Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, front, gets tackled by Colorado State linebacker Buom Jock after pulling in a pass for a short gain in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Two-way standout Travis Hunter caught two of Shedeur Sanders' four touchdown passes and also had an interception as Colorado cruised to a 28-9 win over Colorado State on Saturday night.
Sanders finished 36 of 49 for 310 yards in the first Rocky Mountain Showdown held in Fort Collins since 1996. Sanders found LaJohntay Wester for a pair of scores and connected with Hunter 13 times for 100 yards.
As good of game as it gets for Hunter, who's a Heisman Trophy hopeful?
“He can be even better,” Sanders said. “There’s no ceiling.”
This was the seventh straight win by Colorado (2-1) over Colorado State (1-2). The Rams will have to wait a while to break the skid, with the in-state rivalry not on the schedule again until 2029.
“Great. Darn. Victory," Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “We just wanted it to be decisive.”
Colorado's offense started slow a week after losing 28-10 at Nebraska, but finally found its rhythm. Shedeur Sanders led the Buffaloes to 28 straight points after trailing 3-0 midway through the second quarter.
What's more, Sanders was kept well-protected by an offensive line that's searching for consistency. He was only sacked one time — in the fourth quarter, and with the game well in hand.
To show how much the line meant to him, Sanders brought the cast into the interview room and they all stood behind him.
“It meant everything to us to go out there and just prove the world wrong and prove each other right,” offensive lineman Tyler Brown said.
The Buffaloes, wearing their new all-white uniforms, had the defense come up big, too, by forcing four turnovers. Hunter and fellow defensive back Preston Hodge had interceptions while LaVonta Bentley and B.J. Green recovered fumbles.
On his interception, Hunter and some of his teammates drew an unsportsmanlike penalty when Hunter spun the football and they all huddled around it like it was a campfire and they were warming their hands.
Hunter was having a good time all night, dancing at every opportunity. He was knocked out of the game last season when Colorado rallied for a win in double overtime.
In that game, Hunter was running a deep route in the first quarter when he was hit by Rams safety Henry Blackburn shortly after the ball sailed by him. Hunter eventually left to go to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a lacerated liver. The two players put the incident behind them by meeting up for a conversation and to go bowling.
Hunter was bumped by Blackburn on his 21-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter Saturday and got up dancing.
“It meant a lot,” Hunter said of playing Colorado State after missing a good portion of the game last season.
There was some trash talking leading into the game, which Shedeur Sanders took personal.
“Just a little bit of extra motivation when they're talking crazy,” Sanders said. “So, yeah, they just asked for it.”
The Buffaloes also didn't appreciate it when CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi made a “too small” gesture toward Hunter along the Colorado sideline just before halftime.
“How stupid is that?" Deion Sanders said. “It's Travis Hunter. Dude, this is Travis Hunter. This is Travis Hunter! Like, who does that?"
This was a big week for Colorado State, which announced the school would be one of four joining the Pac-12 in 2026 as part of a move to rebuild the athletic conference. The Buffaloes left the Pac-12 for the Big 12 this season.
Fowler-Nicolosi finished with 209 yards passing and two interceptions. Justin Marshall had a late score to make it 28-9.
“We just weren't good enough,” Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. “I mean, there's only a couple of ways to do that (prepare for the moment) — either get players better or replace players. It's that simple.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Colorado: The Buffaloes found a little more of a ground game even with tailback Dallan Hayden sidelined. Colorado finished with 109 yards rushing after entering with just 75 yards over its first two games. Micah Welch had a run of 25 yards in the first half.
Colorado State: The Rams fall to 22-69-2 against the Buffaloes.
INJURY FRONT
The banged-up Buffaloes were playing without defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo along with defensive backs Shilo Sanders, Savion Riley and Isaiah Hardge.
Colorado State’s top wideout Tory Horton appeared hobbled throughout the game. He had two catches for 24 yards.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders checks the video board in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, second from left, is stopped after catching a pass by, from left, Colorado State defensive lineman Gabe Kirschke and defensive backs Henry Blackburn and Dominic Morris in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., center, is tackled after catching a pass by Colorado State defensive back Dominic Morris, left, and linebacker Buom Jock in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, center, is stopped after a short gain by Colorado State defensive back Dominic Morris, left, and defensive lineman Mukendi Wa-Kalonji in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado State punt returner Tory Horton, left, avoids Colorado special teams players LaVonta Bentley, center, and RJ Johnson in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, right, falls while being pursued by Colorado State defensive lineman Mukendi Wa-Kalonji in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders warms up before an NCAA college football game against against the Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders turns to hand off the ball in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, back center, spins the ball on the turf after intercepting a pass and celebrates with, from front left to right, defensive lineman Shane Cokes, safety Carter Stoutmire and safety Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, right, celebrates after catching a touchdown pass as wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (5) joins in during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) pulls in a pass for a touchdown as Colorado State defensive back Dom Jones, left, covers in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado cornerback Preston Hodge, center, celebrates after his interception with linebackers LaVonta Bentley, left, and Nikhai Hill-Green, right, in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester, right, loses the ball as he gets stopped short of the end zone by Colorado State defensive back Henry Blackburn in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter celebrates after intercepting a pass from Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, left, looks to throw a pass as Colorado defensive lineman Shane Cokes, right, pursues in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado State running back Justin Marshall, left, is stopped after a short gain by Colorado defensive end Dayon Hayes, right, in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado State tight end Vince Brown II, left, is tackled after pulling in a pass by Colorado linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter, left, holds onto the jersey of Colorado wide receiver Kam Mikell, right, who drives for extra yardage after catching a pass in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
