Who changed the game most?
Was it Colorado coach Deion Sanders — Coach Prime — who pulled off the most-stunning Week 1 shocker possible in a 45-42 victory against No. 17 TCU on Saturday?
Was it Travis Hunter — who played an unthinkable 129 snaps between receiver and cornerback while constantly flashing the five-star talent that made him the nation's top recruit in 2021 before he chose Jackson State over Florida State?
The answer could be "both" but it is not the final answer. What gives Colorado the necessary staying power to weather the hype bound to come by beating the College Football Playoff runner up?
That's Shedeur Sanders. Deion's son — the quarterback who was the unknown heading into this season. Sure, Sanders passed for 6,983 yards, 70 TDs and 14 interceptions the last two seasons. Yeah, but that was at Jackson State, right.
So Sanders completed 38 of 47 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns. Four different Colorado receivers had more than 100 yards. Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. caught 11 passes apiece. Freshman Dylan Edwards caught three TDs. Sanders was the distributor in what could be one of college football's most exciting offenses.
MORE: Inside the numbers of Shedeur Sanders' stat line
That is why he will be the lead challenger for USC's Caleb Williams for the Heisman Trophy heading into Week 2. Unless, of course, it's Hunter.
With Sanders, Colorado can personify an all-out aggressive approach on offense with a roster that kept four players on its two-deep depth chart from last season. That was on display all day against the Horned Frogs.
Sanders was on point through the first half by hitting 22 of 28 passes for 182 yards — a number that is more impressive when you consider the Buffaloes had 38 rushing yards and averaged two yards per carry in the first half.
Colorado led 17-14, but it wasn't clear if that was just a fast start. By the end of the third quarter, Sanders was 31 of 39 for 352 yards and two TDs. The Buffaloes led 31-28, but it still felt like the Horned Frogs would win out.
How about the clutch in the fourth quarter? This is where Coach Prime was at his best as a player. Shedeur did not disappoint either.
He led two TD drives with a 26-yard TD pass to Jimmy Horn Jr. and a 46-yard screen pass to Dylan Edwards. Shedeur finished 7 of 8 for 158 yards in the quarter; an incredible hidden performance on a day filled with those for Colorado.
Did we mention the Buffaloes were 1-11 last season?
Shedeur Sanders exceeded expectations the most when you consider that. Suddenly, Colorado has a quarterback capable of creating chaos in the final act of the Pac-12; not to mention next season in the Big 12 in 2024.
That is what Saturday looked like. TCU-Colorado will be the new-aged rivalry that carries that conference when Oklahoma and Texas leave for the SEC in 2024.
Of course, that only happens if Sanders decides to bypass the 2024 NFL Draft.
That's right. Sanders is bound for the Anthony Richardson treatment after this Week 1 performance. Remember when Richardson led the Gators past Utah in Week 1 with a series of unbelievable plays last year; a memory that seems like ancient history given how Florida looked on Thursday night? That is the power of Sanders' performance.
Sanders will get that attention now, and the good news is there is more to come. It's not a stretch to say Colorado will be ranked heading into a Week 2 throwback rivalry against Nebraska. The Buffaloes close the month against No. 6 USC and No. 15 Oregon in Pac-12 play. Sanders against Williams and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix will be must-see TV.
MORE: Deion calls out the doubters after TCU upset
That is what was created on Saturday, too. Fox rolled the dice by making Colorado the Big Noon game in Weeks 1 and 2, and it was rewarded. The Buffs are now must-see TV with Sanders, Sanders and Hunter. This is that love 'em or hate 'em college football team the sports needs, and it is coming at the right time.
All that hype, all that polarization, all that style that makes Deion, well, Deion, will be over the top more than ever. The game has changed in the Big 12, the Pac-12 and college football as a whole.
For Colorado, it's Shedeur Sanders that will change it the most this season.
