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

The difficult start of number 2. On the first play of the game, quarterback Shedeur Sanders dropped back and promptly threw a pick. Sanders never spotted Utah linebacker Lander Barton, who sank into coverage and easily snagged the pass for Will Sheppard on a crossing route to set up Utah at the Buffs’ 21-yard line. That led to a field goal that gave the Utes a 3-0 lead 10 minutes into 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 offside 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 76 yards back to the house, untouched. It was CU’s first punt return touchdown since 2022 and gave them 14 points in 2:02 of the first quarter clock.

Hunter gets to work. Travis Hunter had his third interception of the season in the waning seconds of the first half on a pass deflected by Colton Hood. Hunter ran the ball 22 yards back into Ute territory, and after being tackled, sprinted further downfield and struck a Heisman pose for the cameras. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which was met with loud cheers from CU fans. It wasn’t the only time he posed that afternoon.

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

The route has started. Utah got the ball to open the second half and could have gotten back into the game with a scoring drive. But it went the other way. Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green picked off a wired pass from Utes QB Isaac Wilson and routed it back to the visitors’ 37-yard line. On the next play, Isaiah Augustave made a run in the gut, aided by some impressive blocks, to give CU a 28-9 lead.

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 into Hunter’s outstretched arms. It was Wilson’s most impressive throw all day, amid a string of failures.

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

McKinney calls play. After a Will Sheppard fumble turned the ball over to Utah at 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 after an extended battle four plays later resulted in an easy interception for CU cornerback DJ McKinney and effectively sealed the Buffs’ victory.