Colorado separated itself from a potential second-place finish in the Big 12 on Saturday with a 41-27 victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock.

The Buffaloes improved to 5-1 in the conference and trailed only BYU (5-0) in the standings ahead of the Cougars’ game with Utah on Saturday night. No. 17 Iowa State fell to 4-2 with a 45-36 loss to Kansas. With the Utes, Jayhawks and Oklahoma State remaining on Colorado’s schedule, a potential spot in the Big 12 championship game is within reach.

After trailing 13-10 at halftime, Colorado scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the third quarter. First, Shedeur Sanders capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a seven-yard TD run to take a 17-13 lead.

Texas Tech came right back and took the lead, completing a 66-yard drive with a two-yard TD run by Tahj Brooks. The Red Raiders went for it on fourth-and-1 after quarterback Behren Morton was stopped for no gain at the 2-yard line.

However, the Buffaloes quickly answered with a 73-yard scoring drive that ended when Sanders hit Will Sheppard with a back-shoulder throw for a five-yard touchdown.

The Red Raiders then turned the ball over on downs and attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-5 from their own 31-yard line. But Jason Llewellyn’s pass went incomplete, giving the Buffaloes a short attacking field.

Colorado took advantage of the gift when Sanders connected with LaJohntay Wester for a 22-yard gain, then hit Travis Hunter for a 24-yard catch and ran for a score.

Sanders threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, completing 30 of 43 passes. Hunter had nine receptions for 99 yards, followed by Wester who caught six passes for 82 yards and Sheppard eight catches for 79 yards. All three receivers caught TD passes.

The Buffaloes lost receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. in the first quarter with a lower-body injury. He hadn’t caught a pass to that point, but had two kickoff returns for 20 yards. For the season, Horn has 33 receptions for 434 yards and one touchdown. His absence created more opportunities for Sheppard, who posted a season-high in catches.

The game was plagued throughout by Texas Tech fans throwing objects on the field, including tortillas and water bottles. Fearing a penalty, TTU coach Joey McGuire turned on a microphone late in the third quarter to tell the fans to stop being disruptive.

Brooks led Texas Tech with 137 rushing yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, although Colorado’s defense contained him for much of the first half. Josh Kelly posted eight receptions for 106 yards, and Morton completed 24 of 40 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Brooks’ total distance became the fastest all-time leader in Texas Tech history. He overtook Byron Hanspard, who rushed for 4,135 yards from 1994 to 1996.