In the season-opening affair, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter combined to lead Colorado past the North Dakota State Bison, 31-26. The game brought out amazing performances but also brought some visible weaknesses that one wouldn’t want to see repeated.
Contents
- 1 Sanders Stars
- 2 Coach Deion Sanders reacts after the game to CBS Sports Network.
- 3 Hunter’s Impact North Dakota State
- 4 Challenges for Colorado
- 5 Ahead of Things North Dakota State
- 6 Rising Stars Shine in Utah’s Big Win Over Southern Utah
- 7 Cameron Rising’s Return North Dakota State
- 8 Brant Kuithe’s Impact North Dakota State
- 9 Offensive Dominance North Dakota State
- 10 Defenses and Special Teams North Dakota State
- 11 Looking Ahead
Sanders Stars
Shedeur Sanders completed 445 yards for four touchdowns, with three of those landing with Travis Hunter. Sanders’ night was, for sure, the determining factor in Colorado’s win. However, one couldn’t help but notice one particular decision very late in the game to go deep to LaJohntay Wester that fell incomplete and could have eaten up precious seconds off the clock.
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Coach Deion Sanders reacts after the game to CBS Sports Network.
The game left mixed feelings in the mind of Coach Deion Sanders. While he was happy about the victory, he also worried that his son went for the deep pass when the easier play was running the clock out. “Sometimes Shedeur’s niceness can hurt him,” Coach Sanders said, emphasizing how some games necessitate coaching decisions.
Hunter’s Impact North Dakota State
Travis Hunter had a field day, hauling in seven receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns. His athletic prowess and ability to make plays on the ball was on full display while earning him praise from high-profile figures like NBA superstar LeBron James. While he took reps at cornerback throughout the entire game, Hunter was one of the biggest factors into Colorado’s much-needed success.
Challenges for Colorado
It was anything but smooth sailing for Colorado, however, especially when it came to its running game. North Dakota State outran Colorado 157 to 59 in rushing yards. An improved offensive line still allowed Sanders to scramble multiple times. On the other side of the ball, Colorado’s new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston struggled to keep the Bison’s offense at bay.
North Dakota State’s Resilience
North Dakota State, led by new head coach Tim Polasek, proved once again why they were ranked high on the FCS preseason polls. It was the grounds of steady play and efficient offense which kept the game within reach for the Bison. Two rushing touchdowns by Quarterback Cam Miller, including one leading the late drive which saw them almost tie the game, showed skill and leadership.
Ahead of Things North Dakota State
The game thus evinced some areas that Colorado needs to sort out, such as clock management and defensive consistency, while North Dakota State proved resilient and capable, such that they look promising this season as well.
From here, both teams would work upon their strengths and weaknesses as the season advanced. Colorado would iron out tactics and improve game play to make sure it succeeded in the remaining matches.
Rising Stars Shine in Utah’s Big Win Over Southern Utah
Behind a dominant performance, Utah quarterback Cameron Rising led the Utes past Southern Utah 49-0. Rising was spectacular in his return to the field showing not only how well he has recovered, but also just how hot the Utes are getting off to a great start in year one of the Big 12.
Cameron Rising’s Return North Dakota State
Cameron Rising had thrown five touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career, making his first appearance since sustaining a severe knee injury in the Rose Bowl. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 254 yards and added 25 yards on the ground. His performance was a big reason behind the one-sided victory, proving that he was finally back and ready to go.
Brant Kuithe’s Impact North Dakota State
One of the most outstanding players for Rising on the evening was tight end Brant Kuithe, hauling in three of Rising’s touchdown passes. Having missed a lot of time himself due to injury, Kuithe showed his skill with a 29-yard touchdown reception, an 18-yard score, and then an 11-yard reception in the second quarter. His effort not only helped with Utah’s efficiency on offense but also a new Big 12 record for most touchdown receptions by a tight end in one half.
Offensive Dominance North Dakota State
Compared to last season, the Utah offense-putting up a total 513 yards-was firing on all cylinders. Efficient play from Rising and contributions from key players like Dijon Stanley-a 64-yard touchdown catch and the team leader in rushing yards with 34-kept the Utes ahead by a big margin. Stanley showed his versatility and skill set, adding depth to Utah’s offense.
Defenses and Special Teams North Dakota State
As great as the offense was, the Utah defense played huge in the shutout win. Southern Utah never could get past the pressure from the Utah defense. It dampened most of their scoring opportunities and helped shut them out. The Utes did, however, suffer some injuries. Most noticeably was cornerback Kenan Johnson who left with an injury to his leg.
Looking Ahead
This victory by Utah now cements their good start to the season, more so in light of adjusting to life in the new conference. On the back of a decent performance by both the offense and the defense, coupled with the brilliant comeback by Rising, the Utes are set to continue harnessing this momentum. Their subsequent games will be very critical since they not only try to keep the winning momentum going but also try to iron out the areas that need adjustment.
Both the Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes, as the season goes on, will continue to improve with refined strategies. Colorado will look to firm up some of the inconsistencies in its defense and with its game management, while Utah will seek to keep its offenses and defenses firing on all cylinders in its Big 12 Conference journey.