Colorado Silences Haters in Win Over Cincinnati

© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Two-way superstar Travis Hunter played all but one snap and racked up 153 yards receiving while Shedeur Sanders accounted for three total touchdowns as the Colorado Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1) clinched bowl eligibility and stayed alive in the Big 12 Conference title race with a 34-23 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3, 3-2).

Game Summary

For the third consecutive game, the Buffaloes struck first on their opening offensive drive. Almost immediately, Colorado marched deep into the heart of the Cincinnati defense, capitalizing on the possession with a 3-yard touchdown strike from Sanders to Hunter, putting CU on top 7-0. After being dealt the early blow, the Bearcats quickly licked their wounds and responded with a trip to the end zone thanks to Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby connecting with wideout Tony Johnson to even up the score.

By the time the third quarter got underway, it was clear that Colorado had their eyes on the main prize: securing six wins and bowl eligibility for Miss Peggy. Committed to the running game, RB Isaiah Augustave capped off a 6-play, 62-yard scoring drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. The 6-foot-2 halfback rumbled for a punishing 91 yards on 22 carries, ensuring the Cincinnati run defense felt his presence on every carry.

With Colorado’s lead ballooning to 31-14 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bearcats showed tremendous heart in their comeback efforts. Cincy even made it a one-score game with 3:51 remaining on the clock after Sorby found TE Joe Royer for six. A conservative play-calling approach was abandoned on the Buffaloes' following possession, as Sanders and the passing attack took shots downfield to Hunter and LaJohntay Wester, putting CU in field-goal range. Nearing his maximum distance, reigning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week Alejandro Mata drilled a 47-yard field goal to put the game on ice, proving to be all she wrote.

Turning Point

Following alternating touchdowns from Colorado and Cincinnati, it seemed the Bearcats had come up with a big defensive stand by holding the Buffs to a field goal before halftime. However, a Sorsby QB run on fourth-and-1 was stopped short as Colorado took over at their own 46-yard-line with 24 seconds left remaining in the first half. Remarkably, Shedeur found Hunter for the second time of the half on a highlight-reel 34-yard touchdown with the latter stretching across for the 24-14 halftime. With the monumental swing, Colorado spent the rest of the night in firm control and never squandered the lead.

Defensive Mastermind

Evidently, it looked like a good old-fashioned shootout was unfolding at Folsom Field—until it wasn’t. Give credit where credit is due: defensive coordinator Robert Livingston deserves his flowers for his second-half adjustments, which once again flexed their muscles. The Colorado defense held Cincinnati to just 9 second-half points, surrendering only 351 yards of total offense all evening. Coming from the NFL as the former secondary coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2016-2023, the 38-year-old may have been a home run hire for Deion Sanders' staff. With each passing week from the sidelines, Livingston is proving to be one of the brightest young defensive minds in the sport.

Colorado Is Going Bowling

Colorado's sixth win of the season on Saturday night marked the program's first bowl eligibility since the 2016 season, when the Buffaloes finished with a 10-4 record. In the past 20 seasons in Boulder, CU has managed to go bowling just five times, including an Alamo Bowl appearance during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Since going 1-11 just two years ago, coach Sanders has elevated the Colorado football program to relevance and is now learning how to win at the highest level of college football. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s safe to say a dangerous team is on the rise, perched high in the Rocky Mountains at 5,430 feet above sea level. The silence from the critics of Coach Prime and Colorado is deafening.