Advertisement

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

The Buffaloes are off to a great start, though their schedule will get tougher

ian casselberry
Contributing writer
·2 min read
Colorado wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) celebrates after his touchdown catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Receiver Will Sheppard celebrates after catching a touchdown catch in a 48–21 win over Central Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Following last week's thrilling comeback win over Baylor, Colorado earned its biggest win of the season thus far with a dominant 48–21 win over UCF in Orlando.

Shedeur Sanders threw for three touchdowns and 290 yards, completing 28 of 35 passes with one interception. Travis Hunter was one of the main beneficiary of Sanders' passing, getting nine receptions 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 whistled dead, the two-way star excitedly ran 37 yards to the end zone and made a Heisman Trophy pose that will surely bring more attention to his sensational season. That 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 to arguably the toughest team on their early schedule, falling 28-10 to Nebraska, their impressive start is fulfilling the hype for coach Deion Sanders' team going into the 2024 season.

However, the remaining schedule features some tough opponents, including No. 23 Kansas State, Arizona, No. 10 Utah, Kansas and No. 20 Oklahoma State.

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

Jefferson compiled 284 yards on 20-of-35 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The senior also ran for a touchdown, carrying 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 took their first loss of the season after beginning 3-0 and winning their first Big 12 game of the season 35-34 over TCU.

Colorado has a bye next week before its toughest yet, hosting Kansas State on Oct. 12. UCF travels to Gainesville next Saturday for a intra-state, non-conference matchup with Florida.