Prime Effect: Buffaloes Stun Bears on Hail Mary, Win in OT

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QB Shedeur Sanders threw for 341 yards with a pair of touchdowns, WR Travis Hunter reeled in 7 catches for 130 yards, and the Colorado Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0 Big 12 Conference) miraculously overcame a 24-10 deficit to shock the Baylor Bears (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) 38-31 in overtime.

Game Summary

It ain't over until it's over, and Baylor learned that the hard way. With just 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Sanders launched a prayer to the end zone, only for it to be dropped by wideout Will Sheppard with two ticks remaining. It seemed Colorado's first Big 12 game in 14 seasons would end in disappointment. But astonishingly, Sanders sent the ball soaring through the pouring rain one last time, connecting with wide receiver LaJohntay Wester in the end zone as time expired. Almost 30 years to the day of the infamous "Miracle in Michigan," there was clearly magic in the air.

With the game tied at 31, Colorado harnessed their momentum to strike first in overtime. Facing a chance to extend the game, Baylor quickly found themselves on first-and-goal at the CU 2-yard line. But it was Travis Hunter who lowered his head and dislodged the football from running back Dominic Richardson. As the Buffaloes scrambled to recover, the loose ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, sealing a wild victory in Boulder.

At one point, Baylor held a commanding 24-10 lead in the second quarter, fueled by an electrifying 100-yard kickoff return from WR Jamaal Bell and a 45-yard touchdown run by QB Sawyer Robertson. Following a dazzling 58-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to WR Omarion Miller just before halftime—one that would have made Harry Houdini proud—the momentum swung in the Buffaloes' favor as the third quarter began. Even though Baylor took a seven-point lead late, Colorado made the necessary plays down the stretch to prevail in marvelous fashion.

Heisman Trophy Watch

College football hasn't seen anyone quite like Hunter. For yet another week, he was everywhere on the field. While the two-way star didn’t find the end zone this game, he racked up 130 receiving yards—his fourth consecutive game with more than 100 yards. To top off his Heisman Trophy candidacy, Hunter's forced fumble that sealed the Colorado win felt straight out of a fairytale. As a whole, Hunter tallied 3 solo tackles on the evening. With the Heisman buzz surrounding him this season, his case for a trip to New York should only strengthen in the coming weeks.

Sack Party

There are still reasons for concern if you’re a CU supporter, starting with the offensive line. Despite showing improvement against Colorado State, the Buffs regressed in their conference opener. Credit Baylor’s pass rush, which harassed Sanders all night long. By the end of the game, the Bears had sacked Colorado’s star quarterback eight times. This isn’t a recipe for success moving forward, but it’s something Baylor can build upon in Big 12 play.

What It Means

Buffaloes

This is the exact type of game that could catapult the Buffaloes' season. Let’s be real: Colorado snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. With this being as close to a must-win as possible for CU, they found a way to get the job done—something they struggled to do last season. With a 1-0 record to kick off Big 12 action, the Buffaloes will head to the Sunshine State to face the UCF Knights (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) on Sept. 29 in Orlando, Fla.

Bears

There’s no other way around it—this one hurts. Fortunately, there’s still plenty of season left for Baylor to turn things around. Head coach Dave Aranda may be coaching for his future in his fifth season at the helm, and securing a hard-fought bounce-back win at home against the BYU Cougars (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) could be monumental.