It's official. Colorado will not play a bowl game this season.
After starting the season 3-0, the Buffaloes lost their fifth straight game to drop to 4-7, making them ineligible for a postseason bowl. The 56-14 defeat by Washington State on Friday caps off their seventh loss in the past eight games.
It was a rough night for Colorado on all sides, especially a week after nearly upsetting Arizona, but quarterback Shedeur Sanders' injury only worsened things.
Colorado had three turnovers, two of which resulted in a touchdown for the Cougars. The first time was a sack against Sanders which resulted in a fumble return touchdown, and the second was an interception by backup quarterback Gavin Klud.
The Buffaloes will close out their season next week on the road against a ranked Utah.
MORE: Stephen A. Smith calls for Deion Sanders to replace Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M
Here's what Deion Sanders said about another Colorado loss and Shedeur Sanders' injury.
What did Deion Sanders say in his postgame interview?
"This is the toughest stretch of probably my life," Deion Sanders said following the loss.
An illness had been going around the team that week, even affecting Coach Prime. However, it wasn't an excuse for the way they played. "They kicked our butts with or without that. That had nothing to do with what transpired today," he said.
Sanders noted his team was still figuring out its identity, even 12 weeks into the season. Their performance Friday did not represent who the Buffaloes are.
"I didn't see quit. I didn't see that," Sanders said of his team. "They didn't give up. I promise you they didn't give up."
God is good all the time and all the time God is good. #CoachPrime
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) November 18, 2023
MORE: Deion Sanders begs clemency for UCLA recruits accused of stealing
Shedeur Sanders injury
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado's star quarterback and son of Deion, left the game twice with injuries. He was pulled for a possession in the first quarter before returning and later leaving permanently.
Initially, Sanders was hit in the right forearm on a strip-sack. He was replaced by Ryan Staub for a series before returning, even though he had trouble difficulty gripping the ball. In Sanders' return, he connected with Travis Hunter on a 45-yard touchdown. The throw set Colorado's new single-season passing record with 3,230 yards.
Soon after, Sanders left for good. While trailing 28-7, he was hit on a fumbled snap which injured his ankle this time. No official cause of his injury was given.
Colorado snaps the ball with Shedeur not ready, and he's shaken up again. pic.twitter.com/SF6qprYmmp
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) November 18, 2023
Sanders returned to the sideline out of uniform. He finished his game completing 6 of 10 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown.
Staub and Klud, both who appeared behind center, combined for 78 yards and one interception.
“He sustained, had numbness in his hand,” Deion Sanders said. “He got hit in the forearm and he couldn’t really grip the ball. He couldn’t really feel the ball. Then the second time he got injured was, I think we had an errant snap and I think they rolled up his ankle and that was it. Couldn’t grip the ball and his ankle so that took him out of the game and the rest is history.”
The Buffaloes have notably had issues with their offensive line this season. They've allowed the most sacks in the nation with 54 this season. Sanders, who suffered 52 of those sacks, was doomed to be seriously injured. During past games, he's received injections to help minimize the pain.
