Colorado's 2023 debut has been much anticipated, even if many believed the Buffaloes were going to lose by more than the 20.5-point spread to last year's national champion runner-up TCU. Deion Sanders' squad was ready for the challenge — and then some.
The Buffaloes, backed by huge performances from Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders, out-lasted No. 17 TCU in a 45-42 duel. And just like that, Sanders' statement when he was hired — "I'm coming" — seemed all the more prophetic.
"We told you we coming. We told you we coming," Sanders told the Fox broadcast after the game. "You thought we was joking. And guess what, we keep receipts. God bless you America, God is good."
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During his post-game press conference, he called out writers in the room who he said had doubted what Sanders and the Colorado team could do, at one point skipping a question after he said, "I saw what you wrote."
“We are going to continue to be questioned, because we do things that have never been done," Sanders said.
Deion Sanders: “I keep receipts,” as he leaves the press conference pic.twitter.com/Wvgvc4WmrB
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) September 2, 2023
Everything about the rebuilt Colorado team that went 1-11 in 2022 wound up living up to the hype. Shedeur Sanders was dynamic, completing an astounding 38-of-47 passes for 510 yards with four touchdowns. Travis Hunter did it all, catching 11 passes for 119 yards and drawing two pass interference penalties as a receiver, while also picking off a pass in the red zone.
Though the Colorado defense allowed TCU to stay in the game, averaging 7.1 yards per carry on the ground, Sanders said he was proud of the defense for staying with it and making the game-winning fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter, and the offense for matching the TCU scores.
"They surrendered some big plays throughout the game and we always kept teaching just we need one stop, one stop. But what about the offense? How do they respond? How do these guys respond?" Sanders said. "I don't know how many snaps [Hunter] played, but we gonna put a hot tub on the plane for him to make sure he's straight."
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After beating No. 17 TCU, it's fair to wonder whether Colorado could be ranked for the first time since 2020. And heading into next weekend's matchup against Nebraska, oddsmakers are going to think twice before making the Buffaloes underdogs to the Cornhuskers.
