Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) looks on before the game against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Shedeur Sanders threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns as No. 17 Colorado withstood a late rally in a 49-24 win over Utah on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.
Sanders connected on 30 of 41 passes and had an interception. Travis Hunter made big plays on offense along with an interception and pass defended on defense. He added five receptions for 55 yards and a 5-yard rushing touchdown.
Colorado’s LaJohntay Wester had 10 receptions for 77 yards and a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. Drelon Miller caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while Will Sheppard had five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
Isaiah Augustave had seven carries for 59 yards and a touchdown for Colorado (8-2, 6-1 Big 12), while Nikhai Hill-Green and DJ Mckinney also had interceptions The Colorado defense had four sacks.
Isaac Wilson was 21-of-40 passing for 236 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for Utah (4-6, 1-6 Big 12). Cole Becker had first-half field goals of 32, 34 and 47 yards for the Utes.
Utah’s Dorian Singer had five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown and Caleb Lohner had a touchdown catch.
On the first play of the game, Sanders’ pass was intercepted by Lanyard Barton. The pick led to Becker’s first field goal and an early 3-0 Utes lead.
At 8:09 in the first quarter, Sanders lofted a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sheppard on a fourth-down play as Colorado took a 7-3 lead. Wester’s punt return touchdown gave Colorado a 14-3 lead and Sheppard’s second TD catch just before halftime gave Colorado a 21-6 lead.
Early in the second half, the Buffaloes turned Hill-Green’s interception into points one play later when Augustave high stepped into the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown run and a 28-9 Colorado lead.
Later in the third quarter, Singer and Wilson hooked up for a 40-yard touchdown to shrink the Buffaloes’ lead to 28-16.
With 13:58 left in the game, Drelon Miller fought through two tackles on a 47-yard touchdown reception as Colorado took a 35-16 lead.
The Utes rallied late, with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Lohner and a nifty, tackle-eligible two-point conversion play to Spencer Fano that cut the Colorado lead to 35-24.
On the Buff’s next possession, Utah recovered a fumble. But McKinney’s interception thwarted the next Utah drive which set up Offerdahl’s 4-yard touchdown scamper for a 41-24 lead.
With under three minutes to play, Hunter took a double reverse into the end zone for a 5-yard rushing touchdown and a 49-24 Colorado lead.
-Field Level Media
