CU Buffs thump Utah behind more Travis Hunter magic to move one step closer to Big 12 title game

BOULDER — Analysis from CU’s 49-24 blowout win over Utah in Big 12 action on Saturday at Folsom Field.

No. 2’s rough start. On the first play of the game, quarterback Shedeur Sanders dropped back and promptly threw a pick. Sanders never saw Utah linebacker Lander Barton, who sunk in coverage and easily snared the pass intended for Will Sheppard on a crossing route to set Utah up at the Buffs’ 21-yard line. That led to a field goal that put the Utes up 3-0 at the 10-minute mark of the opening quarter. It was the only lead Utah enjoyed the rest of the game.

Momentum swing. Deion Sanders took advantage of a free play on a defensive offsides, with a 42-yard TD pass to Will Sheppard, tying an NCAA record with his 46th straight game with a TD pass. Then the Utes went three-and-out, and LaJohntay Wester ran a punt return 76 yards to the house, untouched. It marked CU’s first punt return touchdown since 2022, and gave them 14 points in 2:02 of first-quarter clock.

Hunter gets going. Travis Hunter got his third interception of the season in the waning seconds of the first half off a pass deflected by Colton Hood. Hunter ran the ball back 22 yards into Utes territory, then after he was tackled, sprinted further downfield and struck a Heisman pose for the cameras. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which was met with a loud chorus of boos from CU fans. It wasn’t the only time he’d strike a pose on the afternoon.

Breathing room before half. After Utah turned a fumble on a dropped snap by Sanders into a field goal, CU responded with an impressive 85-yard drive. On fourth-and-8, Shedeur Sanders threw it up to Travis Hunter, who made an incredible catch by high-pointing the ball over a pair of Utes in double-coverage. The next play, Sanders threw a perfectly placed fade for a 6-yard TD to Will Sheppard. That helped CU to a 21-9 halftime lead.

The rout is on. Utah got the ball to open the second half and could’ve gotten back into the game with a scoring drive. But it went the other way. Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green picked off a telegraphed pass by Utes QB Isaac Wilson and ran it back to the visitors’ 37-yard line. The next play, Isaiah Augustave ripped off a run up the gut aided by some impressive blocks to give CU a 28-9 advantage.

Rare crack in amour. Midway through the third, Dorian Singer did what no receiver has done in 2024: He burned Travis Hunter for a TD. Singer ran a go route down the left sideline and Isaac Wilson — the younger brother of Broncos backup quarterback Zach Wilson — dropped a dime in over the outstretched arms of Hunter. It was the most impressive throw all day by Wilson amid an array of misfires.

Freshman impresses. True freshman wideout Drelon Miller had the fourth-largest Folsom Field crowd of 54,646 roaring with his 47-yard TD catch in the early fourth quarter. Miller ran a go route down the seam and Sanders hit him in stride. Miller proceeded to stiff-arm Utah safety Tao Johnson to the ground, running out of his jersey grab before making another defender miss at the goal line.

McKinney calls game. After a fumble by Will Sheppard turned the ball over to Utah near midfield in an 11-point game with seven minutes to play, the Utes suddenly had life and a window to climb back into the game. But Wilson’s ill-advised throw off an extended scramble four plays later resulted in an easy interception for CU cornerback D.J. McKinney and effectively sealed the Buffs’ win.

Pouring it on. Charlie Offerdahl recorded his first career TD via a 4-yard rush with 4:32 left, capitalizing off McKinney’s interception. Then safety Shilo Sanders got a free run at Wilson, ramming the QB and causing a fumble, which the Buffs recovered in the red zone. Travis Hunter added one more highlight for the Heisman reel for good measure with his first career rushing TD off a reverse where he eluded roughly half the Utah defense.

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