Cornerback Colton Hood runs after intercepting the ball during the football game at Folsom Field on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (Linus Loughry/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado Buffaloes football program hasn’t won a bowl game in 20 years. They’ve only traveled to three in that span and all three have resulted in painful losses.
There was the 30-point defeat to Oklahoma State in the 2016 Alamo Bowl, a touchdown loss to Alabama in the 2007 Independence Bowl and a disappointing loss to ranked Clemson in 2005. The Buffs have a chance to end this 20-year streak on Saturday.
The 5-2 University of Cincinnati Bearcats will visit for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff on Saturday night. The Buffs’ chances at a Big 12 title in their first year back in the conference are slim, to say the least, but not zero.
A win over the gritty Bearcats could keep that dream alive and make the Buffs bowl-eligible for the first time in eight years.
Cincinnati presents a challenging opponent. They are riding back-to-back wins and are tied with the Buffs in overall and conference records.
The Bearcats are led by sophomore quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who has had a prolific season with just shy of 2,000 yards and 13 touchdown passes. Their offense averages 451 total yards per game, while the Buffs average 398.
Cincinnati also boasts a threatening rushing attack, which has been a weakness for the Buffaloes defense this year. The rushing duo of senior Corey Kiner and junior Evan Pryor combines for nearly 175 yards per game.
Cincinnati’s offensive game plan features a nearly 50-50 pass-run split, while the Buffs favor the air attack nearly 60% of the time—and for good reason.
Enter Shedeur Sanders. In his final collegiate season, he has been excelling on the field. He ranks fifth in the nation for passing yards and touchdowns and is widely regarded as the most NFL-ready quarterback in college football.
Sanders and the Buffaloes are coming off a decisive win in Tucson, where they beat the University of Arizona Wildcats 34-7. The 27-point margin was the largest win of the Coach Prime era and kept the Big 12 championship hopes alive.
Colorado outmatched Arizona in every aspect last week, but the standout performance came from the defense. That unit forced three turnovers and held Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita to 138 yards. The secondary, led by Shilo Sanders, prevented any Arizona receiver from exceeding 40 yards.
A significant aspect of the defense’s resurgence is the pass rush. The group now leads the Big 12 in sacks, with junior end Keaten Wade playing a crucial role.
“We’re being selfless, rushing as one. Like I said after the game, rushing together. When we do that and put away our needs, we can be unstoppable,” Wade said at a Tuesday press confrence.
When two evenly matched teams like Colorado and Cincinnati face off, games are often decided by an x-factor. Colorado’s hybrid superstar could fit that mold.
Travis Hunter faced restrictions last week after suffering a shoulder injury against Kansas State, but he still made a difference with a 14-yard catch. As a precaution, Hunter only played in the first half but is expected to return to full effort on Saturday.
Hunter is in the Heisman race of his life this season, competing head-to-head with Boise State’s standout rusher, Ashton Jeanty. His injury sidelined him for one full game, impacting his odds, but ESPN’s Midseason Heisman Votes still have Hunter as a runner-up.
He ranks in the top 20 nationally in several receiving categories, including touchdowns, receiving yards, and receptions. With 604 yards and six scores this year, Hunter is delivering impressive performances, especially since he contributes significantly on defense as well.
“He will certainly contribute a lot more than he did a week ago,” said Coach Deion Sanders about Hunter’s role on Saturday.
The Buffs head into Folsom Field on Saturday as 5.5-point favorites, with a 68.4% chance to win according to ESPN’s Matchup Predictor. The outcome will likely depend on the games within the game—discipline, penalties, decisions on fourth downs, run defense, and the effectiveness of the passing attack will all be critical.
If Colorado secures a victory, the Buffaloes will be bowl-game-bound for the first time since 2016.
Contact CU Independent staff writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu
