Colorado improves to 4-1 with a 48-21 road win over UCF

After a thrilling comeback victory over Baylor last week, Colorado earned its biggest win of the season to date with a dominant 48-21 victory over UCF in Orlando.

Shedeur Sanders threw for three touchdowns and 290 yards and completed 28 of 35 passes with one interception. Travis Hunter was one of the main beneficiaries of Sanders’ passes, receiving nine balls for 89 yards and a score. Will Sheppard led the Buffaloes with 99 yards receiving and a touchdown on four catches.

On the defensive side, Hunter added an interception in the third quarter with the Buffaloes leading 34-14. After the play was completed, the two-way star excitedly ran 37 yards to the end zone and struck a Heisman Trophy pose that will surely bring even more attention to his sensational season. This was Hunter’s second pick of the season.

With the win, Colorado improves to 4-1 and 2-0 in the Big 12. While the Buffaloes lost 28-10 to Nebraska against arguably the strongest team on their early schedule, their impressive start is living up to the hype for coach Deion Sanders’ team goes into the 2024 season.

However, there are some strong opponents on the remaining schedule, including No. 23 Kansas State, Arizona, No. 10 Utah, Kansas and No. 20 Oklahoma State.

UCF committed four turnovers, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles on Saturday. The latter of those two fumbles by quarterback KJ Jefferson was picked up by safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and returned 95 yards for a touchdown that gave Colorado a 27-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

Jefferson completed 20 of 35 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The senior also ran for a touchdown and carried the ball 20 times for 76 yards. Running back RJ Harvey caught four of Jefferson’s passes for 92 yards and a score, adding 77 yards rushing on 16 carries.

The Knights suffered their first loss of the season after starting 0-3 and winning their first Big 12 game of the season 35-34 against TCU.

Colorado has a bye next week before its toughest game yet when it hosts Kansas State on Oct. 12. UCF travels to Gainesville next Saturday for a state non-conference game against Florida.