Colorado
3-0 , 0-0
Colorado State
0-2 , 0-0
Takeaways From Buffs OT Win Over Rams
September 17, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Whew.
If you stayed up late Saturday night (and early Sunday morning) to watch the fireworks at Folsom Field, congratulations.
You saw a game for the ages, a performance that overnight became permanently etched in Colorado football lore as a Buffaloes instant classic.
Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Buffs rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter with an already-legendary 98-yard touchdown march in the final minutes to force overtime, then scored two more touchdowns in the extra periods to collect a 43-35 victory over rival Colorado State.
The game had everything. Big plays, huge momentum swings, emotional moments, critical mistakes from both sides — and finally, an almost mythical performance from CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders when the situation demanded it.
Sanders was brilliant when anything less would not have been enough. After a game in which CU's offense had struggled to find anything resembling consistency, he produced the game-tying touchdown pass and two-point conversion in the final minutes, then tacked on two more touchdown passes in the extra periods to secure the win.
His name will no doubt continue to be a part of the Heisman Trophy conversation in a year in which great quarterback play is a dominant theme in the Pac-12.
But there were many more storylines wrapped up in this one, moments that set the stage for the dramatic finish while adding to the improbable arc of Coach Prime's overnight turnaround.
(Inexplicably, Colorado dropped a notch Sunday in the AP poll to No. 19. Go figure.)
Our weekly takeaways:
1. The offense was great when necessary, but the defense made it possible. Coordinator Charles Kelly's defense is showing a great aptitude for making big plays at the most critical of moments.
Shilo Sanders had an 80-yard pick six to give CU an early 7-0 lead. The Buffs forced and recovered a fumble deep in their own territory early in the third quarter, then recorded a Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig interception late in the period.
And finally, when CU absolutely had to have a defensive stop to give its offense one more chance, the Buffs delivered. Colorado held CSU's offense at midfield, leading to a punt and CU's game-saving drive in the final minutes.
Yes, CSU racked up nearly 500 yards in total offense, including 397 in the air. Yes, Colorado gave up 10 of 20 third-down conversion tries.
But CU's defense also gave up just three touchdowns, scored one of its own and for the third week in a row, produced game-changing turnovers.
2. Shedeur Sanders thrives on pressure. In Colorado's opening 45-42 win over TCU, Sanders directed three touchdown drives in the final 16 minutes of the game to overcome a Buffs deficit each time.
Saturday night — actually Sunday morning — he took it up a notch with the 98-yard scoring drive and ensuing two-point conversion, then two more touchdowns in OT. The long drive had special meaning for fans in the state, reminiscent of John Elway and the Broncos marching 98 yards for a game-tying score in Cleveland in the 1986 AFC Championship game, which the Broncos won in overtime.
What Sanders accomplished against the Rams was even more special than his TCU effort because the offense hadn't played particularly well up to that point. But he shrugged off the struggles, put the offense on his back and made play after play.
"I knew even if we got the ball on the two, three, or four-yard line, as long as the ball is in Shedeur's hands, we're going to get down this field," Coach Prime said. "I knew that without a shadow of a doubt."
3. Another weapon unveiled. It seems that the Buffs are showing off a new offensive weapon on a weekly basis.
This week, it was tight end Michael Harrison, a converted wide receiver who came up with huge clutch catches down the stretch.
Harrison finished with seven catches for 76 yards, including two touchdowns in overtime and the game-tying two-point conversion.
But he also had a key reception in a CU field goal drive late in the third quarter and another long catch in a drive that ended in a missed field goal.
Credit to offensive coordinator Sean Lewis and QB Sanders for maintaining Harrison as an option.
4. Juwan Mitchell becoming a stellar defensive contributor. Mitchell finished with a team-leading 15 tackles — 13 solo — against the Rams. He is displaying a great nose for the ball and an ability to make plays from sideline to sideline and will continue to grow as an impact guy.
5. PFF grades are solid again. Not surprisingly, a number of Buffs finished with good grades from Pro Football Focus.
Shedeur Sanders checked in at a blistering 91.7. Harrison was second on offense with a 75.9 mark and tackles Savion Washington and Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, wide receiver Xavier Weaver and running back Anthony Hankerson were all above 65.
Defensively, safety Shilo Sanders topped the Buffs list with a 76.0 grade, while safety Trevor Woods, OLB Jordan Domineck, ILB Marvin Ham and rush end Derrick McLendon all graded out above 70.
6. Sacks still an issue. While QB Sanders has a great touch in avoiding the rush, he was still sacked four times for 37 yards in losses.
Those are numbers Colorado will have to improve as the Buffs head into Pac-12 play.
7. Ditto with penalties. While the Buffs didn't come close to CSU's astounding 17 penalties for 182 yards, Colorado still found itself flagged 10 times for 87 yards.
That's too much yellow linen, particularly because that included too many unforced errors such as false starts, illegal formations and unsportsmanlike penalties.
Beginning next week at No. 10 Oregon, the margin for error drops significantly. Every mistake will be magnified. The Buffs need to at least reduce those unforced errors.
8. Run game needs work. Thus far, CU's inability to really establish anything resembling a consistent ground game hasn't cost the Buffs. They have scored when absolutely necessary and they are 3-0.
But sooner or later — probably sooner — they are going to need a rushing attack that can keep defenses honest. It almost cost the Buffaloes Saturday, as they finished with just 70 yards on 25 carries, a 2.8-yard average.
Even if you take sacks out of the equation, Colorado barely surpassed 100 yards on the ground. That's a number that will need to improve.
9. Special teams are steady. Although the Buffs did miss one field goal, Coach Prime switched kickers and Alejandro Mata was true on his two attempts. Meanwhile, punter Mark Vassett continues to be reliable. Vassett kicked five times for a 48.4-yard average and dropped two inside the 20. Those are numbers coaches can live with.
10. Resilience continues to be a hallmark. These Buffs could have folded up the tent any number of times this year and be staring at a 1-2 record instead of their 3-0 mark.
But they have never blinked in the face of adversity. As Coach Prime reminds us regularly, they believe. They make plays on both sides of the ball in clutch moments, they don't flinch and they find a way.
One stat that hit the social media world: In the previous 10 years, Colorado was 1-64 in games in which they trailed by 10 or more points.
They have put that trend behind them.
That's a trait that will no doubt continue to serve them well as they enter Pac-12 play.
Team Stats
CSU 0, COL 7
COL - Sanders,Shilo 80 yd interception (Feely,Jace kick)
CSU 7, COL 7
CSU - Holker,Dallin 30 yd pass from Horton,Tory (Noyes,Jordan kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:57
CSU 14, COL 7
CSU - Hardge III,Ron 45 yd fumble recovery (Noyes,Jordan kick)
CSU 14, COL 14
COL - Weaver,Xavier 24 yd pass from Sanders,Shedeur (Feely,Jace kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:28
CSU 21, COL 14
CSU - Brown IV,Louis 15 yd pass from Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden (Noyes,Jordan kick) 14 plays, 89 yards, TOP 07:27
CSU 21, COL 17
COL - Mata,Alejandro 20 yd field goal 10 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:31
CSU 28, COL 17
CSU - Holker,Dallin 35 yd pass from Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden (Noyes,Jordan kick) 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 02:56
CSU 28, COL 20
COL - Mata,Alejandro 41 yd field goal 11 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:49
CSU 28, COL 28
COL - Horn Jr.,Jimmy 45 yd pass from Sanders,Shedeur (Harrison,Michael pass) 7 plays, 98 yards, TOP 01:30
CSU 28, COL 35
COL - Harrison,Michael 3 yd pass from Sanders,Shedeur (Mata,Alejandro kick) 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
CSU 35, COL 35
CSU - Horton,Tory 8 yd pass from Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden (Noyes,Jordan kick) 4 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
CSU 35, COL 43
COL - Harrison,Michael 18 yd pass from Sanders,Shedeur (Weaver,Xavier pass) 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
