Deion Sanders’ Colorado might be taking part in within the postseason. In Sanders’ second season as head coach after taking up the worst power-conference group in faculty soccer, the Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Huge 12) are bowl eligible after beating Cincinnati 34-23.
Colorado hasn’t performed in a bowl sport because it went 4-2 within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. This system hasn’t received a bowl sport since 2004, and this season will mark its third bowl look since 2007.
Sanders has made frequent references this yr to 99-year-old Colorado superfan Peggy Coppom and his promise to get her to a bowl sport this season. The Buffaloes are eyeing greater than only a bowl, too. Colorado is one in all simply 4 Huge 12 groups with one or fewer convention losses, leaving it within the combine for the Huge 12 title and one of many automated bids to the 12-team School Soccer Playoff reserved for the 5 highest-ranked convention champions.
“I do know Peggy. She’s obtained costly style. She don’t simply need a bowl. She desires a bowl bowl. And I ain’t talkin’ about Manute (Bol),” Sanders advised ESPN in the course of the Buffaloes’ win.
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Two-way star Travis Hunter re-entered the Heisman Trophy race with 9 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 9 targets. He added 4 go breakups and two tackles on protection, taking part in a complete of 130 snaps. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders suffered a hip harm within the second half and obtained therapy on the sidelines however remained within the sport, ending 25 of 30 for 323 yards and two touchdowns by way of the air.
“It’s massive for us as a result of it’s massive for the followers,” Shedeur Sanders mentioned. “We’re not hitting our peak. We’re nowhere shut.”
Beneath new defensive coordinator Rob Livingston, a first-time play caller, the Buffaloes have usual a decent protection. They’ve additionally discovered a operating sport in latest weeks: final week’s win over Arizona (128 yards) and Saturday’s win (125 yards) have been Colorado’s two most profitable speeding performances of the season.
Sanders’ transfer-heavy method to roster constructing has come below fireplace all through his tenure, and the Buffaloes fell in need of the postseason a yr in the past at 4-8 after a 3-0 begin made them the largest story within the sport. A yr later, although, Sanders is seeing outcomes.
Now, the Buffaloes have an opportunity to play into December. The final 4 video games of the season — at Texas Tech, Utah, at Kansas and the house finale towards Oklahoma State — will determine how excessive they climb.
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(Photograph: Dustin Bradford / Getty Photographs)