Colorado football stars Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter turned in impressive performances Friday in the Buffaloes' rout of Oklahoma State.
Sanders threw five touchdowns in a 52-0 victory over the Cowboys, and Hunter caught 10 passes for 116 yards in Colorado's regular-season finale. The two-way star also intercepted one of Oklahoma State quarterback Maealiuaki Smith's passes.
Before the game, Shedeur and his brother and teammate, Shilo Sanders, were escorted to the Buffaloes' home field by their father, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders.
Shedeur is widely projected to be one of the first players selected in next year's NFL Draft. Hunter, a Heisman Trophy contender, is also likely to be a first-round pick.
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Shedeur Sanders (2) and Travis Hunter (12) of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrate after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field on Nov. 29, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Shedeur and Hunter's NFL prospects have sparked some speculation about whether the star players would miss Colorado's yet-to-be-determined bowl game. But the Buffaloes' caller says he'll play in the bowl game.
“It's a team thing,” Sanders said Friday. “If T, T and a couple of other players are not there, the Buffs will not look the same. We understand the pieces we are to the team, the leaders we are in general and the number of players we would sit if we were not there doing it” .
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Colorado needs help on Saturday to reach the Big 12 title game. If the Buffs don't make it, it will be a good bet to get to the Holiday Bowl on December 27 or the Alamo Bowl on December 28. It will be Colorado's first bowl game in a COVID-free season since 2016. It hasn't won a bowl game since 2004.
LaJohntay Wester (10) of the Colorado Buffaloes celebrates with Travis Hunter (12) and Shedeur Sanders (2) after their first quarter touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field on Nov. 29, 2024, in Boulder, CO. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Bowl games have lost popularity and importance since the introduction of the College Football Playoff, and the system is expanding from four to 12 teams this year.
Although many of the top players choose to skip the second-tier bowl games, Coach Sanders said all of the Buffs will show up and play.
“Our kids are going to play in our bowl game because that's what we signed up for,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer said. “We're going to finish. We're not going to fail because that alters the structure of next season.”
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders greets the crowd before a game against North Dakota State on August 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Sanders played at Florida State before coming to the NFL. Last season, the Seminoles were excluded from the four-team playoff despite their undefeated record. Several players opted out of the Orange Bowl and the Seminoles lost 63-3 to Georgia.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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