ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to help improved Colorado match its victory total for all of last season with a 48-21 rout of UCF. Two-way star Travis Hunter had a TD catch and interception for the Buffaloes (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), who have won three straight games following a lopsided road loss to Nebraska.
Sanders emerged as one of the nation's top quarterbacks a year ago after his father, coach Deion Sanders, took over a struggling program and took Shadeur and Hunter with him to Colorado. The Buffaloes wound up going 4-8 but have progressed steadily after a slow start to this season. “I feel like we’re trending in the right direction,” Deion Sanders said.
"I feel like you guys are seeing the fruit of a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication. I love where we are as a program. Could we be better? Of course.
I know we’re trending in the right direction.” Hunter scored on a 23-yard reception in the first quarter, struck a Heisman pose after his second-half interception, and finished with nine catches on nine targets for 89 yards. Shedeur Sanders shrugged off an interception on the third play of the game and also had TD throws of 47 yards to Will Sheppard and 10 yards to LaJohntay Wester on the way to completing 28 of 35 passes.
Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch scored on the ground, helping the Buffaloes rush for 128 yards. Colorado's improved defense played well, too, slowing down an offense that entered game averagi.