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Colorado pulls off an improbable OT win over Baylor
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Colorado pulls off an improbable OT win over Baylor

LaJohntay Wester caught a 43-yard Hail Mary from Shedeur Sanders with little time left in regulation and Travis Hunter forced a fumble at the 1-yard line in overtime. Colorado came back to beat Baylor in improbable fashion 38-31 on a rainy Saturday night.

Baylor vs. Colorado
BOULDER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 21: Travis Hunter #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Baylor Bears at Folsom Field on September 21, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado.

Andrew Wevers / Getty Images


Micah Welch’s short dive in overtime gave the Buffaloes their first lead since the first quarter. Hunter, the Buffaloes’ two-way standout, knocked the ball loose from Baylor running back Dominic Richardson on the goal line and the ball rolled out of the end zone. Fans stormed the field and tore down a goal post before officials confirmed the call.

On the final play of regulation, Sanders rolled to his left and made a perfect pass to Wester, who shook off his defender and held on to the ball as he fell to the grass. The officials upheld the catch after review, and Alejandro Mata made the extra point to force overtime.

“Great, great, great, great, great win,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “These young men were resilient. They never gave up, never surrendered.”

The last-ditch effort by Shedeur Sanders and the Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) comes three days before the 30th anniversary of the “Miracle at Michigan,” when the Buffaloes beat the Wolverines on Kordell Stewart’s 64-yard Hail Mary pass to Michael Westbrook. The nationally televised broadcast showed the 1994 play just seconds before Sanders connected with Wester.

When asked where this game ranked, Deion Sanders simply replied, “I don’t rank games. I just like the Ws. Whatever. I like them.”

Baylor made several key plays, including Jamaal Bell going untouched for a 100-yard kickoff return in the second quarter and shortly after Sawyer Robertson running free for a 45-yard TD on fourth-and-1, giving Baylor a 14-point lead.

After the Buffaloes tied the game in the third quarter, Hal Presley made a one-handed grab for a 24-yard touchdown with 5:43 left to put Baylor (2-2, 0-1) back in front. The Bears had a chance to seal the win, but Isaiah Hankins’ 45-yard field goal attempt went wide to the right.

It laid the foundation for Sanders and the Buffaloes.

“Heartbreaking loss,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “I haven’t really been a part of anything like that, especially until the last play of overtime. … Very tough to process. The team is very depleted and frustrated right now. We’re probably going to be sore all the way back to Waco.”

Sanders was constantly on the move, throwing for 341 yards. He was also sacked eight times. Hunter finished with seven catches for 130 yards, while also making three tackles on defense. His play on both sides of the ball has put him in the Heisman conversation.

This should only strengthen his case.

Omarion Miller made the most of his first catch of the season, catching a deep pass from Sanders and bouncing it away from a tackle by Corey Gordon Jr. — all while keeping his knee off the turf. Miller’s 58-yard TD was upheld on review, putting Colorado up 24-17 at the break.

The Buffaloes made their return to the Big 12 Conference a success. They left the conference after the 2010 season to join the Pac-12, but returned this season.