A Close Call for Colorado: Lessons from a Narrow Victory
Minutes after North Dakota State's potential game-winning Hail Mary pass fell just 4 yards short of an upset, Colorado coach Deion Sanders walked into the postgame news conference with a look of relief rather than triumph. "You ever felt like you won, but you didn't win?" Sanders asked, summing up not just his own feelings but those of Buffaloes fans who witnessed a performance that bore an unsettling resemblance to last season's disappointments. Despite securing a 31-26 win, the game left many questioning whether this team has truly taken a step forward.
From the outset, Colorado displayed flashes of brilliance, particularly through quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Travis Hunter, both of whom looked every bit the future NFL top-5 draft picks that Coach Sanders expects them to be. Shedeur Sanders put up impressive stats, completing 26 of 34 passes for 445 yards. His chemistry with Hunter was on full display, with three of his four touchdown passes landing in Hunter’s hands. Hunter, a mismatch nightmare for NDSU’s secondary, racked up seven catches for 132 yards.
"I think 31 NFL scouts came tonight and I think they saw what they came to see," said Deion Sanders, beaming about his players' performances. Still, he couldn't completely suppress his frustration, "I'm going to try my best to hold back my anger, but we got the W." Despite the positives, Sanders’ comments stood in stark contrast to his bold proclamation after last year's season-opening win against TCU when he famously asked, "Do you believe now?" That game had many convinced that the Buffaloes were poised to challenge for a conference title. Fast forward a year, and it feels premature to use this first game as a definitive measure of what's to come.
Earlier this year at Big 12 media day in Las Vegas, Sanders was asked about his expectations for the season. It was a standard question, one that might have prompted a more cautious coach to manage expectations, especially following a last-place finish in the Pac-12. But Sanders, true to form, dismissed any notion that the Buffaloes didn’t belong in the same conversation as conference favorites. "I'd be an idiot to sit over here and not tell you we plan on winning," he confidently told ESPN. "I don't know who sits down and says they don't plan on winning. You got to be an idiot to say that."
Points of Concern: The Offensive Line and Game Management
One of the key reasons Sanders cited for his high expectations this season was a revamped offensive line. While center Hank Zilinskas was the only lineman with starting experience from last season, the rest of the line made their debuts against NDSU, delivering a performance that was far from perfect. Though Shedeur Sanders was sacked just once, he often found himself under pressure, and the line struggled to create consistent running lanes, resulting in a paltry 59 rushing yards on 23 carries, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry.
"You would love to run the ball a little more but shoot, when you have [504 yards] of total offense, I'm pretty good," Sanders remarked, trying to downplay the imbalance. "I'm going to sleep good. Really good. Really good tonight with that. So, I'm cool with that. We would like to see a little more balance, but what is balance? Balance is wins."
Shedeur Sanders also hinted that the offensive line had extra motivation. "The O-line had an incentive. That's it. They had a great incentive," he said cryptically, suggesting there was more behind their performance than just the game plan.
Yet, despite the offensive highlights, the game wasn't without its managerial missteps. With 1 minute, 41 seconds left on the clock and Colorado holding a slim lead, Sanders made a questionable decision that nearly cost them the game. After NDSU narrowed the score to 31-26, Colorado had a chance to wind down the clock after securing a first down at their own 42-yard line. NDSU had just one timeout remaining, and three straight running plays would have left the Bison with barely any time to mount a comeback. Instead, Sanders opted for a risky pass play on first down, which fell incomplete and essentially granted NDSU an extra timeout.
"Cover zero. Cover zero and we have the best receiver room in the nation, so it's kind of disrespectful," Sanders explained, defending his choice to go for the deep shot. This decision gave NDSU a final chance, starting from their 8-yard line with 31 seconds remaining. They nearly pulled off a miracle, advancing the ball to Colorado's 4-yard line before their Hail Mary attempt came up just short.
Reflecting on his decision, Sanders admitted, "It was something I definitely would learn from... Everything in my life -- I always was able to learn from it. So, there are not too many mistakes you're going to see I made twice. That's just something I'm going to learn, understand that even if it looks super tempting ... you just got to go with [running the ball in that situation]."
A Season of High Expectations
As Sanders and his team move forward, the focus will be on refining their approach and building consistency. The glimpses of potential are there—Shedeur Sanders’ arm strength and accuracy, Hunter’s dynamic playmaking ability, and even the moments when the offensive line held firm. But if Colorado is to meet the lofty expectations set by their charismatic coach, they'll need to do more than just scrape by against lower-division opponents.
Looking ahead, the Buffaloes’ journey is bound to be filled with highs and lows, but one thing is clear: Deion Sanders is not here to settle. His unwavering belief in his team’s potential, despite the mixed results, sets the stage for a season where every game will be a test of their mettle. While they may not have provided a performance that inspires unbridled optimism, there's no doubt that under Sanders' leadership, this Colorado team is committed to defying expectations and proving that last year’s struggles are firmly in the past.
In the end, it didn’t matter that it wasn’t the prettiest win. What mattered most was the outcome—a victory that, while not entirely satisfying, still placed Colorado on the right side of the scoreboard. As the season unfolds, this team will need to tighten up and deliver more cohesive performances if they want to avoid the nail-biting finishes and truly assert themselves as contenders. For now, they have the win, and sometimes, that's enough to build on.
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