Junior athlete Travis Hunter avoids being tackled during the game against Oklahoma State University at Folsom Field on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado Buffaloes (9-3, 7-2 conf.) welcomed Oklahoma State University Cowboys (3-9, 0-9 conf.) into Folsom Field with stakes through the roof Friday.
There were countless headlines brought to the field. First and foremost, what was up for grabs in the Big 12. The Buffaloes needed a win to keep their conference championship hopes alive and then some tiebreakers to make the title game.
CU handled business, to say the least, blasting the Cowboys 52-0. It was the final home stand of the 2024 season, which also meant it was the final game at Folsom Field for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders.
The senior day festivities occurred before the game, as Coach Deion Sanders walked his two sons down the field for one final time. It is still unconfirmed if he will stay in Boulder for next season, which added to the moment nonetheless.
Shedeur put on a show, hurling for 438 yards and five touchdowns. Travis Hunter and LaJohntay Wester shared the spotlight, catching all five scores. Wester ended with 11 catches for 175 yards with a pair of touchdowns, and Hunter seemingly won the Heisman with his 116 yards and hat trick of scores.
Travis Hunter evades a tackle from an Oklahoma State defender during the first half of the game at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Nov. 29, 2024. The Buffaloes hosted the Cowboys in a Big 12 conference matchup. (Michael Drapeau/CU Independent)
“I think Travis won the Heisman – thank you God for stopping me,” Coach Sanders said after the game.
He wanted to say more about the Heisman race but stopped himself without giving a reason why.
Hunter roped in his fourth interception of the year, as the defense shut down a broken OSU offense, holding them to 77 passing yards and four turnovers. All season long the Cowboys were not prepared for Big 12 football, but had high hopes getting picked to finish 3rd in the preseason polls.
The Buffs ended this game before it started, putting up 21 points in the first quarter alone. They’d go up 38-0 going into the fourth and as if it were written in the stars, Shedeur Sanders’ final pass in Folsom Field went into the end zone with Travis Hunter to solidify their legacy.
The Colorado Buffaloes celebrate Travis Hunter intercepting the ball during the game against Oklahoma State University at Folsom Field on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Clementine Miller/CU Independent)
“It’s been fun, but I’m not really thinking about it right now,” Shedeur Sanders said about playing his last home game. ”It’s the last year that I’m playing with my brothers, Shilo, Trav & Deion Jr., that hasn’t settled in for me personally yet.”
The Big 12 preseason polls could not have been farther off. Utah was expected to win the conference but got injury-riddled early on. Colorado, expected to finish 11th, ended in a four-way tie for first. But with the conference tiebreakers, the Buffs did not squeak into the championship game.
The biggest shock came from Arizona State University, which was predicted to finish last but is now getting a shot to win the conference. At the Big 12 championship game, they will play Iowa State who were predicted to finish 6th.
The Buffs now await their bowl game and opponent for their final game of the season. It will likely be the Alamo Bowl played in San Antonio, which the Buffs have lost the last two times they’ve appeared in.
Although getting this close to a Big 12 title and even the College Football Playoffs makes a simple bowl game anti-climatic, what Colorado has been able to accomplish this year has been amazing nonetheless.
Contact CU Independent football writer Baylan Wysuph at baylan.wysuph@colorado.edu
