Colorado-Baylor ending: How Shedeur Sanders' Hail Mary, Travis Hunter's forced fumble led Buffaloes to OT win

David Suggs

•
Colorado-Baylor ending: How Shedeur Sanders' Hail Mary, Travis Hunter's forced fumble led Buffaloes to OT win image

Shedeur Sanders added another highlight to his ever-growing collection of them on Saturday night. This one, a 43-yard, buzzer-beating Hail Mary to LaJohntay Wester, might take the cake, however.

His miracle throw forced overtime against Baylor, and Colorado prevailed 38-31 when Travis Hunter forced a fumble at the goal-line on the final play of the game.

Standing on his own 43 with the clock drifting towards zero, Sanders let his patented trebuchet fire one last time. Colorado needed him to make magic happen; the Buffaloes were down 31-24 to Baylor in front of their Folsom Field faithful.

After seeing his last attempt fall short — courtesy of a drop at the goal-line — Sanders took aim one last time. With a Bears defender onrushing, Sanders fired a hopeful attempt towards pay dirt.

Colorado Hail Mary

Wester reeled in the delicate toss, connecting with Sanders' throw just before another Baylor defender batted it away. Folsom went into raptures, Wester's teammates spilled onto the field and Sanders looked back in awe. The game was tied. And Sanders and Wester were the reasons why.

Sanders added to the dramatics during the game's overtime period, leading the Buffaloes down the field — all 25 yards of it — before handing the ball to star tailback Micah Welch, who put Colorado out in front with a scamper from one yard out.

That set the stage for the Buffaloes' defense — more specifically, Hunter — to make a pivotal play and send the Colorado fans home happy. The two-way superstar more than obliged.

Travis Hunter stats

In a game that featured a momentous missed field goal, dropped pass and that aforementioned Hail Mary, Hunter made the contest's most important contribution. The Bears made a dash towards the two-yard line, seemingly setting themselves up for an equalizing score.

That's when Hunter burst into action, knocking the ball out of Dominic Richardson's grasp at the goal-line to settle the score and give Colorado the all-important victory.

Hunter's forced fumble was the standout moment of an epic night at the races for the projected top-five pick. Here's a look at Hunter's stats in all their glory:

  • 7 catches
  • 130 receiving yards
  • 2 tackles (1 tackle for loss)
  • 1 forced fumble

His lasting contribution was his most significant. And as fans poured onto the field, one thing remained crystal clear: Sanders and Hunter remain as must-watch as ever.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.