Colorado’s hopes of becoming bowl-eligible took a major hit on Friday night, as the Buffaloes fell to Washington State 42-7 in a lopsided Pac-12 matchup. The Cougars dominated the game from start to finish, scoring on their first six possessions and holding the Buffaloes to just 248 yards of total offense.
But the worst news for Colorado was the injury to their star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was battered and knocked out of the game in the second quarter. Sanders, the son of head coach Deion Sanders, was sacked four times in his first 10 plays, including a brutal hit that appeared to injure his right throwing air.
Sanders shows toughness and talent
Despite the pain, Sanders returned to the game with a bandaged arm and threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to receiver Travis Hunter, the only score for the Buffaloes on the night. Sanders showed his toughness and talent, completing six of his 10 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions1
However, Sanders could not continue playing after a fumbled snap in the second quarter, when Colorado trailed 28-7. He headed to the locker room and did not return in the second half. It was not clear if Sanders would be able to play in the final game of the regular season against Utah next week.
A remarkable season for Sanders
Sanders, a junior transfer from Jackson State, has had a remarkable season for the Buffaloes, despite being the most-sacked quarterback in major college football (45 times). He ranks second nationally in passing yards per game (320.2) and 11th in completion percentage (70.1%). He has thrown for 2,882 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only four interceptions in 10 games.
Sanders has also been a leader and a fighter for his team, refusing to quit or give up on his teammates. After a previous loss to Oregon State, Sanders said, “What type of guy would I look like, leaving all 80 of us out there hanging? It’s got to be a life-or-death situation for me to just leave everybody hanging like that. The pain of not being there for them overrides the pain that’s going through my body”.
A disappointing season for Colorado
The Buffaloes, who started the season with a surprising 3-0 record under Deion Sanders, have now lost five of their last six games and dropped to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the Pac-12. They need to win their last game against Utah and hope for a bowl invitation to extend their season.
The Buffaloes have struggled on both sides of the ball, ranking 11th in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (20.8 points per game) and 10th in scoring defense (31.9 points per game). They have also been plagued by injuries, turnovers, and penalties throughout the season.
Deion Sanders, who has been rumored to be a candidate for other coaching jobs, has said that he is committed to Colorado and wants to turn the program around. He has also praised his son’s performance and potential, saying that he is “one of the best quarterbacks in the country”.
