When Colorado went into its final game against Baylor on Saturday night, the plan was for Buffaloes star forward Travis Hunter to serve as a… distraction?

Colorado needed a Hail Mary touchdown to even the score, and figured Hunter, who had six receptions for 126 yards, would draw most of the attention. Hunter would run to the middle of the end zone, ideally creating a more favorable matchup for LaJohntay Wester, a 5-11, 167-pound wideout.

“We put Travis on the backside, he’s getting all the attention, and then LaJohntay is just out there, one-on-one,” Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders said. “They’re not going to think we’re going to throw him the ball because he’s a smaller guy, probably in that situation. So I rolled to my left, everybody went to the middle of the end zone and I just trusted God. I threw it to God and God answered the prayer, that’s for sure.”

Sanders’ throw from the Baylor 49-yard line fell to Wester, who wedged between two Bears defenders and dove for the touchdown. Colorado went on to win 38-31 in overtime, setting up a field-court rush at Folsom Field and the most dramatic finish under second-year coach Deion Sanders. The Buffs overcame three deficits and overcame a 100-yard Baylor kick return touchdown to win their first Big 12 game since returning to the league.

“Great, great, great, great, great, great win,” Deion Sanders said. “The young men were resilient. They never gave up.”

Shedeur Sanders finished with 341 passing yards and touchdown strikes of 58 yards to Omarion Miller just before halftime and 43 yards to Wester as the fourth quarter ended. He led an overtime touchdown drive that culminated with Micah Welch’s second rushing score.

“That’s why I use the word legendary and post it so much,” Shedeur Sanders said. “That’s the word that I stand by and live by. In all moments, in all things, I know, at the end of the day, legendary is what’s ingrained in me.”

Hunter continued to bolster his case as a top Heisman Trophy contender with 130 receiving yards on seven catches and the game-sealing play on defense in overtime. Baylor’s Dominic Richardson appeared to be headed for a sure touchdown before Hunter knocked the ball free and fired it out of the end zone.

Colorado fans stormed the field as officials reviewed the ball and determined it was out of bounds before Richardson crossed the goal line.

“Shedeur told me to go out there and get the ball when (Colorado) scored, so I told him, ‘I got you,’ and I kept my word,” Hunter said. “I knew I had to tackle. You saw me put my mouthpiece in late in the play, so I was ready. I knew they were coming at me. They don’t think I can tackle, so I had to show them.”

On the final lap of regulation, Hunter knew he had to draw Baylor’s defenders to him. He said most Hail Mary plays are 50-50 chances, but Colorado’s talented receivers pushed the odds to 80-20.

“I saw (Sanders) roll out and then I saw the ball coming my way,” said Wester, who transferred to Colorado after a productive career at Florida Atlantic this season. “As a receiver, your job is to make it right to the quarterback, whether it’s a good ball or a bad ball. I just made a play on the ball.”

Baylor coach Dave Aranda said the defensive play call on the Hail Mary is a “victory cigar,” which involves an up-and-under rush to drive the quarterback toward a contain rusher.

“We went to opposite sides,” Aranda said. “The guy that was up-and-under went away, and the guy that was contain went to the other side, so when you watch that play, you see a guy come from the right and go up-and-under, well, that’s unfortunate because he’s contain.

“I’ve never seen that before, and I take full responsibility for that. I have to find a way to coach that better.”

Wester called the postgame atmosphere “a party,” as the celebration spilled from the field into the Buffaloes’ locker room. Deion Sanders said he regretted the storm on the field because it prevented him from shaking hands with Baylor coach Dave Aranda, but he praised Colorado fans for their support.

“We have a fan base that is phenomenal,” Deion Sanders said. “We have some young kids on this campus that love and breathe CU football, and I’m thankful.”

Sanders also noted Colorado’s offensive line, which “always gets made fun of,” but helped the team score three rushing touchdowns. Baylor still recorded eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries.

“I want everyone to know that we can get the ball rolling and shut up all the haters out there,” Welch said.

But the Bears missed a field goal attempt with 2:16 left that would have given them a 10-point lead. Shedeur Sanders and Colorado eventually took advantage.

“It kind of took us back to last year, right? Like that nostalgia, that’s how it started last year,” Deion Sanders said, referring to Colorado’s 3-0 start to his tenure. “I was like, ‘Man, I’m going gray, what are you guys trying to do to me?’ It was a tough one. This press conference could be totally different now, but I’m glad we got the win.”