. to take a slim 38-35 with less than 8 minutes to go. On the ensuing kickoff, TCU returner Major Everhart threw what he thought was a haymaker from his hometown of Amarillo by returning the kick 86 yards to the Colorado 8-yard line.

Two plays later, TCU RB Trey Sanders scored on a 1-yard run to retake the lead at 42-38 with 7 minutes left.

On the ensuing possession, Sanders marched Colorado down the field like it was Patton’s Third Army. And on 4th and 2 at the TCU 46-yard line, Sanders connected with Dylan Edwards in the flat and Edwards took it to the house, then shut and locked the front door, to put Colorado up for good at 45-42. On their final possession, TCU failed to convert on 4th down and 9 and that was the game.

Play of the Game-Sanders to Edwards for the Lead and the Win for the Colorado Buffaloes

With a little over 4 minutes left in the game, the 46-yard TD pass from Sanders to Edwards to retake the lead was the knock-out punch to the glass chin of the Horned Frogs.

Colorado Game MVP - QB Shedeur Sanders

No one could have predicted, nor did they, that Shedeur Sanders would turn in a record-setting performance. Against a Power 5 opponent known for its defense, Sanders lit them up like the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.