Colorado 48-21 UCF (September 28, 2024) Game Recap

ORLANDO, Fla. – Shedeur Sanders threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday, helping Colorado match its win total from last season with a 48-21 win over UCF.

Two-way star Travis Hunter had a TD catch and an interception for the Buffaloes (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), who have won three straight games after a lopsided road loss to Nebraska.

Hunter scored on a 23-yard reception in the first quarter, struck a Heisman pose after his catch in the second half and finished the game with nine catches on nine targets for 89 yards.

Sanders. The son of coach Deion Sanders also had TD throws of 47 yards to Will Sheppard and 10 yards to LaJohntay Wester while completing 28 of 35 passes with one interception.

Colorado’s improved defense also held up, slowing an offense that came into the game averaging a nation-leading 375.7 yards per game. The Buffaloes forced four turnovers – they intercepted KJ Jefferson twice, once in the end zone – and also denied UCF points on a drive that stalled inside the Colorado 1.

Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig rounded out the strong defensive performance by recovering a fumble in the closing minutes and returning it 95 yards for Colorado’s final touchdown.

Both teams scored exciting comeback victories in their conference openers, with Colordao defeating Baylor after forcing overtime on Sanders’ 43-yard Hail Mary TD against Wester on the final play of regulation, and UCF winning 21-10 along the way. The score deficit was eliminated by defeating TCU 35-34.

The Buffaloes’ welcome to Orlando for the teams’ first meeting capped a day in which UCF hosted the FOX Big Noon Kickoff pregame show on campus, giving coach Gus Malzahn’s program the largest national exposure ever Knights have received since joining the Big 12 last season.

Jefferson completed 20 of 35 passes for 284 yards, including touchdowns of 75 yards to RJ Harvey and 15 yards to Xavier Townsend. The quarterback also scored on a 7-yard run.

THE TAKEAWAY

Colorado: Shedeur Sanders had another great passing day, but the Buffaloes also ran the ball well, finishing the game with 128 yards rushing on 28 attempts.

UCF: The Knights secondary was exposed in their narrow win over TCU. Sanders was sacked twice, but on far too many occasions when the quarterback escaped pressure, he found receivers running wide open.

NEXT

Colorado: Bye week before Oct. 12 No. 23 Kansas State will be played

UCF: Plays Florida next Saturday.

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